I just got off the phone with 2026 linebacker Cincere Johnson, who the Irish have offered and considering as a potential vyper defensive end fit. Here are some of the notes from my interview.
Cincere Johnson made two Notre Dame visits one month apart from each other. That's how serious the sophomore linebacker from Cleveland (Ohio) Glenville is taking the Irish interest.
Why visit twice so close together?
"Notre Dame caught my attention overall as a program," Johnson said. "I wanted to experience the game-like energy and see the campus again.”
He got a taste of that with Saturday's Blue-Gold Game.
"The first time I went down there, I was with a guide. This time, they kind of allowed me to look at the fans, look how they carry themselves, the students that go and walk on the campus by myself. At the same time, I talked to coach Bullough. That was a major thing. Just watching the team have fun and seeing them compete.”
He's grown a relationship with linebackers coach Max Bullough over the past few months. He learned a lot more about the history of Notre Dame on this visit.
The question I asked that he spoke the longest in response to was when I asked him to describe his interest in Notre Dame as a university and what it can do for him off the field.
“It’s awesome," he said in part of his answer. "When somebody says they have a degree from Notre Dame that means something. It stands a lot in the business aspect. Football’s going to come to an end one day, so you need something to rely on. Notre Dame gives that to players."
Johnson has also grown an appreciation for head coach Marcus Freeman.
“He’s great," Johnson said. "Coach Freeman’s from Ohio. He went to Ohio State. He played linebacker. We connect. He’s a great coach. He has a lot of IQ. I’m from Ohio, so we relate on many different levels. He played the position. He’s a wonderful guy. He’s a great coach. Everybody says if something happens to Ryan Day, he’s going to be the next coach of O State. I don’t know.”
Johnson said he hears all the time that his recruitment is going to end with Johnson playing at Ohio State. But the Buckeyes have yet to offer, and he's interested in exploring other options.
When I asked if he had anything else he wanted to say about his Notre Dame visit, this was his response:
"Go Irish."
As noted in my recruiting intel, Notre Dame loves what it sees in Johnson.
Updated with story:
notredame.rivals.com
Cincere Johnson made two Notre Dame visits one month apart from each other. That's how serious the sophomore linebacker from Cleveland (Ohio) Glenville is taking the Irish interest.
Why visit twice so close together?
"Notre Dame caught my attention overall as a program," Johnson said. "I wanted to experience the game-like energy and see the campus again.”
He got a taste of that with Saturday's Blue-Gold Game.
"The first time I went down there, I was with a guide. This time, they kind of allowed me to look at the fans, look how they carry themselves, the students that go and walk on the campus by myself. At the same time, I talked to coach Bullough. That was a major thing. Just watching the team have fun and seeing them compete.”
He's grown a relationship with linebackers coach Max Bullough over the past few months. He learned a lot more about the history of Notre Dame on this visit.
The question I asked that he spoke the longest in response to was when I asked him to describe his interest in Notre Dame as a university and what it can do for him off the field.
“It’s awesome," he said in part of his answer. "When somebody says they have a degree from Notre Dame that means something. It stands a lot in the business aspect. Football’s going to come to an end one day, so you need something to rely on. Notre Dame gives that to players."
Johnson has also grown an appreciation for head coach Marcus Freeman.
“He’s great," Johnson said. "Coach Freeman’s from Ohio. He went to Ohio State. He played linebacker. We connect. He’s a great coach. He has a lot of IQ. I’m from Ohio, so we relate on many different levels. He played the position. He’s a wonderful guy. He’s a great coach. Everybody says if something happens to Ryan Day, he’s going to be the next coach of O State. I don’t know.”
Johnson said he hears all the time that his recruitment is going to end with Johnson playing at Ohio State. But the Buckeyes have yet to offer, and he's interested in exploring other options.
When I asked if he had anything else he wanted to say about his Notre Dame visit, this was his response:
"Go Irish."
As noted in my recruiting intel, Notre Dame loves what it sees in Johnson.
Updated with story:
InsideNDSports - 2026 LB Cincere Johnson relates to Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman
Four-star linebacker Cincere Johnson has already visited Notre Dame twice
notredame.rivals.com
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