Three top recruits targeted by Notre Dame in its annual “Pot of Gold Day” have opened up on what it means to receive scholarship offers on one of the program’s biggest days of the year.
Every year on St Patrick’s Day, the Fighting Irish sends out numerous offers to prospects nationwide in upcoming recruitment classes, hoping to lure as many as possible to the school as part of its efforts to secure some of the best talent in the country. This year, it was all about the 2027 class, with over 90 players in total receiving offers.
With offers going out earlier than ever in 2025, there were some doubts over whether Notre Dame is playing a risky game by waiting until St Patrick’s Day to send out its offers, but three of those candidates have now revealed that it is quite the opposite, and that the wait is more than worth it.
Indiana wide receiver Monshun Sales, Chicago four-star defensive tackle Brayden Parks, and Kentucky safety Garyon Hobbs have all expressed their delight at receiving offers on “Pot of Gold Day”, proving that it still more than resonates with recruits, despite the delay.
Sales, who is one of the top players in the country for the 2027 cycle, described his offer as “life changing”. Speaking to Rivals, he said: “It means a lot to me with it being in the home state of Indiana right up the road. I’ve been once and what I like about them is that it’s deeper than just football. If you go to a school like Notre Dame and get your degree you are set for life. It’s life changing and I would love to be a part of it.”
Parks echoed those sentiments, saying that receiving an offer from Notre Dame is truly a “blessing”. He said: “I think it truly is a blessing to be offered by one of the most prestigious colleges in the nation. It’s like a legacy being passed on to me by my Godfather Chris Zorich and my cousin Tony Jones Jr.”
When asked whether Notre Dame ranks high on his list of places to attend, Parks, who is due to visit the Irish on March 21, said. “Of course they rank high for me. It’s Notre Dame. Who wouldn’t love an opportunity to go play for them?”
As for Hobbs, who doesn’t have a visiting date set but plans to visit this spring, Notre Dame aligns perfectly with what he’s looking for in a school. “Notre Dame has always been a school that I have watched closely as a kid,” he said. “They represent what I want to be in life. Well rounded and excelling both on and off the field.”
The 6ft, 210lbs safety added: “I’m looking for a place where I can grow and develop on and off the field. Athletically, my goal is to come in and start as a freshman and help lead my team to a national championship. Academically, my goal is to graduate with honors from college and be able to create a network that will continue to propel my life once my playing days are over.”
Notre Dame has held its annual Pot of Gold Day event since 2021, and it has been a perfect way to capture the attention of recruits. The Fighting Irish made 29 offers and followed up with at least 64 in the 2024 and 2025 classes, before increasing that number to at least 87 for 2026.
- Source: NEWHD MEDIA
