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Monster LB prospect fired up about 'powerhouse' Notre Dame football offer

Tristan Phillips was one of the top linebacker prospects to get a Notre Dame football offer on St. Patrick's Day and he couldn't be happier about it.

By Oliver Vandervoort

Rio Mesa's J'lin Wingo is stopped by Ventura's Mylan Walker and Tristan Phillips
Rio Mesa's J'lin Wingo is stopped by Ventura's Mylan Walker and Tristan Phillips / JOE LUMAYA/SPECIAL TO THE STAR / USA
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One thing has become abundantly clear since the Notre Dame football team dolled out dozens of offers on Pot of Gold Day. Quite a few of the players who received an offer that day are more than a little excited that they were among that group.

Count Ventura linebacker Tristan Phillips among those who is plenty fired up about an official Notre Dame football offer. He recently spoke to Irish Sports Daily among others to share his excitement and it certainly looks like the Fighting Irish are in very good standing.

“Growing up,” Phillips told the website, “I've always watched Notre Dame and they've always had a fierce defense and have always been a national powerhouse. They're always in the top 25 and it's just a huge school.”

Notre Dame always has a way of leaning on its history and tradition to haul in commitments in a way that other schools can’t. That’s one reason why they’ve already got a head start on the 2026 class while also having 19 commits in the 2025 cycle.

So should Fighting Irish fans expect to see Phillips commit soon? It appears he’s a ways off from pulling the trigger. The first is going to be taking an unofficial trip to South Bend on Wednesday.

Notre Dame football going to need to fight off west coast powers

Don’t get it in your head that a trip to South Bend is going to end the race for the 2026 linebacker. He’s also planning trips to Arizona, Arizona State, San Diego State, and San Jose State.

On3 believes that San Diego State could be the surprise front-runner in that race. Cal Poly is an interesting dark horse, though one has to believe that’s more about being one of the first schools with an offer out.

If Phillips wants to stick on the west coast, Notre Dame football doesn’t have much of a shot. If he ends up being comfortable moving away from home, it feels like the Fighting Irish will be the landing spot. Lots of thing can happen between now and Tristan Phillips’ national signing day though.

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