Marcus Freeman has made himself a constant in Deandre Bidden’s recruitment, and that steady presence has clearly registered with the 2028 Michigan wide receiver.
Bidden said he and Freeman talk every time Notre Dame reaches out, and their most recent conversation came earlier this week. That kind of direct involvement from the head coach has left an impression.
"That's my guy, man," Bidden told Irish Sports Daily of the Notre Dame head coach. "Knowing the head coach likes me, building a relationship with that guy is great because that guy is a great coach."
Bidden is a 4-star wide receiver in the 2028 class, listed at 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds. He plays at Harper Woods High School in Harper Woods, Michigan, and also lines up at cornerback for the Pioneers. He has emerged as one of the top prospects in Michigan’s 2028 group.
According to the latest 247Sports Composite rankings, Bidden is the No. 22 player in the class and the No. 6 receiver.
Notre Dame is in the mix with a long list of heavy hitters. Bidden already has close to 30 scholarship offers, including Alabama, Auburn, Boston College, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, LSU, Louisville, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas, USC, Vanderbilt and Wisconsin, among others.
He is hoping to get back to South Bend for Notre Dame’s Nov. 7 game against Miami, though that visit depends on Harper Woods’ playoff schedule. If it happens, it would be his third trip to Notre Dame.
He doesn’t have any other visits lined up right now. His plan is to trim his list in 2027, take official visits in the spring and make a college decision after those trips.
Notre Dame was not always viewed as a real threat here, but that changed after Bidden’s spring visit and another trip for the Michigan State game. Since then, the contact has only picked up, according to Irish Sports Daily.
Bidden backed up his upside with production at Harper Woods. As a sophomore in 2025, he posted about 800 all-purpose yards and 14 total touchdowns. That came after a strong freshman year in 2024, when he hauled in 32 catches for 700 yards and 11 scores.
In Other News...
Notre Dame Coaches Just Addressed A Frustrating WR Problem
Notre Dames receiver usage has become a talking point lately, and Marcus Freeman and Mike Brown didnt dodge it when asked about the limited wideout rotation. The coaches said the heavy workload for Jordan Faison, Micah Gilbert and Jaden Greathouse has come from a growing level of trust in those key players, which has helped explain why theyve been on the field so much in recent games.
At the same time, the staff knows the passing game works best when more options are available, and they acknowledged the need to get additional receivers involved moving forward. For Notre Dame, that means practice will matter as much as game day, with rotation chances expected to open up as more players continue to improve and earn trust. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame May Have Found The WR Boost Fans Needed
Jaden Greathouse has been one of the more encouraging storylines coming out of Notre Dames recent practices, and it is not hard to see why the coaching staff likes where his game is heading. After flashing in the Fighting Irishs win over BYU with eight catches for 125 yards, he spoke about the progress he has made in route running and competitiveness, two areas that can separate a solid receiver from one who changes what an offense can do.
For Notre Dame, the timing matters. The wide receiver room has been looking for someone to pair with Jordan Faison and help give the passing game a more dependable edge, and Greathouses growth has put him squarely in that conversation. His breakout against BYU stood out not just because of the production, but because it represented a major jump from what he had done before, leaving open the question of how quickly that momentum can carry into the rest of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Secondary Suddenly Faces Pressure At The Worst Time
Notre Dames secondary took a hit at a time when the margin for error is already thin, with Marcus Freeman confirming that defensive back DJ McKinney will miss an extended stretch because of injury. The good news, at least for later on, is that McKinney is expected back before the season is over, but the immediate picture is far less comforting for a defense trying to hold steady through the final weeks.
Jayden Sanders is set to slide into the field cornerback role while the Irish try to keep the rest of the back end intact, and the timing adds another layer of concern with Navy coming up next. Several Notre Dame players remain questionable for that game, which leaves Freeman and his staff managing availability as much as game planning. [Read more 🡒]