Xavier Muhammad’s visit to Notre Dame provided more than just a look at the program, it gave him a clear vision for his potential future.
The 2027 Texas defensive lineman spent multiple days in South Bend, sitting in on meetings with head coach Marcus Freeman, defensive coordinator Chris Ash and defensive line coach Charlie Partridge before taking in the Blue-Gold Game.
“Everything went good,” Muhammad told Irish Sports Daily.
The 6-foot-4, 260-pounder came away with a strong understanding of how the Irish see him fitting into their defense, something that stood out in his early conversations with the staff.
“They see me playing a three and a little bit of five sometimes too,” he said. “If I get bigger, then I’m going to be a three. Even if I lose some weight, then I’ll be a five. So basically flexible enough to do both.”
That versatility aligns with how Muhammad views his own game and gives him flexibility within Notre Dame’s system moving forward.
The South Houston, Texas, native also used the visit to get a better feel for the people behind the program.
“He’s a really good coach,” Muhammad said of Partridge. “He's like a veteran to this, coming from The League, from the Colts. I'm just happy to be able to gain some knowledge from him. ”
Muhammad quizzed Freeman on his feelings about South Bend and Notre Dame and the head coach’s response resonated.
“He said he loves it there,” Muhammad said.
Beyond the meetings, Muhammad pointed to the vibe around campus and the environment within the program as factors that stood out.
“I love the atmosphere on campus,” he said. “It’s like a college town and the players, they’re close to each other too.”
The visit helped solidify Notre Dame as a serious option as Muhammad works through a busy official visit schedule that already includes Miami, Michigan and Vanderbilt.
Adding the Irish to that docket became a priority for Muhammad coming out of the trip.
“Official visit, that’s the next step,” he said.
With a decision expected in early July, Muhammad said the relationships he builds with coaches and the overall environment will play a major role in his final choice.
“How often the coaches reach out to me and based off the atmosphere,” he said. “That’s what it’s going to come down to.”
After getting a chance to see the program up close, Notre Dame left a strong impression.
“It’s way better to see it in person and be able to talk to the coaches. I’m just blessed to be able to be out there.”
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