Notre Dame Makes Move With 4.37 Speedster Ryan Richmond-McDavis

2028 Cardinal Ritter (Mo.) receiver Ryan Richmond-McDavis‍ has quickly become one of the hottest prospects in the Midwest this spring.

The four-star wideout turned heads in March when he posted a verified 4.37-second 40-yard dash and a 34-inch vertical at an Under Armour camp, numbers that only reinforced what coaches already saw on film.

This past weekend, Richmond-McDavis made his way to Notre Dame for the first time and left South Bend impressed with what he experienced.

“I like campus, I like what they’re doing,” Richmond-McDavis stated. “The new facility that's being built, I love it. I’ll come back to see how it turns out.” 

The St. Louis native participated in Notre Dame's Grill and Chill event ahead of Irish Invasion, allowing him to spend time with coaches, staff members and fellow recruits from around the country.

“I got to grill with some of the other recruits who were there,” explained Richmond-McDavis. “We just chilled. It was good kicking it with people from all over the world.” 

One of the biggest takeaways from the visit was the opportunity to spend time around receivers coach Mike Brown. Richmond-McDavis did not compete during Irish Invasion, but he observed Brown's coaching style and appreciated the conversations during the visit. 

“He’s a great coach,” said Richmond-McDavis. “I feel like his intentions were pure. I’m big on intentions.” 

Every program covets Richmond-McDavis’ speed and Brown outlined exactly how he envisions the explosive playmaker fitting into Notre Dame's offense.

“He said my versatility,” Richmond-McDavis said when asked what Brown liked about his game outside of his speed. “I can play out wide or I can play in the slot. He definitely pointed that out a lot.” 

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman also spent time with Richmond-McDavis, leaving a lasting impression. 

“He’s a great coach,” Richmond-McDavis explained. “He’s a great man. From what he was saying, he has a lot of wisdom and I feel like I could play under a coach like that.” 

While it was his first trip to South Bend, Richmond-McDavis was hardly unfamiliar with Notre Dame. Former Irish star Jeremiyah Love has spoken highly of the program and played a role in encouraging him to check it out for himself.

Richmond-McDavis is also well aware of Notre Dame’s pipeline to the St. Louis area over the last few years. 

“Knowing some guys from my hometown went there, it's a blessing,” Richmond-McDavis said. “Actually, Jeremiyah Love, that's my brother's best friend. So being around him, seeing him talk about Notre Dame, it definitely made me want to come check it out.” 

Love hasn’t hidden his affection for Notre Dame after leaving to be the No. 3 overall draft pick and his endorsement only helped get Richmond-McDavis to campus. 

“He definitely said it’s going to be hard, but I’m built for it,” explained Richmond-McDavis. “He definitely said the football program is good, the people are good and the school is good. He said a lot of great things.” 

Richmond-McDavis will continue this summer visit schedule as he plans to be at Missouri, Ole Miss and Oregon. 

Notre Dame appears to have made a significant move in his recruitment following the weekend visit. The talented receiver believes the Irish are firmly in his top ten and the academic opportunities could separate Notre Dame from the pack down the line. 

“I’d probably say the education piece,” Richmond-McDavis stated. “They’re big on education here at Notre Dame, and to be honest, I like that. I’m a big education guy.” 

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