Official visitor storylines: How two targets could keep an amazing Notre Dame recruiting run intact

The first of three Notre Dame football recruiting official visitor groups arrives on Friday. When they do, three uncommitted 2025 class targets and most of the Fighting Irish’s defensive class will be on campus. 

Since Notre Dame has the most complete class in 2025, this year’s official visit events might lack their typical luster. After this weekend, there are only two other slates: when three other targets visit from June 11-13, and two more are in town with most of the program’s offensive commits from June 14-16.

Yet, two compelling storylines surround this weekend’s expected official visitors. Blue & Gold breaks it down below. The rankings referenced are according to the On3 Industry Ranking. 

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Will Notre Dame close on one, two or none …?

… visiting linebackers this weekend. As the Nos. 74 and 78 overall players in the 2025 class, Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng and Madden Faraimo are undoubtedly the marquee visitors in South Bend. The four-star thumpers also rank as the Nos. 5 and 8 linebackers in the nation, respectively.

Since Marcus Freeman arrived in 2021, first as a defensive coordinator before being named head coach in December of that year, the Irish have consistently secured top-tier linebacker prospects. This successful streak, landing at least one notable linebacker in three consecutive cycles, is particularly impressive as these recruits come from areas that have been historically unfriendly to Notre Dame. 

In the 2022 class, Freeman’s first cycle, he managed to get a verbal commitment from the highly sought-after prospect Jaylen Sneed from Hilton Head Island (S.C.) Hilton Head High. This was a significant achievement. Before Sneed, Notre Dame had only ever signed four recruits from The Palmetto State in the internet recruiting era (since 2002). 

Then, in the 2023 cycle, Freeman plucked top 200 four-star recruit Jaiden Ausberry right out of Brian Kelly’s backyard. Baton Rouge (La.) University Lab’s Ausberry — who attended high school on LSU’s campus — committed to Notre Dame over Alabama, Auburn, Florida, LSU, Michigan and Texas A&M. 

Finally, in 2024, Freeman pulled off a coup after getting another near five-star, Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, over Ohio State and USC. Before Viliamu-Asa, the Irish only added one recruit (D.J. Morgan) from Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco in the Internet recruiting era.

Can Freeman do it again? History serves him well despite Faraimo and Owusu-Boateng posing highly competitive recruitments.

San Juan Capistrano (Calif.) JSerra Catholic’s Faraimo, hails from Southern California, where Notre Dame has had past trouble making inroads. However, his recruitment mirrors Viliamu-Asa’s. Two of Faraimo’s finalists feature the Buckeyes and Trojans — a pair of programs Notre Dame beat out for Viliamu-Asa. Faraimo also has Oregon, Texas and Washington in his top group. 

According to On3’s vice president of recruiting and transfer portal, Steve Wiltfong, there is a lot of buzz surrounding the Irish for Faraimo. I had a similar sense of Faraimo — who has one of the most closely guarded recruitments I have ever covered — when I spoke to him on April 14. He wants to have a decision locked in before his senior season. 

As for Owusu-Boateng, Wiltfong said if he “was forced” to pick a frontrunner for him, it would be Notre Dame. That vibe reflects how we felt the Irish were trending after his unofficial visit on Jan. 20. Since then, Michigan, Ohio State and USC have emerged as Notre Dame’s top competition. 

Owusu-Boateng is a product of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy, a school that has not been kind to Notre Dame in the past. Still, he is the younger half-brother of former Irish linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. The younger Owusu’s recruitment could go into his senior season, so Notre Dame must keep its foot on the gas. 

Linebackers coach Max Bullough has established a reputation as a fantastic recruiter, and defensive coordinator Al Golden’s reputation speaks for itself. Plus, he helped land Ausberry and Viliamu-Asa. 

Typically, I would say it would be challenging for the Irish to pick up pledges from two elite recruits at the same position in the same cycle — especially one that already features two commits in three-star Ko’o Kia and four-star Anthony Sacca. However, Faraimo and Owusu-Boateng are anomalies. The faith aspect of Notre Dame appeals to Faraimo and Owusu-Boateng is related to Owusu-Koramoah. Those conditions should favor Notre Dame when it comes time for them to commit.

Freeman and Company must close this weekend … or at least make progress in prying an eventual pledge from Faraimo and/or Owusu-Boateng. 

What will the outcome of Jahmir Joseph’s official visit be? 

Jahmir Joseph’s Notre Dame OV is one of the most fascinating ones the program has encountered in the 2025 cycle. The four-star from Montvale (N.J.) St. Joseph Regional has never been to South Bend, and defensive backs coach Mike Mickens has already collected verbals from three other four-star cornerbacks.

The 6-foot, 165-pound Joseph is the No. 181 overall player, No. 22 cornerback and No. 4 prospect in New Jersey in 2025. After Mickens added late-spring commitments from top 125 recruits Dallas Golden and Mark Zackey, the Irish started targeting Joseph as a safety rather than no longer recruiting him.

Yet, Notre Dame still has two prized safety commits in Ethan Long and Ivan Taylor. It also leads for the No. 154 overall player and No. 15 safety in the class in four-star JaDon Blair. Winston-Salem (N.C.) Mount Tabor’s Blair will officially visit campus from June 11-13. 

Joseph has a Top 5 schools of Georgia, Notre Dame, Penn State, Stanford and South Carolina. The opposition has a much more compelling personnel recruiting pitch than the Irish. 

Joseph has been to Penn State the most of any school, unofficially visiting three times ahead of his June OV. The Nittany Lions only have one cornerback (Xxavier Thomas) committed in their defensive backfield. Joseph made a late May visit to Georgia, which has no defensive backs in its 2025 class. 

South Carolina has a 2025 corner (Shamari Earls) and a safety in Damarcus Leach. Stanford has two players each at those respective positions (cornerbacks Lonnie McAllister and Chris Garland and safeties Omari Gaines and Donte Utu).

With Blair’s visit beginning soon after Joseph’s concludes, I’d be surprised if ND accepted a Joseph commitment on the spot. However, if Blair ends up committing elsewhere on July 5, the Irish might need to put the full-court press on Joseph if they want a third safety in the class. So, they cannot—and will not—overlook his visit.

With just three spots remaining on defense in the 2025 cycle, Freeman and director of player personnel Chad Bowden’s efforts have put them in a prime position. Now, it is up to them to close for their persistence to pay off.

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