Does Notre Dame or Michigan have the 'slight edge' for four-star RB Javian Osborne?

On Monday, Forney (Texas) High four-star running back Javian Osborne discussed his college football recruitment on The Inside Scoop with On3’s Josh Newberg. Does Notre Dame or Michigan have the slight edge for the On3 Industry Rankng’s No. 103 overall player and No. 8 running back in the 2026 class?

Osborne answered that question and more in his interview with Newberg. Here is everything he said, with questions and answers lightly edited for length and clarity.

Newberg: Do you feel like you have a decision coming in the next month or so?

Osborne: Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

Newberg: Have you set an announcement date yet?

Osborne: I have not. I haven’t made it official. I’ve just been discussing it with my parents or my dad, trying to ensure everything is galloped up. But I’m finna come down to a date and make it public so everybody knows.

Newberg: Do you think it’ll be in the next six to eight weeks?

Osborne: Probably the next four or five weeks.

Newberg: All right. We might circle back on that announcement, but I want to know why you narrowed it down to Notre Dame and Michigan. Because you had, it was a top 10 and went down to two. Why those two programs?

Osborne: Well, if you look at the dynamics of the program, you have Michigan and Notre Dame. Notre Dame is like the Dallas Cowboys of college football. And then you have Michigan, which these are like the two blue bloods of college football.

But one thing, just talking with the coaching staff and being able to get up to Notre Dame was a big eye-opener for me. Being able to see the campus. I already talked to Coach (Marcus) Freeman when he came to my school. Just talking to him, hearing how he sounds, and what he presented about Notre Dame was a dream come true. I mean, just Notre Dame is big. It’s a prestigious campus, the same as Michigan. 

Michigan came down as well, and they showed so many things. As you’ve seen on my recruitment and stuff, I’m sure you noticed that Michigan has also been number one for a while. They showed me the platform for how they would utilize me, the plan for my freshman year, and stuff. 

Just seeing all of that, I just had to narrow it down because sometimes it can take a toll on you if you know where your heart is. You don’t want to waste any other coaches’ time and stuff.

Newberg: What about all those schools in Texas, though?

Osborne: Texas, when the running back coach left, Coach (Tashard) Choice, that was my guy. He was recruiting me freshman year. After that, it went downhill.

Texas’ new running back coach came in. I guess he just thought that other running backs were better than me. I wasn’t hearing phone calls from him and stuff. So I was just like, ‘OK.’ It just made it easier to check it down and write them off the list.

I felt some way about Texas. They were trying to keep me in state so they could have me there in case they don’t get another recruit. That’s how I felt about him. It was just a no-go for me. I didn’t feel that at all.

Newberg: Yeah, you made a really quick decision, too, because once Coach Choice left, within 24 hours, had canceled that official visit to Texas.

Osborne: It wasn’t even 24 hours. I think I gave it about a week — probably four or five days, maybe a week. I wanted to give the coach a chance, hear him out, hear what he wants to present. For those first three days, he didn’t call or text me. I didn’t hear from nobody at all.

So, I tried to give Texas a chance. I know they’re getting a new running back staff. Are they going to pick up the phone? Maybe Coach (Steve) Sarkisian would call me or something. They told me that I was priority number one. If you were priority number one, you should at least hear a phone call from somebody. But I didn’t hear that at all. 

I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m not feeling it.’ Wasting no time. I just canceled my OV.

Newberg: Hey, there’s a lot of schools out there. Not everybody’s a fit for everyone, but you found two that you like. And to your point, you hit on a little bit.

Early in your recruitment, maybe December, January, or February, it was Michigan. Michigan had all the momentum. But Notre Dame now is the one that has jumped in the lead. Is this recruitment tough for you with these teams sliding into who’s number one and who’s not?

Osborne: Yeah, it’s a little tough because these are both very good colleges. They have very good academics. I gave Notre Dame a slight edge because of what they presented from the football aspect, school, everything.

I gave them a slight edge because I felt a different type of feeling there. But Michigan, don’t get me wrong, I love Michigan. Michigan is still like — it’s like a 1A, 1B type of deal. They’re just right there apart. So it’s not like a big difference. Choosing from two big blue bloods of college football will be hard.

Newberg: OK, you’re publicly saying Notre Dame’s your leader? I don’t want to say it because sometimes recruits don’t want to tip their hand at all — they’re afraid to say anybody’s out in front of anybody at any given time, but you’re not. You’re saying right now that Notre Dame does have the edge, at least by a little?

Osborne: Just by a little bit, yes, sir.

Newberg: All right. So Notre Dame has the edge right now. Michigan certainly had momentum and is still very much in this race. What’s up next for you visit-wise?

Osborne: Well, I canceled all my spring visits, and now I’m just going to Michigan’s Spring Game, which is April 15th, I believe. Then, after that, this coming Saturday is Notre Dame’s Spring Game. I’ll just be making my visits to those two spring games. That’s it.

Newberg: All right, so that’s why the decision could come in the next four or five weeks. After these two trips, what else is left to see, right?

Osborne: Right, right. Yes sir. 

Newberg: So, how important are these two visits? Because with Notre Dame slightly in the lead right now, Michigan right there, it sounds like coming out of these visits, it could still change.

Osborne: Definitely.

Newberg: So what are you looking for?

Osborne: What am I looking for? Notre Dame has shown everything, and Michigan has shown everything as well. But I want to make sure that it’s the right fit. I want to know where my heart is and ensure I choose the best school possible.

Newberg: Who do you have the best relationship with at each school? Like, who’s your primary recruiter? Who’s the one that you talk to almost on a daily or weekly basis at each school?

Osborne: I talk to Coach TA — Tony Alford — at Michigan. That’s the running back coach. And then, of course, I talk to Coach (Ja’Juan) Seider each day, the running back coach at Notre Dame. We both have a great relationship.

Newberg: Both of them have been around for a long time. Both of them recruited some great running backs. So, it will not be easy to make that decision with those two recruiters.

Osborne: Yes, sir. Definitely. As you said, both are big-time running back coaches who have been in the game for a while and coached some big-time guys. It’s going to be a hard decision to come.

Newberg: What’s your family saying? Are they ready for this decision? Do they think they know where you’re going? How much do you weigh your decision with your family?

Osborne: Definitely. I always talk with my family about my decisions, where to go, and what college I feel best. They support my decision, but I also want to ensure I got the right information and that I’m choosing the best school for me and my future for the next three or four years of my life.

Newberg: Are you surprised where you’re at? What would 10-year-old Javian Osborne say if he knew it was down to Notre Dame and Michigan? Would he be surprised, or would this not surprise 10-year-old Javian Osborne?

Osborne: You know what? 10 years old. It wouldn’t be surprising because, growing up in 2016, I was 10 years old. That’s when I started watching Michigan football. That’s when Jabrill Peppers was playing at  Michigan. 

I was a big fan of Michigan. I loved Michigan, the tradition. And I especially liked watching ‘The Game,’ where they played Ohio State. It was definitely like, ‘Wow. I want to play college football. I love Michigan. They just definitely possess something that’s big time. 

Notre Dame, growing up, I watched them a little bit, but not as much as Michigan. When I’m getting older, you see Notre Dame picture now. My 10-year-old self, I wouldn’t be surprised that Michigan is in the final two. Growing up watching Michigan, I love Michigan football. I love how they run the ball. Me playing running back. It’s just a different feeling.

Newberg: Will it help to end your recruitment? Are you excited to get this over with so you can get the decision-making part of your recruitment over with?

Osborne: Oh, yeah. I know that’s a big thing for me — a big milestone ahead. I’m ready to get it over with, focus on my senior year, and focus on the next level, college football.

Newberg: How are you preparing for that? We’re in the middle of the offseason here. So, what are you focused on to prepare for your senior year?

Osborne: So right now, I had surgery eight weeks ago on my right hand. I broke it back in October. So, I broke my scaphoid bone. Didn’t need surgery at first. That’s what the doctor told me. And then, all of a sudden, back in late January, they told me that I needed surgery.

I got the surgery done on February 6th. So it was about eight weeks ago. So now I’m just healing up, rehabbing the stuff, my grip and that’s pretty much it. 

I can’t do anything. I’m not cleared to lift weights or do anything else, so all I’ve been doing is legs—body squats. I am also running two miles and trying to get back in shape. I’m trying to stay active in football, stay focused, and get my body right.

Newberg: All right, Javian Osborne, here is the last question. When you commit, will you be one of these players that’s a vocal recruiter? Will you help the team that you’re committed to build this class?

Osborne: Oh, yes, sir. Definitely. I’m sure you heard the saying, ‘Good players want to play with the good guys as well.’ So, I’ll be a vocal leader, like you said. Recruit the top-tier guys to go to wherever school I choose. So you’ll hear me on that social media for sure.