Defensive End Rodney Dunham Enjoyed His First Notre Dame Visit

Notre Dame hosted talented North Carolina defensive end Rodney Dunham, and things went well

Saturday was an exciting day for Notre Dame football as the Irish held an important intrasquad scrimmage just a week out from the annual Blue-Gold Game. The Irish staff also hosted several important recruits, inclining 2026 Charlotte (N.C.) Myers Park defensive end Rodney Dunham. 

This was Dunham’s first trip to South Bend, and he came in with some high expectations. The trip did not disappoint. If anything, it exceeded expectations for Dunham. 

"The visit was great and I felt welcomed,” Dunham told Irish Breakdown. "Some of my favorite parts were meeting with the coaches one on one, hearing what they think about me and just who they are and what Notre Dame is as a brand. It was pretty great.”

Obviously recruits had a chance to check out the practice, which was huge. They also typically tour the campus, check out the popular sites and tour the facilities. Perhaps the biggest part of the trip was Dunham’s chance to really get to know the Notre Dame staff on a deeper level. 

"The conversations between coaches were great,” he explained. "They were honest people. I could tell that they were trying to sell Notre Dame to me, but I could also tell they weren’t trying to put on a front. What they were telling me and how they were acting is how they really are. That’s important.” 

At the core, these types of visits are all about assessing fit. Notre Dame made their pitch, and Dunham could certainly visualize himself in the Blue and Gold. 

"The staff sees me fitting in well,” said Dunham. "Of course I have to improve more throughout my last couple years of high school before I’m ready to compete out there. My opinion of Notre Dame is high and I think everything the school has to offer is amazing. I see myself potentially fitting well, as a football player and a student."

Dunham currently holds offers from several schools, with that list continuing to grow. His top offers so far include the Irish, Florida State, South Carolina, Duke, James Madison, East Carolina and Charlotte. 

As a sophomore, Dunham was a terror for opposing offenses. In 10 games, the 6-4, 215-pound defensive lineman recorded 55 total tackles, 16 tackles for loss and seven sacks. Dunham also had another 20 quarterback pressures, three interceptions, three pass breakups and a blocked field goal.

To showcase his athleticism, Dunham is also one of the state’s top baseball players. He has topped out at over 90 miles per hour on his fastball over the past couple of months, and could potentially explore playing both sports on the next level.

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