Electric 2025 RB Daniel Anderson commits to Notre Dame: 'It's perfect timing'

After two critical visits up to South Bend, Notre Dame has locked in a key component of their future backfield.

Electric 2025 Arkansas-based RB Daniel Anderson committed to the Fighting Irish after a multi-day visit to campus for the much-hyped bout with Ohio State on Saturday night. After collecting an offer from Marcus Freeman and Deland McCullough over the summer, Anderson’s decision to commit has been a long time coming for the highly touted junior from the South.

“Coach McCullough made it clear that hard work supersedes all,” Anderson told On3.

“If I learn the plays and ‘make the grades’ in practices, I’ll get to play,” he continued. “With the class of backs going in, it will be perfect timing for me to come in for 2025. My parents and I feel the coaching staff is a good fit because of what I’m used to here in Bryant.”

McCullough, Freeman play grand roles in landing Anderson

McCullough extended an offer in the direction of the 5-foot-11, 190-pound running back during the Irish Invasion camp in July. Since August, the entire Notre Dame coaching staff has been all in on the three-down back from Bryant (Ark.) High School.

The past few months have provided Anderson with a unique perspective on his future coaches.

“Coach McCullough has life experiences on the field and off the field that make him relatable,” he explained. “Knowing he has a background in education and he played in the league helps with establishing a good relationship.”

“From my first meeting with Coach Freeman, he immediately made me feel like he genuinely cares about kids as players and beyond,” Anderson added, “and he has not given me any reason to think differently to this day.

The push from Notre Dame stood out from the other schools in pursuit of Anderson due to the emphasis on family. The On3 Industry Ranking’s No. 38-rated back picked the Irish over the likes of Tennessee and Mississippi State.

“They have asked about my family and been in contact with my mother, and it resonates with me because family is important to me,” Anderson said. “The main thing that stood out at first was being able to study abroad if I wanted to. They educate students about different ways to invest. After school, they seem to have so much support for student-athletes having 700-plus alumni chapters.”

Life after football was paramount in picking the Irish

Freeman and McCullough have played large roles in Anderson’s recruitment. So have Director of Recruiting Chad Bowden and Director of HS Scouting Dre Brown.

Conversations are routine between the RB and the Irish. They’re often personal and topics largely pertain outside of football.

“The connections with them have been on a more personal level,” he said. “They have been talking the program up and talking about the upcoming recruiting classes and where I would fit.”

Notre Dame’s production on the field continues to improve, which has been an eye-catcher for Anderson.

The Irish’s consistency in programs outside of football, however, has been a steady force that’s encaptured Anderson and family.

“It’s a constant reminder that life after football is a big focus,” he started. “They also push for investing in something, whether it’s yourself academically or your future with job security, financial investment … My parents are teachers, so they have always stressed the importance of getting a degree or two. They’ve taught me that a degree is like an investment myself.”

For Anderson, that’ll begin when he arrives in South Bend as part of the Irish’s star-studded 2025 class.

Anderson checks in as the No. 418 overall player in the country in the 2025 recruiting class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is the No. 4-rated prospect from his home state of Arkansas.