2028 CB Langston Pridgeon Gets Closer Look At Notre Dame Fit

Langston Pridgeon‍ went back to Notre Dame wanting to learn more about Aaron Henry.

The 2028 Maryland cornerback left South Bend with a much better understanding of the Irish defensive backs coach and why Henry believes Pridgeon would fit in his secondary.

Pridgeon had already developed a strong relationship with safeties coach Jevaughn Codlin, his primary recruiter since Notre Dame offered him in April. But with Henry in his first season with the Irish, getting to know him better was one of Pridgeon's priorities for his return for Saturday's 27-10 win over Michigan State.

Mission accomplished.

"I got to meet Coach Henry," Pridgeon said. "I was able to talk a little about his background, just his coaching philosophy and just getting to know him as a person. I liked everything I heard."

Part of what impressed the 6-foot-2, 175-pound DeMatha Catholic standout was Henry's background developing defensive backs. Pridgeon pointed specifically to Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon, who Henry coached at Illinois.

"I know he coached Devon Witherspoon and then some of the lower-profile athletes coming out of high school, but now they've really blossomed in the NFL,” said Pridgeon. 

"I know that Coach Henry's definitely a developer. When I was talking to him, I could see that he's a genuine person."

Henry also gave Pridgeon a better idea of why Notre Dame believes the Hyattsville, Md., prospect fits what the Irish are building. The fit starts away from the field, with Pridgeon's family background and his experience attending a Catholic school at DeMatha.

On the field, the fit is more about Pridgeon’s physical profile.

"I'm a long, lanky corner," Pridgeon said. "They have some of the corners right now on their team. So I fit the mold that they're trying to recruit."

Pridgeon had already identified one of those corners before arriving in South Bend.

He has been studying Notre Dame All-American Leonard Moore this fall and sees similarities between himself and the Irish standout, particularly with their 6-foot-2 frames and length.

"I watch Leonard Moore because he's kind of a similar frame as me, being 6-2, kind of a lanky build with really good speed," Pridgeon said before the visit. "I like how he plays and all the other DBs are very good too, so they're a very physical team."

Saturday gave Pridgeon an opportunity to watch that secondary in person while also experiencing a Notre Dame night game.

"In terms of the game environment, it was definitely one of the best that I've been to," he said. "All the firework shows with the night game and all the fans, they were all really, really hyped. So I definitely liked the visit."

Pridgeon wasn't able to accomplish everything on his list this weekend. He had hoped to get an extensive look at the new Shields Family Hall, but wasn't able to see it. That gives him one more reason to return.

"I hope to get back during the spring to get back to maybe Junior Day or spring practice because I wasn't able to see the new facility, so that's definitely on my bucket list," he said. "Hopefully I'll be able to talk to Coach Freeman as well because I've never talked to him."

Before then, Pridgeon has several more programs to evaluate. He plans to visit Ohio State next, followed by Georgia for its game against Auburn and Penn State for its game against USC.

Those visits will help Pridgeon work toward his goal of narrowing his recruitment heading into the spring, when he wants to focus his Junior Day trips on the schools he's most serious about before eventually trimming his list even further for official visits.

He has also taken notice of what current players and commits have told him about the opportunities available beyond football and the connections that can come from Notre Dame.

The weekend reinforced Notre Dame's position in a recruitment that also includes offers from Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Ohio State, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin, among others.

"I would say that they're definitely still high on my board because I feel like Notre Dame, I can get the best of both worlds in terms of my field play and then the academic side.”

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