Notre Dame football is getting “explored” by one of the best running back commits in his class, now it’s all about convincing the Penn State pledge that he should follow his position coach to South Bend.
Messiah Mickens wasn’t really on the Fighting Irish radar a few weeks ago. However, when Deland McCullough was hired by the Las Vegas Raiders and Ja’Jaun Seider became the man who replaced him, the 4-star running back suddenly looked like a real option. And then when Mickens took to social media and made it clear how important his relationship with Seider was, the rumblings started in a very real way.
Earlier this week, Mickens told On3 that he really is looking around after Penn State lost Seider. And while the running back has also made it clear that he is just looking and hasn’t decommitted, he also confirmed that Notre Dame football is at least in the picture.
Notre Dame football has foot in the door with Messiah Mickens
“ND, UNC, Mizzou, Tennessee,” Mickens reportedly told Steve Wiltfong. “Those are the schools I’m just exploring.”
So, good first step for the Irish. He is at least exploring coming to South Bend.
The bad news is that it doesn’t appear getting Seider is the given when it comes to stealing him away from Penn State. In reality, it seems like the running back prospect is opening things back up entirely.
Make no mistake, that’s how he should do it. If he’s really doubting his commitment to the Nittany Lions, he shouldn’t just look at one other school. He should consider every factor again.
It would have been nice if Notre Dame football had an obvious advantage. But Ja’Juan Seider can now go to work and explain to Messiah Mickens why the Irish are the right choice. And he can start by explaining why Seider himself felt it was the better fit for a coach who was in Happy Valley for almost a decade.