I just got off the phone with linebacker Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng, the highest-ranked 2025 recruit to visit Notre Dame this weekend for junior day.
Owusu-Boateng is the half-brother of former Notre Dame All-America linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, so naturally the two connected during his visit.
Owusu-Boateng FaceTimed Owusu-Koramoah during his photoshoot.
"During my photoshoot, I actually FaceTimed him to show him I was wearing his No. 6 jersey and stuff like that," Owusu-Boateng said. "He was talking about how there’s no negatives in the program. You’re playing football at a national level, you’re playing against the best, plus you’re getting a great education at the same time. Dudes get drafted first rounds. Overall, they just get drafted and fulfill their long-lived dreams to pursue the NFL.”
Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden has pitched Owusu-Boateng on the idea of playing the same rover linebacker position that his brother did.
The highlight of the visit for Owusu-Boateng was his one-on-one conversation with head coach Marcus Freeman.
“Him telling me why Notre Dame stands out, why he sees it as the best fit for me," Owusu-Boateng said of Freeman's message. "Another part I liked about it was how he wasn’t sugarcoating anything. Sometimes you go to programs and they’re going to sugarcoat stuff. He was saying things straight up and straightforward to me.”
Owusu-Boateng said he spent time getting to know many of the Notre Dame commits also on campus, but quarterback Deuce Knight stood out to him.
"Him just saying that we can build something strong and compete for a national title," Owusu-Boateng said.
Owusu-Boateng, who made the trip with his aunt, said he doesn't have any other visits lined up yet and isn't in a hurry to make a decision. He'll likely end up making his decision during the early signing period in December before a January enrollment.
Owusu-Boateng is the half-brother of former Notre Dame All-America linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, so naturally the two connected during his visit.
Owusu-Boateng FaceTimed Owusu-Koramoah during his photoshoot.
"During my photoshoot, I actually FaceTimed him to show him I was wearing his No. 6 jersey and stuff like that," Owusu-Boateng said. "He was talking about how there’s no negatives in the program. You’re playing football at a national level, you’re playing against the best, plus you’re getting a great education at the same time. Dudes get drafted first rounds. Overall, they just get drafted and fulfill their long-lived dreams to pursue the NFL.”
Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden has pitched Owusu-Boateng on the idea of playing the same rover linebacker position that his brother did.
The highlight of the visit for Owusu-Boateng was his one-on-one conversation with head coach Marcus Freeman.
“Him telling me why Notre Dame stands out, why he sees it as the best fit for me," Owusu-Boateng said of Freeman's message. "Another part I liked about it was how he wasn’t sugarcoating anything. Sometimes you go to programs and they’re going to sugarcoat stuff. He was saying things straight up and straightforward to me.”
Owusu-Boateng said he spent time getting to know many of the Notre Dame commits also on campus, but quarterback Deuce Knight stood out to him.
"Him just saying that we can build something strong and compete for a national title," Owusu-Boateng said.
Owusu-Boateng, who made the trip with his aunt, said he doesn't have any other visits lined up yet and isn't in a hurry to make a decision. He'll likely end up making his decision during the early signing period in December before a January enrollment.