Notre Dame made a memorable first impression on Merrick Ham.
Now, the 2028 Georgia defensive end wants to see more, specifically what the Irish look like on one of the biggest Saturdays of the season.
Ham earned a Notre Dame offer after an impressive performance at Irish Invasion earlier this summer and has remained in regular contact with defensive line coach Charlie Partridge ever since.
Partridge has become Ham's primary point of contact as Notre Dame continues building on the momentum established during the camp.
"We're just kind of talking and building our relationship, just talking about our days and the work they've been putting in and the work I've been putting in,” said Ham.
Those conversations have only strengthened the opinion Ham formed when he worked with Partridge at Irish Invasion.
"I think he's a great guy," Ham said. "I think he's a well-rounded leader and I can definitely see myself playing under him."
That feeling is a continuation of what began in June.
Ham didn't remember exactly what he said when Partridge pulled him aside after camp to deliver the offer, but he certainly remembered how he felt.
"I remember I was hyped up," Ham said shortly afterward. "My mom said she knew just by looking at me."
The 6-foot-5, 240-pounder also holds offers from Georgia, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Auburn, Florida, Nebraska, Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt among others.
Still, the Irish offer meant more than simply adding another national power to his growing list.
The Marietta, Ga., native has family ties to Notre Dame through his uncle, former Irish offensive lineman Paul Duncan, who played in South Bend under Charlie Weis. Duncan's stories about his time at Notre Dame gave Ham an appreciation for the program long before he made his first visit.
The visit reinforced what he'd heard and the next step is returning this fall.
Ham is already locked in to return for Notre Dame's showdown against Miami, a trip that should provide more insight than his initial trip.
"I really want to see what campus is like when there are actually students there, see the game day atmosphere and then just see how the coaches interact on a game day,” he explained.
The Marietta High School standout also plans to attend games at Ole Miss, Florida, Vanderbilt and Auburn.
"There are a few more schools that I'm waiting on and then I'll probably narrow it down," Ham said. "I'll probably commit sometime around this time next year."
Although there's still plenty of time before that decision arrives, Ham already has a clear picture of what he'll be looking for.
"Just the relationship with the coaches, seeing if they fit me and if I fit their system and what they're looking for.”
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