Notre Dame Still In The Mix With 2028 PSU CB Commit Deonte Flemings Jr.

Deonte Flemings Jr.‍ made his college decision early, but he isn't finished with recruiting just yet.

The 2028 Pennsylvania cornerback remains committed to Penn State, but Notre Dame has done enough to bring him back to South Bend this fall.

Flemings will return for Notre Dame's Nov. 7 game against Miami, almost a year after receiving his Irish offer during his first trip to South Bend.

The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder continues to see plenty to like about Notre Dame.

"I would say just what they bring to the table as far as academics and football aspects and the coaching staff," Flemings said. "They call and check up on me and they're building relationships. That's important to me in this recruiting process."

The McDowell High School standout has developed a particularly strong connection with Notre Dame safeties coach Jevaughn Codlin.

Codlin has found ways to give him a glimpse into the program even when Flemings isn't in South Bend.

"My impression of those guys are very high," Flemings said of Codlin and defensive backs coach Aaron Henry. "Just the way J-Cod calls me and he makes sure he sends me videos of what the guys are doing at practice, what the guys do in their off time.

"And just like the life of a college athlete, he makes sure I'm getting that early. That's important to me."

The Erie, Pa., native got an extensive look at Notre Dame's football program during a visit last November. Flemings wants to explore another part of what the University could offer him when he gets back.

"Honestly, I hear about how good the academics are there,” he said. “I want to see what they're actually talking about when they say that.

"When I get down there on my visit, I want to actually dive deep into those things and see what I want to major in, what catches my eye." 

There are still some football-related items Flemings wants to see as well.

"I already saw football things, but I want to see their new facility," he said. "When I went down there, they were still in the process of building it. So I want to see the new facility."

Notre Dame won't be the only program Flemings evaluates this fall.

In addition to returning to Penn State and Notre Dame, he has trips planned to Ole Miss, Tennessee, Nebraska and Texas A&M.

Flemings remains committed to the Nittany Lions, and another program will have to find a way to match something Penn State has been building for years.

"It feels like home," Flemings said of Happy Valley. "I mean, like it should. It's PA and I'm a PA kid. It should feel like that.

"And just the relationship they built with me over the years, Coach Terry (Smith) started the relationship with me straight out of middle school and that was important to me. I knew I had a good, strong relationship with Coach Smith, so I knew it was a place I wanted to be."

For Notre Dame or anybody else to change Flemings' mind, they'll have to challenge the combination of comfort and relationships he already has with Penn State.

"Like I was saying, I'm big on relationships, so wherever I feel like the strongest relationship is."

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