Notre Dame coaches on the road: Irish staff seeing big-time prospects in the Northeast Thursday

It feels like just yesterday that Notre Dame began hitting the road for the 2024 spring evaluation period, but believe it or not, it’s our understanding that they have five days left on the road. Sources tell Blue & Gold that the staff will be on the road today, May 9 and will be out at high schools four days next week before turning their attention to summer official visits.

And as always, the staff has intriguing trips lined up.

During the spring evaluation period, the Irish staff can have “contact” with high school juniors. That means they can have full-on conversations rather than just a “bump” as previously allowed. But as far as 2026 prospects go, the “bump” rule remains.

The NCAA does not permit head coaches from visiting prospects during the spring period.

Here is where the Fighting Irish staff is expected to be on Thursday, according to Blue & Gold sources:

— Notre Dame has a big group of staffers in the Garden State Thursday, including offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock and receivers coach Mike Brown. One confirmed stop they have is at Wayne (N.J.) DePaul Catholic to visit with Elijah Burress, a class of 2025 prospect who has been committed to the Irish since Feb. 10.

— Irish quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli has been on the West Coast this week, seeing a few quarterback prospects in the Golden State. On Thursday, he’ll get to watch San Marcos (Calif.) Mission Hills’ Troy Huhn, a class of 2026 quarterback target for the Irish, in action. He’s also expected to drop by La Mesa (Calif.) Mount Miguel, home of 2026 athlete and Notre Dame target Brandon Arrington.

— Going into the Peach State and beating out southern powers for a big-time running back is a difficult task, but position coach Deland McCullough and Co. are giving it a shot. Sources tell Blue & Gold that McCullough will be at Tyrone (Ga.) Sandy Creek and Carrolton (Ga.) Central to check in on four-star running backs Amari Latimer and Jonaz Walton, respectively. Notre Dame offered both players for Pot of Gold day in March.

— Notre Dame will be busy in Connecticut Thursday. Irish offensive line coach Joe Rudolph will check in at Greenwich (Conn.) Brunswick School to meet with Notre Dame tackle commit Matty Augustine.

— Moving over to the defensive side of the ball, defensive coordinator Al Golden and cornerbacks coach Mike Mickens will be in New Jersey. They’ll make a stop at Oradell (N.J.) Bergen Catholic, which is always loaded with prospects. One big underclassmen target at Bergen for the Irish is 2026 athlete Jordan Thomas, who the staff has already offered.

It’s our understanding that they’ll also be at Montvale (N.J.) St. Joseph Regional to meet with 2025 four-star cornerback Jahmir Joseph. I was under the impression that Notre Dame might not be pursuing Joseph much moving forward, but I’m guessing that was incorrect given Mickens and Golden’s visit to his high school today. Look for Joseph to officially visit Notre Dame in June.

Mickens is also expected to be at Brunswick School along with Rudolph. That school is home to another Irish pledge — 2025 safety Ethan Long.

— Notre Dame defensive line coach Al Washington will pop by Bergen Catholic as well, checking in on 2026 defensive line target Jermaine Kinsler. For the past couple weeks, Washington has been inquiring about various various class of 2025 interior D-line prospects, and he’s expected to be at Princeton (N.J.) Hun School to learn more about Kole Briehler, a 6-3, 263-pounder with offers from the likes of Oklahoma, Ohio State, Stanford and Michigan.

— Irish linebackers coach Max Bullough will be in the Sunshine State to inquire about Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.) The Benjamin School class of 2026 linebacker Adam Balogoun-Ali, a four-star player.

— On Wednesday night, Blue & Gold reported that Brandon (Miss.) Hartfield Academy class of 2026 safety Bralan Womack would be at Notre Dame June 2 for the staff’s Irish Invasion camp. Sources tell Blue & Gold that special teams coordinator Marty Biagi will be at Womack’s school today. Could the staff decide to offer him today rather than June when he visits? Either way, we expect Womack to end up with a Notre Dame offer.

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