2028 CB Dominick Harris-Payne Blown Away By First Notre Dame Visit

Dominick Harris-Payne‍ had never been to South Bend before his trip earlier this month.

The 2028 Florida cornerback left with a clear impression of Notre Dame.

"It was really amazing, just unbelievable from the campus down to the coaching staff," Harris-Payne told Irish Sports Daily. "Everything was really amazing."

Harris-Payne took in the Stanford game, sat in on meetings and spent time with head coach Marcus Freeman, defensive backs coach Aaron Henry and safeties coach Jevaughn Codlin while touring the school, the facilities and the campus.

The message he heard most had little to do with football.

"Coach Freeman was really preaching that as a school, it's about more than football there," he said. "It's obviously good football, but then what they can do to better your career outside of football as well. And obviously the religious aspect of it.

"Same thing with Coach Codlin. That's really what the whole coaching staff, everybody there, was preaching, what Notre Dame can do for you whenever football's over. I really love that, the whole academic aspect and just how Notre Dame can really set your life up for the future."

The Lakeland High School standout also came away raving about the people.

"I love them," he said of the staff. "They're great guys. It's really unbelievable how everybody's just so tight-knit. It's just all one big family.

"That's really what I'm looking for in a school as well. A school that's going to feel like a brotherhood, make me feel like I'm at home."

The Florida flavor inside the building did not hurt either.

"I also love the fact that there's a lot of Florida people, guys from Florida on the staff as well," he said.

When the conversation did turn to football, the Irish were direct about his standing. Harris-Payne holds offers from Florida, Alabama, Wisconsin and UCF among others, and the Irish told him he is a priority for them.

"They were definitely talking about football," he said. "I'm one of the top corners on their 2028 board. They love everything about me. They love my film, how I carry myself on the field and also off the field, which I love.

"I'm just super excited to get back up there and see what more they have to offer."

That return could come soon. 

Harris-Payne is hoping to make it back to South Bend for the Miami game on Nov. 7, and if another game trip does not work out this season, he will be back in a matter of months.

"If I don't end up going to another game this season, I'll definitely be back up there for spring, for sure," he said.

Harris-Payne was at Virginia Tech this past weekend and has trips to Alabama, Tennessee, Miami and Louisville on the upcoming schedule.

He does not have a timeline for narrowing his list or making a decision, but Notre Dame's spot is secure whenever he does.

"I still got a lot to think about. Notre Dame is definitely, when I start to finalize everything, they're definitely going to be up there for sure."

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