Notre Dame’s push for Langston Pridgeon is picking up steam, and the timing of his next visit gives the Irish a real opening.
Pridgeon is scheduled to be in South Bend on September 19 for Notre Dame’s game against Michigan State, another chance for Marcus Freeman’s staff to make its case in person. The 2028 defensive back already has plenty of options, but Notre Dame has managed to separate itself from the pack for two reasons: tradition and the value of the education.
Pridgeon explained that pull in a conversation with On3 analyst Steve Wilftong: "The tradition at Notre Dame is powerful, and the quality of its education is something I greatly value."
That’s been a familiar theme for Notre Dame on the recruiting trail. The academic piece has long been part of the pitch in South Bend, and for prospects like Pridgeon, it carries real weight. What once may have looked like a hurdle has become a selling point, especially with players thinking beyond football and into what comes next.
The 6-foot-2, 175-pound cornerback from DeMatha Catholic in Hyattsville, Maryland, fits the profile of the kind of high-end defensive back Notre Dame wants to keep chasing. He’s ranked by 247Sports Composite as the No. 89 player in the 2028 class, the No. 8 cornerback, and the No. 4 player in Maryland.
The list of programs chasing him is long. Auburn, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Indiana, LSU, Miami, North Carolina, Ohio State, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Wisconsin are all in the mix, along with many others. More than 35 schools have already offered.
Ohio State appears to be the main threat right now. Lettermen Row believes the Buckeyes may be close to landing him, but recruiting for the 2028 class is still early enough that momentum can swing fast.
That’s why this next trip matters so much for Notre Dame. If Pridgeon gets another strong look at the Irish on September 19, the program could take a big step in a battle that already has serious national attention.
In Other News...
Miami Just Got A Reality Check In The Title Race
Miami enters the new season carrying the kind of expectations that come with a team that just played for the College Football Playoff national championship. CBS Sports still views the Hurricanes as a major contender, placing them No. 7 in its preseason rankings, but that comes after a significant slide from No. 2 in the previous final rankings. The drop reflects a broader shift at the top of the sport, where programs like Ohio State, Oregon, Notre Dame, Georgia and Texas have all moved ahead on the strength of returning talent and offseason momentum.
For Miami, the biggest concern is up front, where the offensive line took a hit with several starters headed to the NFL. That kind of turnover can matter in a league race as tight as the ACC, especially for a team trying to back up a championship run and stay in the national conversation. The Hurricanes still have the look of a contender, but the preseason perception is a reminder that repeating a climb to the top is never automatic. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Fall Camp Takes An Early Hit At Two Positions
Fall camp was only just getting rolling when Notre Dame took an early hit at two spots, with two young players now sidelined for the time being. Matty Augustine, a 2025 recruit who was competing for the starting right guard job, is dealing with a foot injury, while freshman cornerback Chaz Smith also has been slowed after suffering an injury of his own. Both players arrived with a chance to factor into the roster conversation, which makes the timing especially frustrating as the Irish try to sort out depth and competition in August.
The good news for Notre Dame is that neither situation appears to be season-ending, and each player is still expected back at some point during the year. Augustines injury removes him from a battle that had the potential to shape the interior line early in camp, while Smiths absence briefly thins a cornerback room that already has plenty of evaluation ahead. For now, the Irish can only wait and keep the rest of camp moving, hoping both young players are back in the mix soon enough to make an impact later in the season. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Already Faces One Big Fall Camp Question Up Front
Notre Dames sixth fall camp practice came with the usual mix of evaluation and adjustment up front, where offensive line coach Joe Rudolph and defensive line coach Charlie Partridge both spent time sorting through progress, health, and depth. Rudolph addressed the ripple effect of Matty Augustines injury, while also pointing to the way other linemen have handled the added work as the staff keeps trying to stabilize a critical area before the season starts.
On the other side of the line, Partridge said Keon Keeley and Armel Mukam are moving forward as they take on more of the playbook, a sign that the Irish are still trying to see how much they can trust certain young pieces in meaningful roles. Senior voices Ashton Craig and Boubacar Traore also offered a glimpse into camp from a players perspective, talking through conditioning and growth, but the broader question remains how quickly the line can settle into something dependable. [Read more 🡒]