For over a month, Notre Dame had been eagerly anticipating Jalen Cooper’s visit so they could showcase what the program has to offer to the 2025 Texas receiver.
Now, Cooper is leaving South Bend on Monday morning with excitement.
“I thought the visit was great,” Cooper told Irish Sports Daily on Sunday night. “The tradition here, how much they care about the players, the coaches—it was all fantastic.
“Coach Freeman’s a great guy, and the whole staff is good. The atmosphere at the game, with 80,000 fans cheering, was incredible. It was just amazing to experience.”
The Cibolo Steele High School standout has been committed to SMU since the summer, but one reason he wanted to visit Notre Dame was to take in the game-day atmosphere and the traditions of the school.
“It was wild seeing all of that,” he said. “It definitely checked that box.
“The tradition was insane. I saw things on campus I’d never seen before, and touching the wall before they run out was mind-blowing. You see it in the movie ‘Rudy’ and before the games, but seeing it in person was surreal.”
At 6-foot-2 and 170 pounds, Cooper is a key target for Notre Dame’s 2025 recruiting class, and the program made sure he knew that during the visit.
“They definitely made that clear,” he said. “They came up to me and said straight-up that they think I’d be a great fit and they want me here.
“Even beyond the coaches, the commits who were there were saying how it’s a great fit and they want me to be part of something special.”
For Cooper, feeling valued and wanted was important, especially in the way it was communicated.
“Absolutely,” he said. “They didn’t just talk to me because they had to. That made a big difference.”
The opportunities off the field at Notre Dame also left a strong impression on him.
“I think they have a 98-percent graduation rate,” he said. “I spoke to one of the professors, and you could really see how much he cares about his students. I wasn’t even one of them, but you could tell how much they want you to succeed both on and off the field.”
Cooper plans to make his decision soon, and it seems Notre Dame has gained some momentum.
“My feelings are great. It’s an amazing place, being recruited and offered by this team.
“I’ll make my decision in a week and go from there.”
