2028 LB Gabriel Player Has Notre Dame "Really High" After Miami Visit
Gabriel Player has been around big games, but Notre Dame hit him differently.
"Man, that was amazing," Player told Irish Sports Daily after his trip to South Bend for the Irish’s takedown of #1 Miami on Saturday night.
"Just the atmosphere, the way the coaches were. That was one of the craziest places I've ever been to."
The visit started with the practice fields and Shields Hall and the weight room. On Saturday, Player took in the Player Walk and headed inside the players' meeting room before the game. On Sunday, he got the full campus tour.
Player has more than 45 offers, including Notre Dame, Miami, Alabama, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas, Michigan, LSU and Florida State among many others.
The 6-foot-3, 195 pounder is one of the most coveted linebackers in the 2028 class, and Notre Dame made sure he knew where he stands with them.
The Eau Gallie High School standout spoke with Marcus Freeman, linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary and the rest of the staff, and their message was direct.
"They were just letting me know how they see me in their program, why they were recruiting me, telling me I'm on top of the board, just telling me that I'm the recruit they're really looking for and they love how I play and they want me to come back," Player said.
Hearing that from the Irish staff made a serious impression.
"That's honestly a blessing hearing it from such high people who've done so much in the football world and great coaches," Player said. "It just means a lot to hear that."
The people made as much of an impression as the pitch.
"They're amazing people," Player said. "They're always smiling. I have great conversations with them, kindhearted people, honest. They're just great, genuine people."
The Irish defense certainly spoke loudly on the field. Player has seen Miami in person a couple of times, which made what Notre Dame did to the Hurricanes stand out even more.
"That was a crazy performance," Player said. "They had them at three points pretty much until halftime. That was one of the best defensive games I've seen."
Player also spent time with the other recruits on the visit, including Texas A&M commit Kaden Henderson and a couple of the other 2028 linebackers, and he came away feeling like he would fit in with the group.
His feelings about the Irish are not hard to read.
"Definitely high, really high with them," Player said. "After today, the program's amazing, coaching staff's amazing, players are amazing. Everything was great about it."
Next up is a trip to LSU next week and possibly another Miami game. Player may narrow his list after the season. What he knows for sure is that he wants to get back to South Bend in the spring or summer for a full tour, to understand the staff more as people and see how they coach.
"I definitely want to try to get back up here, just see them more, probably come around just to get a full tour of it, just to understand them more as people, see how they coach."
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