Notre Dame Hosting Important Recruits for Junior Day

By: Nick Kremer⏐Editor⏐Twitter: @NickKremerIT⏐Profile: @NickKremer

Photo - The Irish Tribune

Championships are built in the off-season, and it all starts with recruiting. The Notre Dame coaching staff is set to host some of the nation’s top high school prospects this weekend, and it is a loaded list of visitors. This weekend promises to be a big opportunity to remind current commits why they chose Notre Dame, and also attract uncommitted prospects to join the current number one ranked recruiting class in the country.

Led by star quarterback commit Deuce Knight, the Irish will have 12 of their commits in attendance. The exceptions, Wisconsin tight end James Flanigan and Hawaii linebacker Josiah Kia, may be absent, but the camaraderie among the committed players is expected to continue to grow even stronger. Their mission? Add to an already loaded 2025 recruiting class.

The committed recruits, hailing from various parts of the country, are not only excellent players, but also persuasive recruiters. From quarterback Deuce Knight in Mississippi to cornerback Cree Thomas in Arizona, this diverse group is on a mission to attract key additions to the Notre Dame family.

Along with the committed players, Junior Day will also welcome many uncommitted 2025 targets that are at the top of the board for the Irish coaching staff. Despite travel issues preventing cornerback Devin Williams and wide receiver Daylan McCutcheon from attending, the list of key targets is impressive.

Jerome Bettis Jr., the son of NFL legend Jerome Bettis, has long been in Notre Dame's sights. The Irish staff has made him a priority, and it seems only a matter of time before he joins the class. Meanwhile, wide receiver Elijah Burress, son of former NFL great Plaxico Burress, has quickly arranged his first visit after receiving an offer last week.

On the offensive line, the Irish are hosting standout prospects Jack Lange, Owen Strebig, and Matty Augustine. These prospects could be crucial additions to the 2025 class, and I believe that the Irish lead for all three of these prospects.

Edge rusher Damien Shanklin will be making a return visit this weekend, and the staff would love to get him in the fold. Shanklin is explosive as a pass rusher and is a top priority for the coaching staff. 

Linebacker Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng, the younger brother of former Irish All-American Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, will be on campus this weekend. This is a big visit, as this recruitment seemed to be trending away from Notre Dame. The Irish will look to make a big impression on the talented linebacker. 

Cornerbacks Dallas Golden and Mark Zackery will both be in town this weekend as Mike Mickens looks to continue his dominance on the recruiting trail. Both of these players are extremely talented and I would not be surprised to see at least one of the two commit this weekend.

Wide receiver Shaun Terry and offensive lineman Cameron Herron are both visiting, and although they do not currently hold an offer from Notre Dame, one could come in the future.

Commit Watch

Notre Dame will be looking to add to their top ranked recruiting class this weekend, and I believe there are some players that will be ready to pull the trigger. Jerome Bettis Jr. is on commit watch, for obvious reasons, but as the class is filling up, it would not surprise me to see him commit this weekend. Mark Zackery IV, the talented corner out of Indianapolis, is a prospect that could pledge to the Irish this weekend.

All three of the offensive lineman are on commit watch for me, especially Owen Strebig and Jack Lange. Both are extremely talented prospects that project as tackles at the next level. Don’t be surprised if one, if not both, give a commitment over the weekend. The final player on commit watch for me is Damien Shanklin. The staff is in hot pursuit of elite pass rushers and they believe that Shanklin is a perfect fit. 

Full list of visitors for this weekend

(Committed players in bold)

Deuce Knight QB

Daniel Anderson RB

Justin Thurman RB

Will Black OL

CJ May DL

Christopher Burgess DL

Davion Dixon DL

Joseph Reiff DL

Dominik Hulak Edge

Ivan Taylor S

Ethan Long S

Cree Thomas CB

Nathaniel Owusu-Boatang LB

Damien Shanklin Edge

Dallas Golden CB

Mark Zackary IV CB

Jerome Bettis Jr WR

Elijah Burress WR

Shaun Terry WR

Brady Smigiel QB (2026)

Cameron Herron OL

Jack Lange OL

Matty Augustine OL

Owen Strebig OL

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