The Notre Dame Fighting Irish had a bitter ending to the 2025 college football season. Despite going 10-2, they failed to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff. Instead, they were chosen for the Pop-Tarts Bowl, which the Fighting Irish opted out of.
While the team looks to move on, Marcus Freeman has shifted his focus to high school recruiting. While players in the 2027 cycle are the top priority, Notre Dame is keeping attention on the 2028 recruiting class. Like many teams, they have yet to land a commitment.
Freeman is looking to change that. On Friday, the Fighting Irish hosted quarterback Neimann Lawrence for a second unofficial visit in South Bend.
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Out of Miami, Florida, Lawrence is a four-star recruit, the No. 5 quarterback and the No. 40 player in the nation, according to Rivals industry Rankings. He put together a solid sophomore season at Northwestern High School, throwing for 1,971 yards, 32 touchdowns and one interception.
His first visit with the Fighting Irish came back on June 6, 2025. Following his second stint on campus, Lawrence praised Notre Dame in an article from Rivals' Sam Spiegelman.
“Notre Dame was great,” he said. “Getting back to South Bend for the second time was definitely fun... Notre Dame made a big jump with this visit. They’re definitely one of the top schools to look out for.”
While the Fighting Irish made a strong impression, they face a lot of competition. Lawrence has also taken unofficial visits with programs such as the Miami Hurricanes, Ohio State Buckeyes, Michigan Wolverines, Penn State Nittany Lions and Texas Longhorns.
While Notre Dame would like to win this battle as soon as possible, many recruits don't decide until the summer before their senior year. That means Lawrence may take over a year before officially committing anywhere.
