Blue and Gold Illustrated

PREP PROFILES BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM NOV. 1, 2025 43 Lake Charles (La.) Sam Houston's Al- bert Simien has been a top player on Notre Dame's wish list in the 2027 class since the Irish staff offered him for Pot of Gold Day back in March. The Irish staff has treated him like a priority for the past several months, and they finally got the elite prospect on campus for a visit. Simien came to see the Irish knock off North Carolina State. "I've heard a lot about Notre Dame and how great it is," he told Blue & Gold Illustrated. "I wanted to see what they were about in person and get a feel for the program." Simien's high school team played on a Thursday night, allowing him to get up to the Midwest on Friday and have the full visit experience on Saturday. "My family and I had a good time," Simien said. "I enjoyed being at the game with the other recruits and com- mits. I also enjoyed spending time with the players." The Notre Dame offensive line played well in the Irish's 36-7 victory, espe- cially when it came to protecting star quarterback CJ Carr. "I thought the game was great," Simien said. "Notre Dame really came together and dominated on both sides of the ball. I like how Coach [Joe] Rudolph put together the offensive line." Simien's first South Bend trip was a big success, and the Fighting Irish will be a major contender in his recruitment moving forward. "I really like Notre Dame and how they could elevate me as a player and a person," he said. "I enjoyed the visit. I think very highly of the coaching and recruiting staff. Coach Rudolph and Coach [Marcus] Freeman were great and explained the culture and expectations of the program. "I appreciated the time they took with me and my family. Also, the assistants and recruiters were great." Prior to his Notre Dame visit, Simien spoke highly about Notre Dame during an interview with Rivals' Sam Spiegelman. "The last few months with Coach Free- man and the Notre Dame staff have been really solid," Simien said. "They've stayed in touch and kept pushing me to keep working — to focus on my development, sharpen my technique, and keep the right mindset heading into next season. "You can tell they really care about helping their players grow the right way on and off the field." — Mike Singer It was always a matter of when, not if, Notre Dame would offer Christian Academy of Louisville (Ky.) class of 2028 defensive lineman Kellan Hall. The elite sophomore visited Notre Dame in the spring and participated in a camp in South Bend in June. And a few days before visit No. 3 to Notre Dame, the Irish staff went ahead and offered Hall. He was back in South Bend to see the Irish knock off North Carolina State 36-7, and Hall loved it. "The visit was fantastic," he told Blue & Gold Illustrated. "The fans, the alumni and the current commits all had nothing but great things to say about Notre Dame. "It wasn't what they said, but how they said it — genuine and heartfelt. Being in the locker room and seeing the players singing the fight song after the game were highlights of my day. "The game got off to a slow start, but I liked how the team responded as it went on. Players made plays when the team needed them most — big runs by the backs, great catches by KK Smith at wideout, and some big hits from the defense. I also liked how the defensive front pressured NC State's quarterback throughout the game. "I can't forget about the mascot — he had the student section jumping. The fans bench-pressing actual people af- ter each score was pretty cool to see in person." Hall clearly loved the game day ex- perience, and getting the scholarship from the Fighting Irish was especially meaningful to him. "Getting the offer prior to the game was everything," Hall said. "I know the standard at Notre Dame and the type of players they recruit. To be offered by them this early in my career is a testa- ment to my hard work and dedication toward improving as a player. "I consider it being part of an elite class of players, considering the aca- demics. I was pumped to get the news, and it really set the tone for the visit." It's early in Hall's recruitment as a sophomore, but the Irish figure to be a top contender for him over the long haul. "Getting the Notre Dame offer is a pretty big deal for me and my family," Hall said. "I don't take any of my offers for granted and consider myself to be extremely blessed to be in this position as a sophomore to have some great op- tions to continue both my academic and athletic career." — Mike Singer Notre Dame Makes Impression On Rivals' No. 1 Interior Lineman Elite 2028 Defensive Lineman Lands Irish Offer Before Visit ALBERT SIMIEN ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Sam Houston H.S. Lake Charles, La. Status: Offered Class: 2027 Position: Interior offensive lineman Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 265 Rivals Rankings: No. 1 player in Louisiana, and No. 1 interior offensive lineman and No. 9 overall player nationally KELLAN HALL ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Christian Academy of Louisville Louisville, Ky. Status: Offered Class: 2028 Position: Defensive lineman Ht.: 6-4 • Wt.: 266 Rivals Rankings: No. 1 player in Kentucky, and No. 2 defensive lineman and No. 7 overall player nationally

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