Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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44 SEPT. 28, 2024 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY MIKE SINGER O n Sept. 16, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy class of 2025 linebacker Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng announced that he narrowed down his recruitment to six schools. Florida, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Texas and USC made the cut for the elite prospect. Owusu-Boateng's original plan was to commit to a school around the early signing period, but after taking a few summer official visits, he pondered making a decision prior to the start of his senior year. But now he's "back to standard," looking at a decision close to the early signing period in December. And he's not looking to trim his list of schools any further. "It'll most likely stay six," he told Blue & Gold Illustrated. "There will be six hats on the table." Owusu-Boateng is lined up to of- ficially visit Texas when the Long- horns have their monumental matchup against the Georgia Bulldogs. He's also locked in to get to South Bend for Notre Dame's contest against Florida State Nov. 9. On3 reported Sept. 17 that Owusu-Boateng will be at Michigan Sept. 21, and he's considering trips to Florida (for an official) and Miami. "A lot of things are heating up," Owusu-Boateng noted. Owusu-Boateng is clear on what he is looking to learn and see from now until decision time. "It's the consistency," he answered. "I'm not going for the eye candy. It's about a school staying on me from the time they started recruiting me to when I sign my letter of intent — to see if they remain the same throughout the whole process. "Outside of football, I want to know that I'll be developed my three to four years there." Momentum of on-field play won't be a major role in affecting Owusu- Boateng 's recruitment, but he notes that it "does play a part." "USC did what they told me with their defense playing phenomenally," Owusu- Boateng explained. "Also, Notre Dame is doing what they said they were going to do — play five linebackers in the Texas A&M game. That matters a lot." On Dec. 3, 2021, Marcus Freeman was named the Fighting Irish's head coach, replacing Brian Kelly who left for the same position at LSU. Thirteen days later, the Irish extended a scholarship offer to Owusu-Boateng, who was just a high school freshman at the time. This shows how long the Irish have been targeting the four-star prospect and No. 6 linebacker in America per the On3 Industry Ranking. "Everything is going how I expected it to go; it's going well," Owusu-Boateng said when asked about how things are going between him and the Irish staff. "Coach Freeman and I keep in contact. I talk with everyone on that staff. Every- thing is going as expected. "Coach Freeman played the linebacker position at a high level. And he's not the only former linebacker on the staff — you have your position coach [Max Bullough, who played at Michigan State]. It doesn't get better than that. You have coaches who played the linebacker position who will be coaching you." The Irish have had a roller-coaster start to the 2024 campaign, from beat- ing Texas A&M on the road by 10 points (which impressed Owusu-Boateng), to losing a stunner at home against North- ern Illinois to destroying Purdue by 59 points in West Lafayette. "Talking to my brother about it — he told me that's a funny loss," Owusu- Boateng said. "You can't be losing those type of games, but that's football — the highs and the lows. And I understand it. "That doesn't affect the way I look at them. I know how strong my relationship is with the coaches. They'll bounce back." Owusu-Boateng 's older brother is none other than Jeremiah Owusu-Kora- moah, a star linebacker with the Cleve- land Browns who won the 2020 Butkus Award while playing his collegiate ball at Notre Dame. Nathaniel loves watching his older brother's Notre Dame highlights. He said his favorite play of Jeremiah's was a big hit against Florida State in 2020. They talk about Notre Dame, but his older brother isn't pushing for his sib- ling to follow in his footsteps. "That's his school, and he won the Butkus and all those great things," Owusu-Boateng explained. "But I'm doing what's best for me. Of course, we talk about it from time to time — con- tinuing the legacy he laid out." Owusu-Boateng is excited to see Notre Dame face Florida State in No- vember. It'll be his first time seeing a game in South Bend and his third time on campus overall. "I want to see the game-day atmo- sphere," he said. "That'll be my last col- lege visit — hopefully. And then it'll be time to commit." Between the academics and football, there's a lot to like about Notre Dame for Owusu-Boateng. "Whether you play football there or not, that degree is lifetime," he said. "The Notre Dame name is impactful. "Football-wise, I love that through the wins and the losses, Notre Dame has a brotherhood and cohesiveness. They stick together. Outside of foot- ball, Notre Dame offers a multitude of majors and minors. I want to major in economics and minor in finance. It's great knowing what Notre Dame can offer off the football field." ✦ Irish Aiming To Land Younger Brother Of Their Former Butkus Award Winner Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng, the younger brother of former Irish linebacker and Butkus Award win- ner Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, has Notre Dame among his top six schools. PHOTO COURTESY ON3 F O O T B A L L RECRUITING