Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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62 MARCH 2025 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2025 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY KYLE KELLY M atty Augustine made a phone call. Amidst the news that the Notre Dame football program had lost its long- time 2025 class quarterback pledge Deuce Knight, due to an Oct. 2 decommitment, the Fighting Irish's outstanding offen- sive line commit, Augustine, dialed then- general manager Chad Bowden. After 10 tiring weeks of trying to keep Lucedale (Miss.) George County's Knight locked in following his countless trips to Auburn, the five-star passer's recruitment came to a roaring head in favor of the Tigers. Losing On3's No. 6 quarterback and No. 26 overall player in the class certainly hurt Notre Dame. And its timing added insult to injury. It was two months from the early signing period in December, and Notre Dame needed a quarterback. Luckily for Bowden, who left the Irish for the same position at USC in January, Augustine knew where to find one. "I called Chad right after Deuce de- committed," Augustine told Blue & Gold Illustrated. "I told them to go after Blake Hebert." Notre Dame had a history with He- bert, a three-star quarterback commit- ted to Clemson when Augustine offered the solution. The Irish offered the for- mer Lawrence (Mass.) Central Catho- lic product when he unofficially visited campus on June 10, 2023. However, Hebert verbally committed to the Tigers six days later, making him an unlikely candidate to replace Knight. Augustine felt otherwise and for good reason. About nine months prior, Augustine — the No. 5 player in Connecticut and the country's No. 43 offensive tackle in the class — and Greenwich (Conn.) Brunswick School found themselves in a similar situation to Notre Dame. The Bruins had just finished the sea- son 5-4 and needed a new signal-caller to elevate the program. Meanwhile, He- bert, the top quarterback prospect in New England, needed a new challenge. During his three years at Central Cath- olic, Hebert developed into one of the nation's top passers, reeling in scholar- ship offers from Notre Dame, Clemson, Penn State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ole Miss and 10 other Power Four pro- grams. Still, he felt he had maxed out. When the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Hebert verbally committed to Dabo Swinney's program, he was a four-star prospect who was ranked as the No. 13 quarterback and No. 187 overall player in the class. He never had the chance to increase his stock as a junior. An ankle injury in Central Catholic's season opener basi- cally ended his 2023 campaign before it ever began. A season on the sidelines left him determined to face stiffer com- petition when he returned. Hebert's search expanded nationwide before he connected with Brunswick School. After some deliberation, Hebert transferred to the college prep school in Greenwich, Conn., in January 2023. Im- mediately, the program felt the effects of his leadership and it began to transform. With nine months of exposure to back it up, Augustine recited his perspective to Bowden, imploring Notre Dame to target him. "I knew he belonged at Notre Dame," Augustine said. "I've seen him come to Brunswick and seen what he was able to do. I know that kid deserves that 40- year chance that Notre Dame gives you. I knew it was the right place for him." Little did he know, Notre Dame did, too. Hebert's first trip to South Be n d ca m e a t a n i n te re s t - ing time. He was about seven m o n t h s re m ove d f ro m h i s breakout sophomore season, his first as the starting quarterback. He completed 111 of 185 passes for 1,748 yards with 24 touchdowns and 1 inter- ception. On the ground, he added 297 yards and 4 scores. When the Irish had their Pot of Gold Day recruiting blitz on March 17, 2023, Hebert was not among the four quar- terback recruits to report a new Notre Dame offer. Still, quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli evaluated him at his school two months later, May 19, loved what he saw and in- vited Hebert to unofficially visit campus. "I knew he belonged at Notre Dame. I've seen him come to Brunswick and seen what he was able to do. I know that kid deserves that 40-year chance that Notre Dame gives you. I knew it was the right place for him." GREENWICH (CONN.) BRUNSWICK SCHOOL TEAMMATE AND FELLOW IRISH SIGNEE MATT AUGUSTINE ON HEBERT Hebert (right) — seen here with Brunswick School teammates and fellow Irish signees Ethan Long (left) and Matt Augustine (center) at the Notre Dame-Army game at Yankee Stadium — credits his time at Greenwich (Conn.) Brunswick School with inspiring his late flip from Clemson to Notre Dame. PHOTO COURTESY THE LONG FAMILY Blake Hebert's Unpredictable Path To Notre Dame