On Friday night, JP Carrico got a front-row seat to see how Notre Dame continues to produce elite offensive linemen.
The 2028 Kentucky prospect spent the evening working directly with offensive line coach Joe Rudolph at Irish Invasion, watching current Irish linemen and top recruits go through drills side by side.
By the end of the day, Carrico came away with an even greater appreciation for what makes Notre Dame's offensive line tradition so strong.
"If you look at guys like Joe Alt, they're drafted and then they play right away as rookies," Carrico said. "Guys like Zack Martin. Just top-notch guys play at Notre Dame."
His offer list currently includes Alabama, Ohio State, Kentucky, Louisville, Missouri and Virginia Tech among others. Even after being offered by and visiting many of the nation's top programs, Notre Dame remains unique.
"There's just so much history here," Carrico said.
Carrico already viewed Notre Dame as one of the nation's premier programs before arriving in South Bend. The combination of football success, academics and faith-based culture has consistently stood out to the Owensboro Catholic High School standout.
"They're one of the best," Carrico said. "They compete for national championships. If you don't want to compete for national championships, then what are you doing?"
Friday's camp provided a new perspective.
Rather than simply touring campus or attending a game, Carrico had the opportunity to see Rudolph operate in a teaching environment while working alongside several Notre Dame offensive linemen.
"I think today's camp was almost a practice," Carrico said.
The 6-foot-8, 280-pounder appreciated seeing how Rudolph coached both current players and recruits.
"They had five or six Notre Dame offensive linemen there," Carrico explained. "They would do the drills and then we would do the drills, but he would coach us. He's coaching them and I could just see he's super knowledgeable and just knows the game so well.
"It was really cool to see the actual o-linemen do it for you.”
Carrico received direct feedback from Rudolph regarding what he needs to improve moving forward and expects to hear more from the coach later this month.
That conversation should include where Carrico stands in Notre Dame's recruiting process and what comes next.
"He said my biggest thing is just my footwork," Carrico explained. "Being able to move freely and not be a robot."
Notre Dame's recruiting efforts have also included assistant tight ends coach Harris Bivin, who shares Owensboro, Ky., roots with Carrico.
"He's the guy that's been mainly recruiting me," Carrico said. "One of my close friend's dads coached him when he was in high school."
The Catholic-school connection is another factor that resonates.
"I think it'd be an easier adjustment,” he said, noting the similarities between his high school and Notre Dame.
It’s been a busy spring for Carrico, who has made trips to Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio State, Alabama, Tennessee and Illinois while planning to return for camps at many of those same schools.
The Kentucky native plans to return to South Bend again in the future, potentially for a game this fall.
For now, he'll continue working through a busy summer schedule while awaiting his next conversation with Rudolph.
That call, expected to take place around June 22, could prove significant in determining exactly where Carrico stands with the Irish moving forward.
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