A coaching change has put Notre Dame football in the hunt for a top running back recruit. The great prospect is looking into options, and the Irish hope to capitalize on their new coach’s established relationship.
Notre Dame football is being “explored” by one of the top running back commits in his class, and it’s now up to persuade the Penn State promise to follow his position coach to South Bend.
A few weeks ago, Messiah Mickens was not particularly high on the Fighting Irish radar. However, when the Las Vegas Raiders hired Deland McCullough and replaced him with Ja’Jaun Seider, the 4-star running back appeared to be a viable possibility. And then, when Mickens moved to social media to emphasize the importance of his friendship with Seider, the rumblings became very serious.
Mickens told On3 earlier this week that he is seriously considering his options after Penn State lost Seider. While the running back has stated that he is only searching and has not decommitted, he has also acknowledged that Notre Dame football is still a possibility.
Notre Dame football has foot in the door with Messiah Mickens
“ND, UNC, Mizzou, Tennessee,” Mickens reportedly informed Steve Wiltfong. “Those are the schools I’m just exploring.”
So, a positive first step for the Irish. He is at least considering coming to South Bend.
The bad news is that snatching Seider away from Penn State does not appear to be a foregone conclusion. In truth, the running back prospect appears to be completely reopening things up.
Make no mistake: that is how he should do it. If he has serious doubts about his commitment to the Nittany Lions, he should look at more than one school. He should reconsider every factor.
It would have been fantastic if Notre Dame football had a clear advantage. But Ja’Juan Seider can now get to work and explain to Messiah Mickens why the Irish are the best option. And he may begin by explaining why Seider believed it was the best fit for a coach who had been in Happy Valley for nearly a decade.
