Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM MARCH 2025 61 2025 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY MIKE SINGER O n Nov. 1, 2024, On3's Inside Texas reported that the Long- horns' coaching staff would be dropping by Tampa (Fla.) Berkeley Prep to help in their efforts to flip impressive two-way athlete Dallas Golden away from his Notre Dame commitment that he gave back in the spring. A few weeks prior to that, On3's Steve Wiltfong included in an ar- ticle that the Miami Hurricanes were having dialogue with Golden in hopes to get him to switch his commitment as well. For all the talk about the players who decommitment from Notre Dame's recruiting class, there are many more recruits who re- mained firm in their Fighting Irish pledges. And Golden is a prime example of that. Miami and Texas weren't the only schools trying to flip Golden, either. But he locked in with his initial decision to pick Notre Dame and didn't look back. He signed with the Irish in December and enrolls this summer. Golden is ranked as No. 14 player in talent-rich Florida, and the No. 15 cornerback and No. 108 overall prospect nationally per the On3 Industry Rankings, a compi- lation of the four major recruiting sites. Two networks, Rivals and 247Sports, list him as the coun- try's No. 7 cornerback. Golden is a superb athlete who will begin his Notre Dame ca- reer at the cornerback position, but he can also excel at safety, wide receiver and running back. He rushed for 3,908 yards and recorded 74 receptions for 980 yards during his prep career. "I just want to do what's best for the team," Golden told Blue & Gold Illustrated. "I know that at the next level I'll be playing corner." That's at least the position he'll start out playing. ✦ Golden, who racked up 4,888 yards from scrimmage on offense during his prep career, comes to Notre Dame with high expectations on the defensive side of the ball. PHOTO BY KYLE KELLY Dallas Golden Stayed Firm With His Notre Dame Pledge DALLAS GOLDEN CORNERBACK 6-0 ∙ 180 BERKELEY PREP TAMPA, FLA. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE Industry ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 108 15 14 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 133 19 19 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 169 7 18 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 149 12 22 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 68 7 16 STATISTICS • Had 546 rushing attempts for 3,908 yards with 47 touch- downs plus 74 receptions for 980 yards and 11 scores from 2022-24. Totaled 52 career tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 5 intercep- tions, 12 passes broken up, 1 fumble recovery and 2 defensive touchdowns. • Had 150 rushes for 1,038 yards and 10 scores plus 32 catches for 441 yards and 5 touchdowns as a senior. • Logged 205 carries for 1,467 yards with 19 touchdowns while adding 32 receptions for 394 yards and 5 scores. • Helped lead Berkeley Prep to the 2023 Florida 2M state championship, knocking off Miami Norland 28-20. Posted 183 rushing yards and 1 touchdown on 23 carries plus 2 receptions for 38 yards and 1 score. NOTABLE • 2023 MaxPreps Junior All-America first-team selection as an all-purpose defensive player. • 2023 Florida Class 2M Player of the Year and Big County Prep's Player of the Year in the Tampa area. RECRUITMENT • Committed to the Fighting Irish on April 28, 2024. • Picked the Irish over Clemson, Georgia, Florida State, Miami and others. • Several schools, most notably Texas, tried to flip Golden away from the Irish, but he stayed true to his pledge. • Recruited by defensive backs coach Mike Mickens. • Visited Notre Dame six times, including his official visit on June 7, 2024. 2025 PROJECTION • Could be a surprise contributor in a talented Notre Dame secondary. THEY SAID IT On3 director of scouting and rankings Charles Power: "You have to start with his versatility and fluidity. He is a pure foot- ball player in the sense that he's all over the field for Berkeley Prep and makes plays in a very wide variety of ways. He lines up at safety, kicks out to corner, and on offense, he takes direct snaps, plays receiver, and plays running back — all in addition to making plays on special teams. He's a complete player on Friday nights and shows a very good breadth of skills. … "I got the chance to see Golden at his spring game a couple years ago, and that was my first in-person exposure to him. My takeaway was that he's a competitor with versatility and is a playmaker, regardless of what he's asked to do." Prep Football Report recruiting analyst Tom Lemming: "Dal- las is no doubt one of the premier athletes in the state of Flor- ida, and he can play running back, wide receiver or cornerback. He shows great range and loose hips, and is quick in transition with exceptional burst and timing. … "Dallas is fearless athlete who does whatever it takes to win."