2021 DE Brayden Wood Impressed With Notre Dame

Brayden Wood‍ won’t have opportunities to get out of state for college football games every weekend, but the 2021 Colorado defensive lineman had that chance this weekend when he traveled to Notre Dame and took full advantage.

“I really loved it,” the 6-foot-3, 240-pounder said. “It’s a big campus there with a crazy atmosphere.

“The campus was beautiful. I really loved it’s laid out. I love how it all looks like one of the same thing architecturally. I love how it’s faith-based. I just really loved it.”

The Boulder native started his day getting checked in at the Gug.

“We just took a tour of the facility, the meetings rooms and then we went over to the stadium to watch the Walk and everything,” he recounted. “Then, we went to the recruiting tent, which is a really neat set-up. They gave us really good food. They had cornhole, Xbox, everything you could do, which I thought was really neat. Then, they had a players panel, which I thought was pretty cool.”

The coaches came through the tent and Wood had the opportunity to speak with defensive line coach Mike Elston and defensive line GA Larry Black.

“We just touched base,” Wood said. “They said they were glad I was there and told me to have fun.”

Then the Fairview High School star headed over to the stadium for the game.

“I saw a bit of the warm-up, was on the field for that,” he said. “I think that was probably one of the coolest parts, watching the warm-up and seeing everybody get in, watching the house pack up.

“Then we went up to our seats. Of course, the game went extremely well. It was probably one of – if not the best college game I’ve seen in a while, just the atmosphere and how much the student body is involved. It was really amazing.”

Wood paid close attention to the defensive line on both teams during the Irish’s 38-17 win over Stanford.

“I just watch anything I do similar to them and anything I can take in like, ‘Oh, that’s something I can use. That’s a good move,’” he explained. “After that, I just basically watch like a regular person, just watch the game like an average guy trying to enjoy it.

“(Notre Dame’s) d-line was incredible that game with (Jerry Tillery) having four to five sacks and getting the game ball. I love what they do with their stunts and how they use their d-ends to attack the corner pressure and how they use their speed.”

Wood, who has early offers from Syracuse, Colorado State and Texas Tech, plans to stay in touch with the Irish staff moving forward and will look into making another trip. In the meantime, he has a few other trips in mind.

“I’m going to the Clemson-NC State game in a couple of weeks. Besides that, I think I’m going to the Colorado-ASU game next week and maybe a Colorado State and maybe another CU game if it fits in my schedule because we have all Friday games.”