Notre Dame Football: Arizona DB’s decision day is golden opportunity
![A fan wears a Freeman ’22 jersey before the Notre Dame vs. California NCAA football game Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend.Notre Dame Vs California A fan wears a Freeman ’22 jersey before the Notre Dame vs. California NCAA football game Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend.Notre Dame Vs California](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/f8a8dbbdf747ea099e939e1d214bfb03c03332463e5c5e07aa10467230b617f3.jpg)
The Notre Dame Football team appears to have quite the opportunity to lock up one of the best defenders in the 2025 class in Cree Thomas very soon.
While the performance on the field in 2023 hasn’t lived up to expectations, there is one area that even the most staunch Marcus Freeman critics have to give the head coach credit. Notre Dame Football recruiting is a juggernaut.
The 2024 recruiting class is currently ranked 8th in the nation, according to 247Sports. The 2025 class is currently ranked 3rd in the country. And that’s before it lands Arizona defensive back Cree Thomas.
While there is no guarantee that Thomas is going to be joining such a talented group, it feels like a near-foregone conclusion based on most people dialed into recruiting buzz. Either way, it appears as though the wait to see where the 3-star prospect ends up won’t be much longer.
Cree Thomas has said that he’ll be announcing his commitment on November 20. In the same announcement where he said when he would announce – a tribute day to his late grandfather – Thomas announced the final schools he’d be choosing between.
Notre Dame Football has some stiff competition.
Notre Dame Football has to fight off West Coast powers for Cree Thomas
In honor of my Grandfather who passed away on November 20th, I will be announcing my college decision on that day! Turning a negative day for my family into a positive! See you at Brophy Live on 247sports!! Thank you God! #bst @jason247scout @FootballBrophy @BrophyAthletics pic.twitter.com/6OsITLzd8E
— Cree Thomas (@CreeThomas3) November 11, 2023
In addition to the Fighting Irish, Thomas will be selecting between Oregon, Wisconsin, Arizona, Arizona State, Boston College, Cal, Colorado State, Nevada, Purdue, San Diego State and UNLV.
That’s quite an eclectic group. Not only is it an interesting collection of Power 5 and Group of 5 schools, they range all over the country.
Does Thomas want to stay on the West Coast? He’ll have his opportunity. Does he want to go to the East Coast? Boston College allows that to happen.
Perhaps he wants to go to the Rocky Mountains. CSU affords that opportunity. And then of course Purdue, Wisconsin and Notre Dame are all in the Midwest.
For what it’s worth, recruiting analysts have put in quite a few predictions saying that Cree Thomas will end up in South Bend with Notre Dame Football. We’ll find out in a matter of days when he announces his commitment.