Notre Dame Could Be Hard To Beat For 2028 OL Benjamin Coleman
Few - if any - offers could carry more weight with Ben Coleman than the one he earned this weekend.
The 2028 Illinois offensive lineman made the trip to Notre Dame and left with a scholarship in hand from a program he has long held in high regard.
The Providence Catholic standout picked up the offer during an unofficial visit to South Bend, capping a day that included time with the staff and a film session with offensive line coach Joe Rudolph.
Coleman described the moment as one he’ll never forget.
“I was speechless,” he said. “It was like a dream come true. Notre Dame’s always been a spot I wanted to be at. It’s always been what I wanted.”
The 6-foot-4, 250-pounder spent extended time with Rudolph during the visit, where the two went through film and discussed his potential fit within the offense.
“I got to talk to Coach Rudolph at the end of the day and we were watching film and he said I was a great fit,” Coleman said. “He said he wanted to make me an offer.”
That interaction left a strong impression.
“He’s a great guy, super nice,” Coleman said. “Always on point, knows what to say. He knows what he’s talking about. He makes me feel welcome.”
Notre Dame has long stood out to Coleman for several reasons.
“The culture, the tradition,” Coleman said. “My head coach (Tyler Plantz) went there and played football there. The education is amazing. All the coaches are super nice. I felt super welcome. I thought it was a perfect fit.”
That connection extends beyond the offensive line room.
He also spent time with head coach Marcus Freeman during the visit.
“We talked about how Notre Dame acts, how Notre Dame goes,” Coleman said. “He’s really on point too. He knows what he’s talking about. He’s a great guy, super nice.”
The visit also reinforced the academic expectations that come with the program.
“You’ve got to have good grades to go there,” Coleman said.
While it’s still early, Notre Dame has positioned itself firmly in the mix coming out of the visit.
Coleman plans to continue evaluating his options and discuss next steps with his family, but didn’t downplay the impact of the offer.
“I am really leaning towards Notre Dame.”
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