Top 2028 In-State DB Drake Coellner Enjoys Notre Dame's Invasion

For many prospects, Irish Invasion began well before the first whistle of the camp.

Drake Coellner‍ was one such prospect.

The 2028 Indiana safety spent the day participating in Notre Dame's Grill & Chill event, touring campus, competing at camp and continuing to build relationships with the Irish coaching staff during one of the program's biggest recruiting weekends of the summer.

"It was awesome," Coellner said afterward. "The Grill & Chill was actually super fun."

The Carmel standout arrived in South Bend as one of the more heavily recruited defensive backs in the Midwest.

The 6-foot, 190-pounder already holds offers from schools like Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Miami, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Kentucky and Vanderbilt among others and entered the weekend firmly on Notre Dame's radar.

Before camp even started, Coellner had the opportunity to spend time with other recruits during the Grill & Chill event.

The activity forced prospects to work together while preparing food without assistance from coaches.

"They divide you up into teams," Coellner explained. "You're mixed up with random people you don't know. You have to cook everything. Chicken, steak, corn, shrimp, all that.

"There's no help, so it's just you six working as a group. I feel like that was a great way to start it because then I got super comfortable with everyone."

Coellner felt particularly qualified for the cooking competition.

"My dad and I are always outside cooking," he said with a laugh. "Steak was my job and I got that medium rare perfect."

The event also provided additional time around the coaching staff and an opportunity to tour campus before heading into the stadium for camp.

Once the workout began, Coellner enjoyed the chance to learn from defensive backs assistant Jevaughn Codlin.

"I loved learning from Coach J-Cod," Coellner said. "As a younger coach, he kind of knows how to connect more."

The coaching points were straightforward but valuable.

"Definitely just staying in my framework," Coellner said. "That's something I've been trying to focus on as much as possible this summer. Staying in my framework, being patient and trusting my technique."

Coellner felt the instruction translated to his performance.

"When the one-on-one competition came around, I thought I did pretty good," he said. "I won every rep but one."

Coellner found himself lined up against close friend and fellow Indiana prospect Theo Schott, one of the nation's top tight ends.

The result?

A win for the defensive back.

"The last one-on-one rep we had was against Theo," Coellner said. "I low-key boxed him up a little bit. Got him on an incomplete pass.”

Schott said he only lost one of his four one-on-one reps.

"I was the one," Coellner laughed. 

The matchup carried some extra meaning because the two have known each other for years.

"I grew up with Theo," Coellner said. "I played basketball with him my whole life. I've known him since I was 10 years old. That's my brother."

Coellner also appreciated the opportunity to compete against a talented group of tight ends.

"The tight end talent is always amazing here," he said. "They're all huge. 6-4 plus. I feel like that helped me a lot just getting used to the size and college-sized guys."

While recruiting remains important, Coellner is entering his junior season with a different focus as well.

The Indiana native wants to become more of a leader for Carmel's program.

"Definitely not skill aspects," Coellner said when asked what he's focusing on this offseason. "I know there's stuff to work on, but mostly just being the biggest leader I can be.

"My cousin Dane Bathurst is at Oklahoma right now and the way he picked everyone up around him and made everyone better, I want to base this season off that. I want to be like him in that area."

Coellner expects to remain busy this month with trips to Vanderbilt, Ohio State and Miami before heading to The Opening Finals later this summer.

As for Notre Dame, the latest trip provided another opportunity to strengthen an already-established relationship while competing against some of the top talent in the region.

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