While Notre Dame football’s recruiting efforts have taken some serious hits in the last few weeks, Marcus Freeman and company got a big pick-me-up on Friday morning. Heading into one of their biggest recruiting events of the early part of the year, the Irish now also know one of their top 2026 targets is hitting campus on an official visit later this year.
Since new running back Ja’juan Seider came over from Penn State, he and the ND coaching staff have been pushing hard to land 4-star running back Messiah Mickens. That’s a big deal because Mickens is currently committed to Penn State. However it was Seider who reeled him in for the Nittany Lions. There’s a feeling he might be able to get him to switch.
And that feeling was certainly fueled today when Mickens announced he’d “locked in” an official visit. This alone is something the Notre Dame football team has been hoping beyond hope and now it’s all about putting their best foot forward and winning this recruiting battle.
Notre Dame football bringing in a Messiah for official visit
For now, exactly what date Mickens will visit hasn’t been announced. However, it’s well known that he’d previously been eyeing a June 20 trip to South Bend. It would appear that’s what’s been locked in here, barring further details.
Getting an official visit is a massive deal. Especially since Mickens has already been in South Bend on an unofficial visit but wasn’t all that impressed: "I was there before and it wasn't a bad visit," Mickens told 247Sports. "It was just that I had a great bond with Coach Seider, and the Penn State staff. But me and Coach Seider, we have a great bond beyond football. He had a vision for me and how he wanted to use me. Him leaving, it's tough."
There’s also the fact that he’s much sought after. Getting an official visit is an important next step but the battle is a long way from being over.
In addition to Notre Dame football, Messiah Mickens is looking at powerhouse schools like Georgia, Miami and Oregon. Despite that, it feels like a two-team fight. Though the fight will likely run all the way until December.