Inside Notre Dame's Opening-Day Push for the 2028 Recruiting Class
The 2028 recruiting class is officially on the clock.
Monday marked the first day college coaches and recruiting staffs could directly contact rising juniors by phone, kicking off one of the most important days on the recruiting calendar. As a result, programs across the country worked the phones or sent graphics when the clock struck midnight.
Notre Dame was no exception. There were calls, texts, FaceTimes and strobe lights for the first three hours of Monday morning.
Several of Notre Dame’s top targets shared their reactions after speaking with the staff.
2028 WR Ryan Richmond-McDavis: “I felt very valued. Notre Dame was actually the first school to reach out to me, so that really shows their interest in me and that’s a great thing to see.”
2028 WR Dedrick Kimbrough: “It means a lot to say the least. Notre Dame has always been a program that’s strong on tradition and development. The development part stands out the most to me and my family. Their staff is amazing. The people they have there understand what it takes to be successful on and off the field.”
2028 WR Marshaun Thornton: “It means a lot to me that they reached out that early to show interest. They have me as a priority.”
2028 WR DJ Tubbs: “It honestly speaks volumes. For the staff to stay up that late (3AM) when they have other responsibilities or families to take care of, that means a lot to me. It tells me that I am a priority in their eyes.”
2028 WR Maddox Weil: “They really just show how much they want me. Always checking up on me and saying that I am a top priority for them.”
2028 DE Asher Ghioto: “It feels amazing knowing that it’s finally official and the whole entire staff made an effort to reach out, so that really let me know I’m important to them for sure.”
2028 DE Cam Toomey: “I have felt like a huge priority to them since I stepped onto campus. The relationships with the entire staff have grown tremendously, and now that I’m finally able to be in full contact with them, it’s so much better. The whole recruiting staff was hyping me up on FaceTime and letting me know how important I am to them, and being able to talk to Coach Ash was great, getting to know him more.”
2028 DL Kellan Hall: “I have so much respect for Coach Freeman and how he represents Notre Dame on and off the field. To be such a high priority and viewed as a player who fits the profile of a Notre Dame student-athlete is pretty special for me and my family.”
2028 OL Apisai Fifita: “Stay ready, keep working and trust my opportunity is coming.”
2028 RB Micah Rhodes: “Me and Coach Seider are tight. He’s been reaching out to me since he was at Penn State. He offered me there and offered me when he arrived at Notre Dame. I’m hoping to continue building our relationship.”
2028 TE Jack McNamara: “I feel very valued, and they make me feel like a top priority every time I’m there. This means a lot due to Notre Dame being a top school in the country.”
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