Notre Dame Made A Strong First Impression On DJ Williams

Talented 2026 athlete DJ Williams was impressed with what Notre Dame has to offer

2026 athlete DJ Williams / DJ Williams

For the first time, 2026 Tampa Bay (Fla.) Carrollwood Day star athlete DJ Williams visited Notre Dame this week. He arrived in South Bend on April 1st and he and his family ended up staying until Wednesday morning. Even though the Florida native made the trip on April Fools Day, he quickly found out that the Irish program was anything but a joke. 

Coming into the visit, Williams had spoken very highly of Notre Dame since being offered. The fact that he made the trip so quickly was a big deal. They fully lived up to their reputation. 

"The visit was amazing,” Williams told Irish Breakdown. "I’d definitely say one of my favorite parts about the trip was seeing Touchdown Jesus and the Golden Dome and just learning about the long tradition and culture.

"When they said it’s different, they really meant it,” Williams continued. "I could see it immediately. I can see myself fitting in really well because I’d be around people who are  like minded, which speaks volumes to me and my family.” 

That different feel really appealed to Williams, who was out to see every part of the Irish program. He quickly understood the deep brotherhood and camaraderie, on top of the realness. Notre Dame was its authentic self, and he appreciated that. 

"The conversations I’ve had with all the coaches and players were fantastic,” he explained. "They truly care about the continued success of the players and the program. I liked the fact that they didn’t sugar coat anything.” 

For a football player, Notre Dame brings a lot. For a student athlete, it brings even more. The full pitch really resonated with Williams. 

"They really sold the 'choose hard' part and 'four for forever',” Williams said. "The staff helped to make sure that I understood the culture there and also the opportunities that an education from Notre Dame will bring.”

Williams has begun hearing from several prominent programs this offseason. Some of the top schools that have offered include the Fighting Irish, Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Pittsburgh, Boston College, Indiana and UCF among others. 

The 6-1, 160-pound athlete assumed a prominent role with Carrollwood Day as a sophomore, helping lead the team to a 8-2 overall record. On the defensive side of the football, Williams recorded 29 total tackles, two interceptions and two pass breakups. 

On offense, Williams was the team’s third leading receiver with 14 receptions for 217 yards and one touchdown. Those numbers look to take a huge jump in 2023 with the top two pass catchers graduating from last season. Williams looks in line to become the go to option as a junior. 

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