2025 linebacker target Dominik Hulak details first Notre Dame recruiting visit

When Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden offered Dominik Hulak a scholarship during the program’s Pot of Gold Day recruiting event, the 2025 linebacker’s reaction was to immediately get to South Bend for an unofficial recruiting visit. 

“I was really excited,” Hulak told Blue & Gold. “Once I called (director of recruiting) Chad Bowden and Al Golden, they picked up the phone the second I called them. So that got me really excited. I was like, ‘Okay, I gotta get down there as soon as possible because Notre Dame is a huge school.’” 

As it turned out, the Chicago Immaculate Conception Catholic Prep product wasted no time to check out the Irish for the first time. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound sophomore visited Notre Dame last Saturday. 

Most of Hulak’s visit consisted of watching the Irish at spring practice. During it, he saw lots of parallels to his high school team’s practice structure. 

“I really liked it because it was very similar to ours at IC,” he said. “I was able to go along with it because I knew based on what we saw on the agenda in the morning with the players and what (head) Coach (Marcus) Freeman) showed us on the board, it was very similar to ours.”

So far this year, Hulak has visited Northwestern (Jan. 28) and will visit Wisconsin (April 1), Iowa (April 8) and Illinois (April 15). He has already visited Illinois for a game day and participated in an Iowa camp. Hulak reports Power offers from Illinois, Purdue, Wisconsin and Iowa State. 

Hulak does not yet have an On3 or On3 Industry Ranking. As a sophomore, he had 57 tackles, three tackles for loss, two pass breakups, one sack and two blocked field goals in 13 games.

Hulak impressed by Notre Dame coaches, linebackers

Hulak naturally watched Golden and the Irish linebackers corps during Notre Dame’s spring practice.  It became a valuable experience for the standout high school sophomore prospect. 

“I was watching them to see how I can improve myself watching older college players and see what techniques I can add to my own style of play,” Hulak said. 

He also appreciated Golden and assistant linebackers coach Max Bullough’s coaching styles.

“If somebody did something wrong, the coach showed them how to do it,” Hulak said. “He didn’t just tell them. He went full-on and showed them how to do it. Some coaches just tell you how to do it, and it’s hard to understand. But I like how they showed them to do it. He did it himself.”

After practice, Hulak had a personalized 45-minute meeting with Golden. During it, Notre Dame’s second-year defensive coordinator focused on the educational aspect of the school.

“He said you’re not going to be failing a single class because you’re always going to have some tutor or someone to help you, so you don’t have to worry,” said Hulak, recalling Golden’s message. “You’ll always make football. And not have to worry about your grades.”

Hulak won’t have to worry about passing a college course for at least two years. His college football recruitment is just getting started, and he plans to be patient with it.

“I have many visits to go,” he said. “Every visit is going to be different. It could be the same school, but I could think of something different every time. When I make a final decision, it will come down to what I liked better and what direction I decide to go.”

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