2019 TE Jude Wolfe Talks ND, USC & Washington

Notre Dame does not need a tight end in the Class of 2019, not after signing a pair of top-rated tight ends in both the 2017 and 2018 classes and having already landed their two top targets at the position in 2020.

But the Irish have been recruiting tight ends in 2019 and California’s Jude Wolfe‍ is nearing a decision with Notre Dame on his list of finalists along with USC and Washington. The St. John Bosco prospect seems destined to stay out West, but he said he does speak with Irish assistants Chip Long and Brian Polian.

“I could pretty much get it done with my hand down or spread out, how they use so many tight ends and pretty much everyone who has started for them has gone to The League,” Wolfe said of Notre Dame’s message to him.

That’s certainly one thing that has Wolfe’s attention.

“I guess their rich tradition of sending tight ends to The League,” the 6-foot-5, 247-pounder said earlier this week from The Opening in Dallas.

“They have great opportunities on and off the field. Academically, they’re a really strong school. I’m Catholic too, so that plays quite a role in this as well.”

Wolfe took an unofficial visit to South Bend in the winter.

“It was definitely eye-opening because I hadn’t been out to the Midwest since I was a really little kid,” he explained. “I figured if I went in January and saw it at its worst, I wouldn’t get (tricked) by the good weather out there. I saw it at its worst. I got a good feel for it.

“I sat down with Coach Long, watched a ton of film from when he’s been at Notre Dame all of the way back to Arizona State and how he got the ball to the tight ends so much. Meeting with Coach Kelly was really cool too.”

Wolfe said his feelings about USC are “pretty similar.”

“I have the opportunity to get a really good job out of college,” he said. “The alumni connection there is very strong, academics is huge and on top of that, they’re kind of thin at the tight end position, so I’d have the opportunity to play early.”

Meanwhile, he likes the relationships he has with the staff up in Seattle.

“I like Coach (Jordan) Paopao a lot,” he said of the Huskies’ tight end coach. “They were pretty early in my recruitment. They’ve always been very real with me. I could fit in in their offense. Their school is really good too.”

Wolfe is set to announce his decision on August 3rd, so he won’t have much time to make any visits between the end of the dead period and then.

“I have that one week after the dead period where I might try to get up to Washington, but that’s about it.”