Notre Dame may have gotten involved late, but the Irish never really left AJ Randle's recruitment, even after he committed to Miami back in May.
His agent, Latish Kinsler, believed it was important that the 2027 North Carolina linebacker get a real look at Notre Dame before making a final decision on his future and that look comes this weekend with his official visit for the Irish’s game against Boston College.
Randle chose the Hurricanes over more than 50 other offers, including Notre Dame, Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan, LSU and Texas and many others.
Notre Dame made a curious in-home visit very late in the process with Randle already scheduled to make his announcement days later. At the time, it seemed borderline pointless, but in hindsight, it made quite an impact.
"The family was very impressed with the program and with the communication with the program and things of that nature," Kinsler told Irish Sports Daily. "But it was right before the announcement, so at that point in time, we were further along in the process."
Randle went ahead with the Miami commitment, but Notre Dame stayed in touch.
"They were being respectful of the commitment, but just continuing to build and develop the relationship," Kinsler said.
The interest on Randle's side is multi-faceted.
"The overall program itself, the history of the program, the mystique," Kinsler said. "The family's from Michigan."
Randle lived in Michigan for the early part of his life.
"They have family not far from South Bend, " Kinsler said. "In that area, if I'm not mistaken, either you're a Spartan or you're a Wolverine or you're Fighting Irish."
For all the communication between Randle and the Irish staff and front office, this weekend will be about getting an in-person feel for South Bend and Notre Dame.
Miami has been kept in the loop about Randle’s visit plans.
Kinsler considers Randle one of the most gifted linebackers in the 2027 class. The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder played linebacker, quarterback and wide receiver for Garner High School as a junior and piled up 84 tackles, and his agent points out his physical gifts.
"He just has the athleticism, the size, the God-given size, the length, and the ability to transition, change of direction," Kinsler said.
"He's also very intelligent. He's definitely a smart, cerebral player as well."
And Kinsler believes the frame is nowhere near finished.
"In a year or two, he's going to be 250 pounds at 6-4 with all of that athleticism," Kinsler said.
And he believes that skillset would fit what Notre Dame does defensively.
"I think it lines up very well with Notre Dame, with the style of defense and things of that nature," Kinsler said.
Randle would not be making the trip this weekend if the interest were not serious, and Kinsler has never pretended otherwise. Asked how real Notre Dame's chance to flip him actually is, his answer was the same one he has given all along.
"It's a real conversation."
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