Maddox Porter arrived in South Bend a day early, and on Friday, Notre Dame told the 2029 Tennessee star how it could use a receiver with his size.
A day later, the Irish showed him.
Porter touched down in South Bend a day before Notre Dame's 27-10 win over Michigan State, which gave the 6-foot-2, 176-pounder a chance to spend additional time with wide receivers coach Mike Brown and get an inside look at the Irish's preparation for the Spartans.
"I went over their game plan for Michigan State, in the wide receiver room," Porter said. "Just being in there and seeing Coach Brown coach them up, I like his coaching style."
Brown also gave the Battle Ground Academy standout something specific to watch once the Irish took the field.
Porter was interested in the way Notre Dame utilized one of its bigger receivers after Brown had talked to him about how a player with his size could fit into the offense.
On Friday, Brown pointed to Irish junior receiver Micah Gilbert as somebody for Porter to watch as an example of how he could be used.
On Saturday, Gilbert was difficult to miss as he caught eight passes for 170 yards against the Spartans, including a 61-yard reception on the game’s first play from scrimmage.
"They just said that they just need another big wide receiver and they like me over there," Porter said.
Porter had visited Notre Dame previously, but Saturday represented his first gameday visit of the fall. Before the trip, he said he wanted to experience the atmosphere and determine whether he could picture himself playing in it.
"It went great," he said. "That was my first gameday visit of the year and it's definitely set the bar for the rest of them."
Porter got his first experience with the Notre Dame Player Walk before the game and found the type of energy he was hoping to see.
"I've never done anything like that," he said. "I thought it was just amazing fan interaction and then I thought the environment was great."
The Irish's pitch to Porter extends beyond how they could utilize him on the field.
Marcus Freeman spent time explaining what Notre Dame could offer long after Porter's playing career is finished.
"He talked to me about life after football and just how powerful that Notre Dame name is in the real world and the connections that you can make through it," Porter said.
It's a message that resonates with Porter in part because it's something his mother has already stressed to him.
"My mom emphasizes life after football and that's a real thing," he said. "Even if you have a great NFL career, you're probably going to get done around 33, 35. So you’ve still got a lot of life ahead of you.
"Life after football is definitely a big thing."
Notre Dame offered Porter in June, joining an extensive list that includes Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee and Texas A&M, among others.
Brown and recruiting assistant Justice Bathas have been the primary contacts for Porter, who has made relationships a major factor in his recruitment. The Irish will continue to get opportunities to strengthen those relationships.
Porter already knows he wants to return to South Bend in the spring, when he'll be able to get another look at Brown's coaching style in a practice setting.
"Definitely going out in the spring and just seeing the spring practice because I went out there during Father's Day weekend and I really didn't get to see them practice because it was a dead period," he said. "I just want to see them practice and just talk to coaches a little bit more."
Before then, Porter has a busy fall ahead. Georgia is next, with visits to Tennessee, Oregon, Texas A&M, Miami and Alabama also planned. Notre Dame set a high standard this weekend.
“That was my first game day visit of the year and it's definitely set the bar for the rest of them.”
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