Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1535097
36 SUMMER 2025 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY MIKE SINGER Notre Dame added a major commit- ment from Winter Park (Fla.) High de- fensive back Ayden Pouncey April 26, which gave the Fighting Irish five ver- bals on the month. The four-star prospect added Notre Dame to his scholarship chart last Sep- tember, and the Irish made his top 10 a n n o u n c e d i n Ja n u a r y. H oweve r, Pouncey hadn't made a trip to South Bend yet. His first visit took place at the end of March, and that trip went so well that Notre Dame emerged as the leader in his recruitment. The 6-foot-2½, 165-pounder re- turned to Notre Dame April 23, and the second visit within a month was a very encouraging sign that a commitment could be coming. Pouncey informed the Notre Dame staff of his decision while in South Bend and announced it April 26. "I committed to Notre Dame because of the love from the coaches and people in the building, how they made me feel com- fortable," Pouncey said. "How I fit in with the players on the team and how stable [defensive backs] Coach [Mike] Mick- ens is at Notre Dame were big too. Coach Mickens has been there for five years and doesn't plan on leaving, and neither does [head coach] Coach [Marcus] Freeman. It's the best of both worlds — they are going to develop me on and off the field." The Notre Dame staff did a tremen- dous job in Pouncey's recruitment, led by a duo from Dayton, Ohio. "I like Coach Mickens a lot," Pouncey said after visiting South Bend. "We went over the fit and the specifics on how they would coach me. That was cool. Coach Freeman is a player's coach, and I love that. He treats all of his players the same. Notre Dame has a great tradition too; it is a good school; a good place and the play- ers all want the same thing." Pouncey is ranked by On3 as the na- tion's No. 12 safety and No. 127 overall player nationally. He could play cor- nerback or safety for the Fighting Irish, and the staff likes his potential at both positions. It's quite the impressive recruiting win for the Irish, considering all Pounc- ey's family ties to Florida. He admit- tedly grew up a Miami fan and was very high on Michigan and LSU as well. Clemson, Florida S t a t e , G e o r g i a , Oregon and Texas A & M we re o t h e r schools on his long offer sheet. He's the Irish's second d e f e n s i v e b a c k commit, joining Chattanooga (Tenn.) McCallie School cornerback Chaston Smith. On the field, Pouncey has shined on both sides of the ball. During his ju- nior season in 2024, he posted 20 tack- les, 3 passes broken up and 2 intercep- tions, while posting 12 receptions for 202 yards with 4 touchdowns. He was named to the Orlando Sentinel All-Area first team for his efforts last year. Across three varsity seasons at the prep level, Pouncey has logged 35 re- ceptions for 572 yards with 7 touch- downs, plus 54 tackles, 7 interceptions, 6 passes broken up, 1 fumble recovery and 1 forced fumble. The Pouncey family is familiar with Notre Dame. In the past decade, the Fighting Irish have offered three broth- ers from the family based in the greater Orlando, Fla., area. Jordan Pouncey, a class of 2017 wide receiver prospect, committed to Notre Dame in June 2016 and then backed off his pledge about six months later. He signed with Texas and played for the Long- h o r n s fo r a c o u p l e years before finish- ing his career with the Florida Gators. In the 2020 recruiting cycle, the Irish had an offer out to class of 2020 cornerback Ethan Pouncey, but he ended up picking the Gators. He transferred to Georgia Southern and is set to play his final col- legiate season in the Peach State. The third time was the charm for the Irish among the Pouncey brothers. Pouncey's second cousins are Maur- kice and Mike Pouncey, twin brothers who played in the NFL for the Steelers and Dolphins, respectively. They both played in college for the Florida Gators as well. ✦ COMMITMENT PROFILE AYDEN POUNCEY FILM ANALYSIS "Ayden Pouncey can play either free safety or cornerback, but is best suited to play free safety. He shows excellent ball skills, great range, long arms, explosive moves to the ball and just fluid athleticism." — Prep Football Report recruiting analyst Tom Lemming Irish Top Michigan, LSU And Others For Florida Defensive Back "I committed to Notre Dame because of the love from the coaches and people in the building, how they made me feel comfortable." POUNCEY On3 rates Pouncey as the No. 17 prospect in Florida, and the No. 12 safety and No. 127 overall player in the country. PHOTO BY CHAD SIMMONS/ON3