Notre Dame Cruises Past Michigan State: Recruit Reactions

Photo via Notre Dame Athletics

Notre Dame gave its recruiting visitors plenty to remember Saturday, coming away with a big win over Michigan State 27-10 in front of a packed Notre Dame Stadium. The Irish came out firing immediately as CJ Carr made quick work of the Michigan State defense, finding Micah Gilbert for a 61-yard pass on the first play of the game as the stadium erupted. The game was a back-and-forth slugfest, with Notre Dame coming out in the second half and suffocating Michigan State, holding them to zero points in the 3rd and 4th quarters. For several prospects, the game day experience made an impression that went well beyond the final score.

I reached out to the recruits who were on campus, and this is what they had to say about their experience.

2027 5-Star IOL Albert Simien (15th Natl. 2nd Pos.)

“Getting back to ND was great. Getting to catch up with the staff and players was definitely a highlight of the trip. My favorite part has to be the atmosphere of the stadium throughout the game, it was amazing.”

2027 4-Star CB Ace Alston (96th Natl. 11th Pos.)

“The game experience was great. The atmosphere was crazy, and it was good getting to see them boys compete in person. My favorite moment of the trip was just being around everything and taking in the environment. Every time I’m around Notre Dame, it reminds me why I committed and how excited I am to be a part of it.”

2028 4-Star Elite CB Langston Pridgeon (89th Natl. 8th Pos.)

“The game environment was top notch and the defense was flying around the entire game. I think the defense staff has built a complementary defense with great dbs and dline.”

2028 4-Star Elite DL RJ Wyms (57th Natl. 6th Pos.)

“The experience was great my favorite moment of the trip was the QB pressure by Traore and Shuler getting the pick.”

2028 4-Star OT Wyatt VanBoening (80th Natl. 11th Pos.)

“The game day experience was great. It was one of the best atmospheres that I’ve been in. The energy and culture were amazing. My favorite moment of the trip was getting to meet with some of the lineman after the game.”

2028 4-Star LB Allen Kennett V (197th Natl. 10th Pos.)

“This was one of the games I was excited about being at. Both schools are recruiting me really hard. So to be able to see them play each other was ideal. Being in South Bend is always amazing. This was my third time up here.

My favorite part was being able to be around the team and coaches. How everyone welcomes you in like family and the new facilities really stood out to me on my visit. Coach Freeman is building something special here. He’s the type of coach I would want to play for. Being able to see both teams that are recruiting me play each other was important for me to see."

2028 4-Star WR Maddox Weil

“The game was electric! My favorite moment of the trip was the opening play, which was the long pass to Micah Gilbert. That was very nice to see and the crowd was going crazy.”

2028 3-Star RB Ammar Banire

“The trip there was great! The energy at the game was electric and it was the best atmosphere I’ve been in so far.”

2028 WR KeiVon Mattox

“Notre Dame is a special place. I love the traditions, and everything is top-tier. It was great following up with Coach Mike Brown and Coach Shaun Shivers. Their recruiting staff of Kenny Sanders, Carter Auman, Justice Bathas, and Tim Brown, Jr. has always been complimentary and has seen what I can do on the field. The thing that I liked most is seeing Notre Dame willing to play players of all sizes. I was told that they value heart over height, and I think that is the description of my game.”

2029 4-Star Elite WR Maddox Porter (4th Natl. 1st Pos.)

“It was an elite game day visit! The atmosphere was electric, and the fans were locked in and had a lot of energy all night. Overall, my time in South Bend was great, and I look forward to returning soon.”

2029 QB Jaxon Franco

“I love everything about Notre Dame; it’s an amazing place, it can’t be explained. I loved getting to reconnect with Coach Guidugli and Coach Kurt Rawlings; I got to visit with them before the game. What I loved the most was being on the field for the Alma Mater with all the other recruits and getting to go into the locker room afterwards and celebrate with the team!”

With multiple recruits leaving South Bend impressed, Notre Dame’s dominant performance was only part of what made Saturday an important recruiting weekend for the Irish.

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