Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1539449
PREP PROFILES BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM SEPT. 20, 2025 45 Fort Mitchell (Ky.) Beechwood's Tyler Fryman has been committed to Louis- ville baseball since he was in the eighth grade. While his verbal pledge remains intact, his recruitment has gotten a bit more complicated. Fryman, a class of 2027 recruit, is also an impressive football prospect at wide receiver and safety. During the spring evaluation period, Toledo and Miami (Ohio) extended football scholarship offers to him. He camped for the Lou- isville football staff in early June and earned an offer. Fryman now has the opportunity to play both sports for the Cardinals. "I'm going to try and do both," he said. "I've talked to Louisville about it, and they've said I'd be able to do both. I'll see how it is in college — see which one I like more." Fryman camped at Notre Dame June 16, and he earned his offer from the Irish after performing that day. Cin- cinnati and Kentucky are also showing strong interest in him. "I love Louisville, but I don't want to turn down a coach because you never know what can happen — they could go to the school you're committed to," Fryman explained. "I keep my options open." The 6-1, 180-pounder hasn't spo- ken much with the Notre Dame base- ball staff yet, but his prep coaches have. Fryman has texted with Irish head coach Marcus Freeman on a handful of occa- sions and talks regularly with quarter- backs coach Gino Guidugli, who grew up about 20 minutes from Fryman's high school. "He was texting me to come to their camp, and I knew who he was because he's from the area," Fryman said. "I went up there and talked to him a lot." Fryman loved the experience at Notre Dame a few months ago, which led to his scholarship offer. "The campus was beautiful," he said. "The whole time I was thinking about 'Rudy' — that's one of my favorite mov- ies. It was really cool being there with all the history. It's every kid's dream to play Notre Dame football. "It's my dad's favorite team, and I've been growing up watching Notre Dame football. So, that's obviously a big thing." When a student-athlete plays two sports in college, there's usually a pri- mary sport between the two. But Fry- man is truly undecided on which sport he prefers for college. "I love both of them and enjoy playing both," he said. "I can play both and see how it goes, but whether it's at Notre Dame, Louisville or another school, I don't have a preference of which I'll play. Because I love both." — Mike Singer Richie Flanigan and his Green Bay (Wis.) Notre Dame de la Baie Academy squad got the season started on a win- ning note, defeating Kaukauna (Wis.) High 27-20. The class of 2027 recruit — and Notre Dame legacy — played both sides of the ball, starring at interior of- fensive and defensive line. Flanigan holds offers from Michigan, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Duke, Illinois and others — all for him to play on the defensive line. But Rivals ranks Flani- gan as the No. 10 interior lineman and No. 222 overall player in the country. The Rivals' scouts believe his highest upside is on offense. When Flanigan visits colleges, he will talk briefly with offensive line coaches, who will tell him that they love him on that side of the ball. "But for the most part, it's been D- line," Flanigan told Blue & Gold Illus- trated. And that's the case with Notre Dame specifically. Defensive line coach Al Washington is leading the charge for the Irish in Flanigan's recruitment, while O-line coach Joe Rudolph will speak with Flanigan on visits. "I prefer defensive line a little bit more, I'd say, but I'll play wherever the team needs me," Flanigan added. Flanigan visited Notre Dame for the Texas A&M game Sept. 13 and plans to see the Irish battle Southern Cal Oct. 18. He will also see Michigan Oct. 4 and Wisconsin Oct. 11. It's possible that Fla- nigan could commit this fall, or he could wait until next year. "I don't have a set timeline," he said. "I'll commit when I know I want to go to a school." Notre Dame may be the team to beat for him with his strong family connec- tions to the program. His father is for- mer Irish defensive lineman Jim Fla- nigan, and his older brother James is a freshman tight end for Notre Dame. Flanigan feels that he fits in well with the locker room culture at Notre Dame. "Definitely — they're all great guys," he said. "Everyone on the team is a true Notre Dame guy, which is a great person to be around. "I'm looking for a school that's best for me. It's not about where my dad went or if my brother is there now. It's about what's good for me, and what I'm looking for in a college is strong aca- demics — that's No. 1 — team culture and a good football program." — Mike Singer Bluegrass State Wide Receiver Is Keeping His Options Open Notre Dame Legacy Will Be A Frequent South Bend Visitor This Fall TYLER FRYMAN Beechwood H.S. Fort Mitchell, Ky. Status: Offered Class: 2027 Position: Wide Receiver Ht.: 6-1 • Wt.: 180 Rivals Rankings: Currently not ranked RICHIE FLANIGAN ✪ ✪ ✪ Notre Dame de la Baie Acad. Green Bay, Wis. Status: Offered Class: 2027 Position: Interior Offensive Lineman Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 265 Rivals Rankings: No. 3 player in Wisconsin, and No. 10 interior offensive lineman and No. 222 overall player nationally