Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman on Riley Leonard’s character
Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman praises the character, resilience of QB Riley Leonard, calls Duke transfer ‘a great human being’
SOUTH BEND — The third full recruiting class for Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman was set to go official as the newly expedited Early Signing Day dawned Wednesday morning.
Check back here throughout the day for updates as 24 committed Class of 2025 recruits make their agreements official with the Irish:
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Clark Wade, Indianapolis Star
Signed:
Cree Thomas, cornerback
Height/weight: 6-1, 180
Hometown (high school): Phoenix, Ariz. (Brophy College Prep)
Commitment date: 11/20/23
247Sports Composite: Three stars, No. 40 CB
Rivals: Four stars, No. 35 CB
On3: Three stars, No. 77 CB
ESPN: Three stars, No. 64 CB
Notable: Product of same program that sent CB Benjamin Morrison to Notre Dame.
James Flanigan, tight end
Height/weight: 6-5, 220
Hometown (high school): Green Bay, Wisc. (Notre Dame de la Baie Academy)
Commitment date: 10/21/23
247Sports Composite: Four stars, No. 6 TE
Rivals: Four stars, No. 9 TE
On3: Four stars, No. 5 TE
ESPN: Four stars, No. 2 TE
Notable: Son of former Notre Dame and NFL defensive tackle Jim Flanigan Jr., whose father also played in the NFL. James Flanigan also won state titles in hockey and track and field.
Christopher Burgess, Jr., defensive end
Height/weight: 6-4, 240
Hometown (high school): Chicago (Simeon)
Commitment date: 1/6/24
247Sports Composite: Four stars, No. 9 DE
Rivals: Four stars, No. 4 DE
On3: Four stars, No. 26 DE
ESPN: Four stars, No. 22 DE
Notable: Versatile lineman holds invitations to Navy All-American and Polynesian bowls.
Joseph Reiff, defensive lineman
Height/weight: 6-5, 245
Hometown (high school): Elmhurst, Ill. (York)
Commitment date: 9/24/23
247Sports Composite: Four stars, No. 46 DL
Rivals: Four stars, No. 14 DL
On3: Four stars, No. 29 DL
ESPN: Three stars, No. 76 DL
Notable: Upheld his commitment for more than 14 months.
Owen Strebig, offensive tackle
Height/weight: 6-8, 295
Hometown (high school): Waukesha, Wisc. (Catholic Memorial)
Commitment date: 2/8/24
247Sports Composite: Four stars, No. 21 OT
Rivals: Four stars, No. 15
On3: Three stars, No. 54
ESPN: Four stars, No. 24
Notable: Towering left tackle has a baseball background.
Dominik Hulak, defensive end
Height/weight: 6-3, 225
Hometown (high school): Elmhurst, Ill. (Immaculate Conception)
Commitment date: 11/10/23
247Sports Composite: Three stars, No. 37 DE
Rivals: Four stars, No. 19 DE
On3: Four stars, No. 30 DE
ESPN: Three stars, No. 33 DE
Notable: Also showed promise as a tight end, but edge skills lead the way.
Erik Schmidt, kicker
Height/weight: 6-1, 185
Hometown (high school): Milwaukee, Wisc. (Marquette University)
Commitment date: 12/2/24
247Sports Composite: Three stars, No. 1 kicker
Rivals: Three stars, No rank
On3: Three stars, No. 5 PK
ESPN: Three stars, No. 3 PK
Notable: Late flip from Wisconsin posted a 93% touchback rate as a senior.
Will Black, offensive tackle
Height/weight: 6-7, 295
Hometown (high school): Wallingford, Conn. (Choate Rosemary Hall)
Commitment date: 12/21/23
247Sports Composite: Four stars, No. 6 tackle
Rivals: Four stars, No. 4 tackle
On3: Four stars, No. 1 tackle
ESPN: Four stars, No. 13 tackle
Notable: Has experience in hockey, basketball and lacrosse, which aided his advanced footwork.
Gordy Sulfsted, defensive lineman
Height/weight: 6-5, 240
Hometown (high school): Cincinnati, Ohio (St. Xavier)
Commitment date: 5/19/24
247Sports Composite: Three stars, No. 77 DL
Rivals: Three stars, No. 34 DL
On3: Three stars, No. 108 DL
ESPN: Three stars, No. 84 DL
Notable: Son of Alex Sulfsted, former NFL offensive tackle who played at Miami (Ohio).
Elijah Burress, wide receiver
Height/weight: 6-1, 170
Hometown (high school): Wayne, N.J. (DePaul Catholic)
Commitment date: 2/10/24
247Sports Composite: Three stars, No. 89 WR
Rivals: Three stars, No. 99 WR
On3: Three stars, No. 124 WR
ESPN: Four stars, No. 47 WR
Notable: Son of former NFL WR and Super Bowl champion Plaxico Burress. Mother competed in track and field at Penn State.
JaDon Blair, safety
Height/weight: 6-4, 190
Hometown (high school): Winston-Salem, N.C. (Mount Tabor)
Commitment date: 7/5/24
247Sports Composite: Four stars, No. 12 safety
Rivals: Four stars, No. 27 safety
On3: Four stars, No. 4 safety
ESPN: Four stars, No. 16 safety
Notable: Son of former NFL defensive lineman Ja’Warren Blair, who played at East Carolina.
Anthony Sacca, linebacker
Height/weight: 6-3, 225
Hometown (high school): Philadelphia (St. Joseph’s Prep)
Commitment date: 3/30/24
247Sports Composite: Four stars, No. 23 LB
Rivals: Four stars, No. 9 LB
On3: Three stars, No. 89 LB
ESPN: Four stars, No. 22 LB
Notable: Son of former Penn State QB Tony Sacca (1988-91), who teamed with Nittany Lions TE Al Golden (now Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator).
Antavious Richardson, cornerback
Height/weight: 6-0, 175
Hometown (high school): Greenville, Ga. (HS)
Commitment date: 10/1/24
247Sports Composite: Four stars, No. 19 CB
Rivals: Three stars, No. 54 CB
On3: Four stars, No. 6 CB
ESPN: Four stars, No. 17 CB
Notable: Track standout owns state titles in 100 and 200 meters. Nickname is “Scrap.”
Nolan James Jr., running back
Height/weight: 5-10, 200
Hometown (high school): Wayne, N.J. (DePaul Catholic)
Commitment date: 11/11/24
247Sports Composite: Four stars, No. 47 athlete
Rivals: Three stars, No. 50 RB
On3: Three stars, No. 34 RB
ESPN: Three stars, No. 69 RB
Notable: Flipped late after 11-plus months as a Boston College commit; teammate of fellow Notre Dame recruit Elijah Burress.
Cameron Herron, offensive lineman
Height/weight: 6-3, 275
Hometown (high school): Indianapolis (Warren Central)
Commitment date: 10/14/24
247Sports Composite: Four stars, No. 24 Interior OL
Rivals: Three stars, No. 21 IOL
On3: Four stars, No. 11 IOL
ESPN: Three stars, No. 19 IOL
Notable: Switched commitment from Iowa after four months on Hawkeyes’ list. Quick feet, projects as guard/center.
Brandon Logan, safety
Height/weight: 6-0, 185
Hometown (high school): Fort Wayne (Snider)
Commitment date: 8/10/24
247Sports Composite: Three stars, No. 68 safety
Rivals: Three stars, No rank
On3: Four stars, No. 31 safety
ESPN: Three stars, No. 60 safety
Notable: Two-sport star who had been committed to Vanderbilt as an outfielder.
Davion Dixon, defensive lineman
Height/weight: 6-2, 290
Hometown (high school): Miami, Fla. (Palmetto)
Commitment date: 4/21/23
247Sports Composite: Three stars, No. 75 DL
Rivals: Four stars, No. 25 DL
On3: Three stars, No. 135 DL
ESPN: Three stars, No. 77 DL
Notable: Shotput standout who shows a knack as a pass rusher.
Blake Hebert, quarterback
Height/weight: 6-3, 215
Hometown (high school): Greenwich, Conn. (Brunswick School)
Commitment date: 10/14/24
247Sports Composite: Four stars, No. 27 QB
Rivals: Four stars, No. 17 QB
On3: Three stars, No. 35 QB
ESPN: Four stars No. 7 QB
Notable: Sturdy pocket passer who missed his junior season with a fractured ankle in the season opener. Flipped from Clemson after late defection of longtime Irish QB commit Deuce Knight to Auburn.
Jerome Bettis, Jr., wide receiver
Height/weight: 6-2, 190
Hometown (high school): Atlanta, Ga. (Woodward Academy)
Commitment date: 3/17/24
247Sports Composite: Three stars, No. 125 WR
Rivals: Three stars. No rank
On3: Three stars, No. 192 WR
ESPN: Three stars, No. 113 WR
Notable: Son of Pro Football Hall of Fame running back and Notre Dame great Jerome Bettis.
Matty Augustine, offensive tackle
Height/weight: 6-7, 290
Hometown (high school): Greenwich, Conn. (Brunswick School)
Commitment date: 2/20/24
247Sports Composite: Four stars, No. 32 OT
Rivals: Four stars, No. 23 OT
On3: Three stars, No. 42 OT
ESPN: Three stars, No. 73 OT
Notable: One of three commitments from the alma mater of Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua.
Mark Zackery IV, cornerback
Height/weight: 5-10, 164
Hometown (high school): Indianapolis (Ben Davis)
Commitment date: 5/25/24
247Sports Composite: Four stars, No. 17 CB
Rivals: Four stars, No. 27 CB
On3: Four stars, No. 13 CB
ESPN: Four stars, No. 24 CB
Notable: Displayed advanced ball skills while playing wideout and winning a state basketball title. From same program as former Notre Dame LB Asmar Bilal.
Dallas Golden, cornerback
Height/weight: 6-0, 176
Hometown (high school): Tampa, Fla. (Berkeley Prep)
Commitment date: 4/28/24
247Sports Composite: Four stars, No. 3 athlete
Rivals: Four stars, No. 7 CB
On3: Four stars, No. 16 CB
ESPN: Four stars, No. 13 CB
Notable: Versatile athlete who posted back-to-back 1,400-yard rushing seasons.
Ethan Long, safety
Height/weight: 6-2, 185
Hometown (high school): Greenwich, Conn. (Brunswick School)
Commitment date: 1/8/24
247Sports Composite: Three stars, No. 44 safety
Rivals: Four stars, No. 39 safety
On3: Three stars, No. 72 safety
ESPN: Three stars, No. 53 safety
Notable: Two-sport star (basketball) reclassified into 2025 haul after transferring from Trumbull (Conn.) St. Joseph following his sophomore year.
Committed
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Ko’o Kia, linebacker
Height/weight: 6-2, 210
Hometown (high school): Honolulu, Hawaii (Punahou)
Commitment date: 1/15/24
247Sports Composite: Three stars, No. 65 LB
Rivals: Three stars, No. 42 LB
On3: Three stars, No. 38 LB
ESPN: Three stars, No. 51 LB
Notable: Younger brother of Notre Dame LB Kahanu Kia.
Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com. Follow him on social media @MikeBerardino.
