Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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20 APRIL 2024 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY JACK SOBLE O n Feb. 10, 2025 wide receiver Elijah Burress — son of for- mer NFL wide receiver Plaxico Burress — committed to Notre Dame. If he signs, he'll be far from the first NFL legacy to play for the Irish, and he likely won't be the last. Notre Dame has seven sons of former NFL players on its current roster. An eighth, rising senior defensive tackle Gabriel Rubio, is away from the program this spring for personal reasons but be- lieved to be returning for fall camp. A ninth, offensive tackle Joe Alt, will likely become a top-10 pick in April. And two more, including Burress, are committed in the class of 2025. A third 2025 prospect is rumored to be leaning toward the Irish. Notre Dame fans will recognize his name: Jerome Bettis Jr. As Irish head coach Marcus Freeman explained in December, former pros un- derstand better than anyone else that football doesn't last forever. That's one of several reasons they're drawn to South Bend. "My dad and my parents have both put forth that lens of seeing both sides of the world and knowing that you're not going to play football for the rest of your life," said Duke transfer defen- sive end RJ Oben, son of longtime NFL offensive tackle Roman Oben. "Notre Dame offered tremendous opportuni- ties for guys, both ways." "Honestly, I just think our parents obviously know education is just as important as football is," said fresh- man safety Kennedy Urlacher, son of Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher. "There's no better place than Notre Dame for both of those aspects." Brian Urlacher neither went to Notre Dame nor was heavily recruited. He played at New Mexico, which was the only school that offered him. But when he and Kennedy visited South Bend, he understood what Notre Dame could do for his son. "He just says it's different," Urlacher said. "Obviously, best of both worlds, education and football. You don't get, really, anywhere better than that." Arizona State transfer defensive back Jordan Clark, son of 13-year NFL safety and current ESPN analyst Ryan Clark, also said his dad was impressed with the foot- ball side of the operation. Clark walked into the Guglielmino Athletics Complex and recognized some things that parents who didn't play in the NFL wouldn't. "They see [defensive coordinator Al] Golden's ball disruption chart, they see how involved Freeman is with his players," Jordan Clark said. "They talk to the position coaches and they hear the knowledge that they have, and they want their children to be in a position to be able to do the things they did and to be able to chase their dreams." Ryan Clark already had a relationship with Freeman, in no small part because he came to Notre Dame last summer to interview him for his podcast, "The Pivot." The elder Clark trusts Freeman, which went a long way for his son. IN THEIR BLOOD Players whose fathers starred in the NFL are drawn to Notre Dame under Marcus Freeman for several reasons 2024 edge Bryce Young (22) enrolled at Notre Dame in January. Tight end James Flanigan (88) is an Irish 2025 commit and Jerome Bettis Jr. (4) is a 2025 wide receiver reported to be strongly leaning toward Notre Dame. All three of their fathers — Bryant Young (center), Jim Flanigan (left) and Jerome Bettis (right) — played at Notre Dame and in the NFL. The elder Young and Bettis are both in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. PHOTO BY TOM LEMMING