4-Star WR Rico Flores loves the whole package at Notre Dame

Notre Dame was always high on his list.

Rico Flores picked up an offer from the Irish in April 2021 and he was recruited by the staff for over a year before he was able to visit. The first time the No. 171 prospect in the On3 Consensus visited South Bend was for his official visit three weeks ago.

That is all it took.

“It happened on the official visit,” Flores told On3. “I felt it. It just felt real there. The people at Notre Dame are genuine. How authentic everyone is there, that meant a lot to me.

“I am a very transparent person and there was a realness there at that school. Everyone was true and that made a big impact on me. On my official visit, my first time there, I knew the school for me was Notre Dame.”

Flores found his future home in South Bend

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound four-star wide receiver out of Folsom (Calif.) also had Georgia and Ohio State in his final three. The feel on campus was big. The academics played a big role too. Flores likes the whole package at Notre Dame.

“It is about that 40-year decision. Notre Dame has it all. They have great coaches, the education is great, and I feel very comfortable there. It is about family and I feel comfortable with the whole situation at Notre Dame.”

Chansi Stuckey came in as the new wide receivers coach under Marcus Freeman. Since that hire, he and Flores have really bonded. Flores called Stuckey his “guy” and loves the man he is.

Tommy Rees has also been involved and the No. 12 prospect in California loves the plan he has for him in the Notre Dame offense. Each person that recruited Flores for Notre Dame made him feel comfortable and it starts at the top.

“Coach Freeman is a great guy,” Flores said. “I got to sit down with him on my visit and he is one of the best coaches I have talked to. He is so real. That is important to me. Coach Freeman is not all about football. He cares about his players, he wants what is best for them in life, and that is the type of coach I want to play for.”