How Notre Dame CBs coach Mike Mickens has the attention of 2025 four-star recruit Adonyss Currie

Notre Dame cornerbacks coach Mike Mickens made the cross-country trip to Lancaster (Calif.) Quartz Hill to learn more about Adonyss Currie. But Mickens did not get to talk to the 2025 four-star cornerback. 

When Mickens traveled to Southern California, it was during the NCAA spring evaluation period in May. However, NCAA regulations prevent college coaches from having extended conversations with high school underclassmen. 

Still, Notre Dame’s fourth-year cornerbacks coach made it a point to evaluate the On3 Industry Ranking’s No. 23 prospect in California, even if it meant he could not talk to him. And Mickens ultimately determined there was enough to like about the On3 Industry Ranking’s No. 246 player and No. 23 cornerback to offer him a full-ride scholarship on May 8. 

NCAA rules also kept college coaches from contacting high school junior prospects directly until Aug. 1. So, Currie’s conversations with Mickens had been occasional. Now that the first of the month has come and gone, it’s much more frequent. 

“The conversations have been super positive,” Currie told Blue & Gold. “It’s just catching up and seeing how things are going. He asks me how I’m doing in school, my plans for the season and if I’m playing both sides of the ball. I asked him how Notre Dame is looking.”

The 6-foot-3, 174-pound Currie reports 16 Power Five offers from schools nationwide. Still, he has yet to unofficially visit a school. Because of his connection with Mickens, making a trip to Notre Dame is at the top of his mind.

“I like Coach Mickens as a person,” Currie said. “I could connect with him on a good level. And I also want to see what their facility looks like and everything else. And I want to see how they practice and if I could really see myself going there. 

“The conversations could be good, but maybe the atmosphere isn’t right. So that’s why I want to go see it.” 

Currie gives insight into his college football recruitment 

On Jan. 16, Penn State was the first school to offer Currie a scholarship. Regional schools Colorado State, Utah, Arizona, Oregon State, Oregon, BYU, California and Washington eventually followed suit. But eventual winter offers from Ole Miss, Oklahoma and Florida turned Currie into one of the West Coast’s best to the nation’s most coveted. 

Since Aug. 1, Currie said he has had great conversations with a “couple of schools.” However, he did not reveal which ones.

“I’m excited just to be a part of this,” he said. “It’s amazing, a crazy process, especially the first day of August. There are a couple more schools that I’ve been in contact with that show great conversation skills. They all welcome me and want to go to their schools.”

And even though half of his Power Five scholarship offers are from schools out West, he has interest in seeing the schools outside his region too.

“Playing close to home is cool,” he said. “But it doesn’t really matter. I’m more than happy to go someplace far. Explore other cities and cultures. California could be way different than somewhere in the South. 

“It’s not really a big factor to play close to home. But if that’s just what it is at the end of the day, that’s just what it is.” 

Notre Dame was the 12th school to offer him a scholarship and the first one to join the mix in the spring. 

Currie is also a track and field athlete. Two days before Mickens gave him a scholarship offer, he clocked a personal best 10.52-second mark in the 100-meter dash. During his sophomore football season, Currie had 25 tackles (22 solo), an interception, fumble recovery and pass breakup.

While football will have his full attention this season, he wants to eventually visit Notre Dame. It all goes back to the relationship he’s built with Mickens. 

“He’s really thorough when he talks right and gets things across well,” Currie said. “Now, I know that Notre Dame has a huge reputation and network. You’re not just talking about trying to get to the league and everything, but also doing something in my career.

“Notre Dame is a good school because the networking is everywhere you go. That’s a household logo. Everybody knows Notre Dame. If you rep that around, everybody knows what that is.” 

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