BREAKING: 2019 Four-Star DE NaNa Osafo-Mensah Commits To Notre Dame

Notre Dame landed its top defensive end prospect in the 2019 class as Nolan Catholic (Texas) standout NaNa Osafo-Mensah‍ has committed to the Irish. 

“I just liked the atmosphere over there; everything from the student life to how the coaches care so much about their players,” Osafo-Mensah said. “Aside from the fact of them being football players, they care so much about raising them to be great men in society and the community.”

The family culture seemed to be huge as Osafo-Mensah got to know defensive line coach Mike Elston and his family over the last year, but the four-star prospect experienced the bond between the players on the team on his official visit on April 13th. 

“Being able to hang out with the players was my favorite part,” explained Osafo Mensah. “My host was Jordan Genmark Heath, and that man is funny as heck. I love that man with a passion. We even still Snapchat today.

“Khalid Kareem, Julian Okwara, Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa and Kurt Hinish treated me as if I was already a player up there. They weren’t fake at all. They weren’t trying to front me or trying to pretend something wasn’t real. They were telling me what it was like at Notre Dame and how much fun they have up there. 

“I loved all of it really.” 

2019 four-star Notre Dame safety commit Litchfield Ajavon was fired up to hear Osafo-Mensah was headed to South Bend as he can make life very easy on the secondary for years to come.

“It means a lot for NaNa (King) to join the brotherhood at Notre Dame,” stated Ajavon. “He’s a really good player and I believe together, our class can make a lot of things happen on and off the field. I want to be amongst to first to welcome King to the University of Notre Dame.”

The 6-foot-4, 240-pounder not only meshed well with the players at Notre Dame, but he quickly saw they had the same goals and aspirations. 

“I just like how diverse it was and everything they like to do,” he added. “It was just really cool to me. Even though they’re all up there to play football, they also have a goal to be academically excellent too. Being in a society with a group of guys like that would be a lot of fun.”

Getting a peek at the academics at Notre Dame was something the Fort Worth native especially wanted to see and got that chance.

“I got to go to a Business Law class with Khalid Kareem,” he explained. “It was really cool just being able to be in that environment and see how a class operates at that level. I liked it a whole lot.”

Another factor of Osafo-Mensah’s decision was persistence from Elston over the process. The two really connected well together and allowed for Elston to become more than a coach in the Osafo-Mensah’s eyes. 

“He’s almost like a father figure up there for us as defensive linemen,” Osafo-Mensah explained. “Even though we’re going to be away from home, he’s going to be the type of coach who will show us the same hospitality as if we were still at home.”

Elston will now get to mold Osafo-Mensah over the next few years in hopes of letting the Texas native accomplish all of his dreams. 

The defensive line coach has told me an entire plan on how he’s going to develop me for the position. Playing the Drop is going to be a lot of fun. It’s a two-point position where I can pass rush, which I love to do, and then I still get to drop. I feel like I’m athletic enough to provide that to a team. 

“I always had the dream of going to the league. I can show I can do more than just pass rush at Notre Dame. It’s going to make me a more versatile player.” 

Osafo-Mensah joins Howard Cross III‍, Jacob Lacey‍ and Hunter Spears‍ in Notre Dame's 2019 defensive line class. 

Lacey, much like Ajavon, was fired up to know Osafo-Mensah will be by his side for during his career in South Bend.

“I was the first defensive player to commit, said Lacey. “Then Hunter and Howard solidified the defensive line. NaNa will make us the best defensive line and defense in the nation for the 2019 recruiting class."

2019 Notre Dame offensive line commitment Andrew Kristofic‍ was also excited about the commitment as he knows practicing against top talent will make everyone better. 

"Iron really does sharpen iron," said Kristofic. "It's exciting to add a player of his caliber to our already extremely talented class with Howard, Hunter and Jacob." 

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