He maintains consistent communication with Notre Dame defensive line coach Al Washington and assistant coach Nick Sebastian.
The word from the Irish staff to the 2026 Chicago edge defender is consistent.
“Just that I’m a priority, how much they need guys like me and how I would fit well into their system,” Blade shares.
The Irish don’t just tell Blade he’s a priority; they prove it.
“For sure,” the Simeon High School standout adds. “They definitely make me feel like a priority.”
And that matters to Blade, who has offers from Notre Dame, Georgia, Florida, Miami, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and USC, among others.
“That’s definitely huge for me,” Blade says of Notre Dame’s decision to prioritize him. “I do have a lot of blessings, but to be able to feel that, that’s something else.”
The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder also considers the Irish a top priority.
“I love the way they use their d-line and specifically their edge guys,” Blade tells me.
He’s already made many trips to South Bend and plans to return soon.
“For sure,” Blade says. “Nothing is set in stone just yet, but I will most likely return down there, hopefully in the spring.
He wants to continue to build his ties with Washington, Sebastian, and the other coaches.
He also plans to visit other schools. He is considering trips in Tennessee, USC, Michigan, Oregon, Texas A&M, Florida, and Georgia, but none of them are confirmed yet.
“This spring will be really busy because that’s when I’ll be able to get out to the majority of the schools that I’ve been in contact with, including Notre Dame, so this spring and summer will definitely be huge for me,” says the freshman.
Blade intends to limit his selection after his unofficials and then go on to authorities, though he has no timetable for making a final decision.
“I’m not in a rush,” he says. “Just whenever I feel like the time is right.”
He knows what will be most important.
“There is no doubt about the relationships. The relationship I have with the coaching staff and the students at the institution.
