Why Notre Dame football offer was worth the wait for elite vyper recruit Xavier Griffin
Gainesville (Ga.) High defender Xavier Griffin’s profile makes him an obvious Notre Dame football recruiting target. Yet, that did not make the top-75 four-star recruit an exception to the process of Marcus Freeman’s program.
Since Freeman took over as head coach in December 2021, the Fighting Irish typically wait to offer high school sophomores until St. Patrick’s Day. In the last three years, they have extended scholarship opportunities to upward of 80 prospects for their March 17 Pot of Gold Day campaign.
Griffin, a vyper candidate, had a good idea that Notre Dame was on his offer sheet, especially after linebackers coach Max Bullough stopped by his high school a few months before Pot of Gold Day. Still, he had to wait until March 17 to post it.
Finally, he announced it at 9:28 a.m. that day, about 90 minutes after the Irish’s recruiting event began. The wait was worth it.
“That was a big moment,” Griffin told Blue & Gold. “Because that was one of my first offers.”
Now, the 6-foot-3, 205-pounder is up to 30 offers, including 26 from power conference programs. According to the On3 Industry Ranking, he’s the No. 24 overall player, No. 2 linebacker nationally and No. 5 prospect in Georgia in the 2026 class.
If Griffin were to maintain or increase his ranking by the end of the cycle, he would be a five-star prospect. In Notre Dame’s mind, he is already a player who could be a difference-maker on defense.
“Coach Bullough said he has been watching my film,” Griffin said. “I have what they are looking for. He said that not many guys can play at Notre Dame. But he said I was one of them that could.”
While playing outside linebacker/defensive end for Gainesville last season, Griffin garnered 52 tackles (29 solo), 20 TFLs, 9 sacks, 7 quarterback hurries, 2 pass breakups and 2 caused fumbles in 12 games, according to MaxPreps.
Griffin believes he could play multiple positions in Al Golden’s defense, depending on how his body transforms.
“They want to see how I continue to grow,” he said. “It depends on how much weight I gain. If I would fit more on the edge or at linebacker. But they told me they use their linebackers on the edge and move them around a lot. So it just depends.”
Xavier Griffin discusses initial impressions of Notre Dame
In addition to Bullough’s visit a few months ago, Griffin said Golden stopped by his school earlier this spring. Because he is a 2026 prospect, they could not talk to him extensively. Most communication has come on other occasions, where Griffin has enjoyed getting to know both Irish assistants.
“Coach Bullough is a really young coach,” he said. “The way he talks is different than the older coaches. He understands more and was in the recruiting process. He told me some about that, too. Coach Al seems like a pretty intense guy getting to know him.”
Until Notre Dame offered him, Griffin did not know much about it growing up. An unofficial visit to see campus would help him learn more. At the very least, a trip to South Bend is on his mind.
“It’s in consideration,” he said. “I have a few camp dates down and unofficial visits. Not all of it is confirmed.”
Griffin has reported past unofficial visits to Georgia, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Florida State, Tennessee, Clemson, USF, Vanderbilt, Ohio State, Alabama, Florida and North Carolina. Right now, he said he feels like Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, Ohio State and Florida State are the schools recruiting him the hardest.
Though most of his recruitment occurs in the South, he still highly regards his Notre Dame offer.
“Honestly, I was just really excited knowing they’re a big school,” he said. “They always have a good year. I feel like it means just as much as an SEC school. It’s still big time.”
The Irish knew Griffin was a big-time prospect from the start. Now, it will be up to him to determine how big of an interest he’ll have in Notre Dame moving forward.
“I’m pretty interested,” he said. “I still got to get up there to bond with the coaches — get a feel for the school and their defense. I still got to see all that.”
The post Why Notre Dame football offer was worth the wait for elite vyper recruit Xavier Griffin appeared first on On3.
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