Marcus Freeman gives emotional explanation of Lorenzo Styles departure

After playing wide receiver to start his career, Lorenzo Styles wanted to switch to defense at Notre Dame. He even worked out with the defensive backs before deciding to enter the transfer portal earlier this week.

Marcus Freeman spoke about Styles’ departure after the Fighting Irish’s spring game Saturday and detailed the conversation he had with the former four-star recruit.

“He just came and said he’s going to enter the transfer portal,” Freeman said. “You wish him all the best. The only thing I told him and his father was I hate losing out on an opportunity to get a Notre Dame degeree. That’s the whole thing.

“All of our players chase this NFL dream and chase this dream of starting and playing a lot of football and major college football and that can be achieved. But the degree from Notre Dame is truly something special. I want that for every one of my players because I believe an education from Notre Dame and a degree from Notre Dame will take care of the rest of your life. That’s what I wish for all of our kids that come through this program. We love ‘Zo, I love ‘Zo and I wish him all the best.”

Styles officially entered the portal April 21, just one day before Notre Dame’s spring game. He had a solid year at wide receiver last year, totaling 340 yards and a touchdown as a sophomore. That came after appearing in nine games as a freshman in 2021 when he had 344 yards and a touchdown.

He arrived in South Bend as a four-star recruit and the No. 70-ranked prospect in the nation from the 2021 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Despite playing the last two years at receiver, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Styles plans to move to defensive back at his new program — wherever that might be.

“Lorenzo Styles wants to make the permanent switch to defensive back, which he began to do this spring at Notre Dame by playing cornerback,” Thamel tweeted Friday. “He played his first two years there at WR, but he’s looking to play defense at his next stop.”

Styles is the son of Lorenzo Styles Sr., who played at Ohio State before the Atlanta Falcons selected him in the 1995 NFL Draft. He has two years of eligibility remaining.