It's hard to put into words just how electric Marcus Freeman has been out on the recruiting trail for Notre Dame. Everyone was just reminded of that once again with 5-star pass-rusher Darieon Prescott announcing that he's going to play his college ball in South Bend. This is yet another massive get for Freeman, who has been on a tear in recent months.
Despite Prescott being a 2028 prospect, the Irish have been prioritizing him for a little while, which included multiple visits to town to watch the Irish in action at Notre Dame Stadium. So, even with his National Signing Day still being well over a year away, why did Prescott shut things down so early? He didn't hold back with his response.
“I’ve been visiting there for so long, and when I got one of my first major offers, it was from Notre Dame,” Prescott said. “They were the first school to ever believe in me, even coming off a national championship (appearance). Marcus Freeman was one of those people who believed in me. Coming in, even with coach (Al) Washington talking and leaving, that meant a lot to me because at the end of the day, Notre Dame is home."
"I always felt that way every time I visited and every time I went to a home game. Coach (Charlie) Partridge was a great part of that too. Going down (for a visit), we talked for an hour or two on life and football, and I always respected the fact that he wasn’t a coach just looking at me as a player, but also as a man.”
Darieon Prescott, a Top 40 recruit in ESPN's 2028 class, has committed to the University of Notre Dame, he announced on the @PatMcAfeeShow 🏈🍀 pic.twitter.com/KNw1ZO5tXx
— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) July 27, 2026
Darieon Prescott didn't hold back on why committing to Notre Dame was a no-brainer
As you can see, it wasn't just one singular reason as to why Prescott felt like he belonged with ND. His relationship with Freeman certainly stood out, as he was one of the first coaches to put a big-time offer on the table for him. That's something Prescott and his entire family are never going to forget, and it's something they're going to appreciate.
The home feeling whenever he was in South Bend also stood out, while Charlie Partridge deserves a big assist here too. Washington, now with the Dolphins, turned Prescott's head early on, but once he left for Miami, Partridge took over the recruiting lead there once he was hired by Freeman, knocking things out of the park. It ultimately led to this breaking news coming in.
And it's indeed a massive, massive get for the Irish. Checking in at 6-4, 255 pounds as a soon-to-be high school junior, Prescott is ranked five stars and the No. 5 EDGE in the country per the 247Sports Composite. He's also the No. 17 prospect overall for the 2028 class. He had 39 offers throughout his recruitment, with Notre Dame beating out 38 others.
Alabama, Auburn, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and other powerhouses were hoping to win this recruiting battle, but Freeman was the one to come out on top. Knowing Prescott is all-in on being with the Irish only makes his commitment even more special, too.
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