Tag: madden faraimo

Marcus Freeman explains why elite LB Madden Faraimo signed with Notre Dame

A great reason to choose ND

Notre Dame football got a massive recruiting win during the early signing period when California linebacker [autotag]Madden Faraimo[/autotag] signed with the Irish.

It didn’t look like the 6-foot, 3-inch and 230-pound prospect was headed to South Bend, as many believed that he was going to end up going to USC. The recruiting insiders intel turned out to be false, and many wondered how the tide turned for Notre Dame.

Head coach Marcus Freeman was asked this question when he joined 247Sports national signing day show. He told them that “I often tell people to choose hard when they come to Notre Dame. And he (Faraimo) answered me with ‘Coach, I’m gonna choose God.”

It’s not just the education that Notre Dame offers or the 4-for-40 year plan, it was Faraimo’s faith that pushed him to sign with the Irish. There is no doubt in my mind this will work out for the nation’s No. 61 overall prospect according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, as the Irish checked off all of his recruiting boxes.

Oct. 15, 2022; South Bend, Indiana; A general view of the Word of Life Mural, commonly known as Touchdown Jesus, on the campus of the University of Notre Dame before the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Stanford Cardinal at Notre Dame Stadium. Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

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USC loses out to Notre Dame for top linebacker target — again

The recruitment of Madden Faraimo might sound familiar. This marks another loss of a linebacker recruit to Notre Dame, following Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa.

On Saturday, Notre Dame defeated USC on the football field. On Wednesday, the Irish once again bested the Trojans, this time on the recruiting trail. Heading into signing day, USC football was the favorite to land San Diego four-star linebacker Madden Faraimo. On Wednesday morning, however, Faraimo instead picked Notre Dame.

According to the On3 Consensus rankings, Faraimo is the No. 77 overall player in the class of 2024. He is also the No. 4 linebacker and the No. 6 player in the state of California.

Faraimo spurning the Trojans was likely related to the departure of USC linebackers coach Matt Entz. With Entz accepting the head coaching job at Fresno State Wednesday morning, there was major uncertainty as to who would have been Faraimo’s position coach had he picked USC.

Not all was lost for USC on Wednesday. The Trojans did make a huge splash with the addition of five-star defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart, while also flipping cornerback Alex Graham from Colorado.

Yet, any time you lose out on a recruit to your most hated rival, it is not pleasant. This marks another loss of a linebacker recruit to Notre Dame, a prominent recent example being Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa.

The loss of Faraimo, to go along with Entz’s departure, will dampen what was a promising day for the Trojans, but not as complete a conquest as the program hoped.

Notre Dame football lands massive commitment during the early signing period

Huge recruiting win for the Irish

Heading into Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period, Notre Dame football looked like they were on the outside looking in for star linebacker [autotag]Madden Faraimo[/autotag].

All signs pointed to the 6-foot, 3-inch and 230-pound elite prospect to signing with USC, as multiple crystal ball picks were made for the Trojans to win out his recruitment.

Well, the nation’s No. 61 overall prospect according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings shocked many and committed to Notre Dame early in the afternoon. This was a massive recruiting win for the Irish, as not only did they win out over their rival Trojans, but also teams like Alabama, Texas, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State and others.

Faraimo’s commitment is the cherry on top of a class that will finish inside the top-15 nationally according to the 247Sports Composite Team Rankings. It also continues a nice trend with Californian linebackers, as the Irish signed Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa last year, and elite players at the position. Just in the last few years, they’ve also signed Drayk Bowen, and Jaylen Sneed.

This group is deep and talented, and just got much better with the addition of Faraimo.

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman celebrates a turnover during a NCAA college football game against Virginia at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in South Bend.

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Notre Dame receives bad news for one of its top remaining 2025 targets

Not great with the early signing period just around the corner

With just a few open spots left in Notre Dame football’s 2025 recruiting class, one has been left for star California linebacker [autotag]Madden Faraimo[/autotag].

The Irish have made the 6-foot, 3-inch and 230-pound defenders final list, but it looks like they might be losing out on his recruitment. The nation’s No. 61 overall prospect according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings was crystal balled to the USC Trojans on Monday afternoon by two of 247Sports top insiders, Tom Loy and Blair Angelo.

Previously all of the projections had Faraimo landing in South Bend, but as the early signing period approaching fast, it looks like they Irish will have to work some magic for him the end up in the class.

Currently, Notre Dame has just one linebacker committed in the 2025 class, Ko’o Kia, so getting another was always in the cards. Now it looks like the Irish will have to look to other prospects to fill that spot.

Nov 30, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman reacts in the first half against the Southern California Trojans at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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Notre Dame to have another big visitor this weekend vs. Florida State

Another big visit is expected to be on campus for the Irish

The list of prospects that will make the trip to South Bend this weekend as Notre Dame football hosts Florida State continues to grow.

Multiple 2025 players will be in town, but that isn’t the only class that the Irish coaching staff is focusing on. They are also looking at the 2026 cycle, and one of the top targets is California defensive lineman [autotag]Simote Katoanga[/autotag].

The 6-foot, 5-inch and 240-pound edge rusher will be making his third trip to see Notre Dame according to a report by Matt Freeman. The Irish made an offer to him in mid-June, which was part of a massive summer of offers for the nation’s No. 186 overall player according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

Katoanga is high school teammates with another Notre Dame target, 2025 linebacker [autotag]Madden Faraimo[/autotag], who is also expected to be on campus this weekend. If the Irish are able to pull both of these stars from California, it would continue their recent success in the state.

What resonates in your mind after the Irish’s big win over A&M?
Aug 31, 2024; College Station, Texas, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman reacts in the fourth quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

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Notre Dame football is in 2025 4-star linebacker Madden Faraimo’s top-four

The Irish make the cut for the elite linebacker

With the addition of in-state safety Brandon Logan, Notre Dame football’s 2025 recruiting class now stands with 22 members.

There is room for more, and one of those that could join the group is California linebacker [autotag]Madden Faraimo[/autotag]. The 6-foot, 3-inch and 230-pound star narrowed his recruiting list on Saturday to four schools: Washington, Texas, USC and the Irish.

Notre Dame has had some recent success luring California Polynesian linebackers to South Bend, Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa from last year’s class fits that description. It does look like Faraimo could join him, as there are three 247Sports Crystal Ball picks for the Irish to land the linebacker.

Faraimo is one of the top players in the country, ranking as the No. 69 overall prospect and 7th ranked linebacker according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He would be a huge addition to the Irish 2025 class, even though it might not be anytime soon that he makes his decision.

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Notre Dame football trending for 2025 4-star California linebacker Madden Faraimo

This would be a huge addition for the Irish

This weekend was the first that Notre Dame football held official recruits, and it looks like they did a fantastic job.

One of those prospects on campus was 2025 California linebacker [autotag]Madden Faraimo[/autotag], a 6-foot, 3-inch and 220-pound star. The Irish coaching staff has made him a priority, especially considering they don’t have much room to add more commitments in the class as they already have 21 total verbals.

Faraimo, who is ranked as the nations No. 63 overall prospect and 7th rated linebacker according to the 247Sports Composite, still has other visits planned, with Ohio State and Texas up next. The hope is that his visit to South Bend sealed the deal.

Coupled with the news that Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng also having a great visit, Notre Dame could very well close out the class with two big-time linebacker prospects.

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California 4-star linebacker will officially visit Notre Dame football

KVA part two anyone?

Once again, Notre Dame football is looking to add an elite linebacker talent from California.

In the 2024 cycle, the Irish won a heated battle for Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, and are looking to do the same with [autotag]Madden Faraimo[/autotag]. The 6-foot, 3-inch and 210-pound linebacker has set up four official visits, one of them being to South Bend on the weekend of June 7th.

Faraimo will also visit Washington, Ohio State and Texas, who along with Notre Dame are the presumed favorites for the nations No. 59 overall player and 6th linebacker according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. There is also potential for USC to be involved, and since they are his home state school, setting up an official isn’t as important due to proximity.

If everything works out like it did with KVA, Irish fans will be very happy when Faraimo makes a decision.

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California 4-star 2025 linebacker sets Ohio State football official visit

The Buckeyes will get a shot to impress the Cali linebacker. #GoBucks

Ohio State football is once again looking to California to add another high school prospect to its roster.

The Buckeyes have had plenty of success in the talent rich state, and are in the mix for linebacker, [autotag]Madden Faraimo[/autotag]. The 6-foot, 3-inch, 210-pounder set up four official visit on Monday, and one of them will be to Columbus.

Faraimo’s visit will be in the middle of next month, during the weekend of June 14. Ohio State will surely roll out the red carpet for the nations No. 59 overall prospect and 6th linebacker according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He will also visit Notre Dame, Texas and Washington.

Although Ohio State has two linebacker committed in its 2025 class, Tarvos Alford and Eli Lee, you don’t turn down a talent like Faraimo.

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Notre Dame makes top 4 for 2025 California linebacker

The Irish are in good position to land the top linebacker

Notre Dame football has done a great job recruiting the state of California along with Polynesian players in the last few cycles.

In the 2024 class, they signed Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, who checks off both of those boxes. In the 2025 cycle, the Irish might do it again as [autotag]Madden Faraimo[/autotag] has Notre Dame in his top four schools.

The 6-foot, 3-inch and 210-pound linebacker is in the same mold as KVA, with a very similar recruiting ranking as well. The 247Sports Composite Rankings has Faraimo as the No. 4 linebacker and 38th overall prospect in the country.

The Irish have to battle Oregon, Ohio State and USC to get Faraimo’s commitment.

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