Meet the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football class of 2025 commits

Get to know the class of 2025 prospects committed to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in this feature from BlueandGold.com.

We have provided background info on each of the commits below (in chronological order from the newest pledge to the oldest) and will continue to update this article each time Notre Dame lands a new commitment.

Winter Garden (Fla.) West Orange DB Ivan Taylor

Height: 5-11
Weight: 163
Commitment date: Dec. 1, 2023
On3 Ranking: No. 172 NATL, No. 15 S and No. 25 player from Florida

It’s not common for Notre Dame to go into a public high school in Florida and land a highly coveted defensive back, but the Irish have had plenty of success adding the sons of former NFL players. Taylor fits this profile of both, coming out of West Orange in the Orlando area and is the son of former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Ike Taylor. The elder Taylor played in the NFL from 2003-14 and is a two-time Super Bowl champion.

The four-star prospect visited South Bend four times — twice over the summer and twice for fall game day trips — and picked the Fighting Irish over offers from the likes of Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Michigan, USC and many others. During his 10-game junior season, Taylor totaled 50 tackles (6 for loss), 1 interception and 3 forced fumbles. He’s recorded 135 tackles and 5 interceptions during his high school career.

Phoenix Brophy Prep CB Cree Thomas

Height: 6-1
Weight: 170
Commitment date: Nov. 20, 2023
On3 Ranking: No. 43 CB and No. 3 player from Arizona

Notre Dame offered Thomas a scholarship back on Pot of Gold day for the 2025 class, and the Irish became an instant contender for the Arizona prospect. He visited campus in April, and Notre Dame took the lead for him at that point. Thomas visited camps twice in the fall and made his pledge to the Irish on Nov. 20, giving the Irish their first defensive back pledge of the 2025 class.

Thomas was named to the 2023 Arizona 6A Central All-Region first-team defense for his efforts as a junior. He’s recorded 37 tackles, 5 interceptions and 4 pass break ups this fall. Thomas comes from the same high school that produced Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison.

Elmhurst (Ill.) Immaculate Conception LB Dominik Hulak

Height: 6-3
Weight: 225
Commitment date: Nov. 10, 2023
On3 Ranking: No. 52 LB and No. 13 player from Illinois

Notre Dame was always going to be tough to beat for Hulak, a Chicagoland prospect who visited South Bend four times prior to his decision, with each trip occurring this calendar year. Hulak also was high on Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin, visiting those three programs at least two times each. Hulak fills the “money” position vacancy for Notre Dame’s 2025 class. Graduate student Marist Liufau currently primarily plays linebacker. However, Liufau has also played a healthy dose of defensive line snaps. 

During his sophomore season, Hulak had 57 solo tackles, 3 for loss, 2 pass breakups, 2 fumble recoveries and a sack. He even blocked a field goal.

Green Bay (Wis.) Notre Dame De La Baie Academy TE James Flanigan

Height: 6-6
Weight: 220
Commitment date: Oct. 21, 2023
On3 Ranking: No. 92 NATL, No. 5 TE and No. 1 player from Wisconsin

Notre Dame landed a prospect it badly wanted in the 2025 class when Flanigan announced that he’d play his collegiate football in South Bend. Flanigan’s father, Jim Flanigan, starred for the Irish defensive line in the early 1990s. After the Bears drafted him at No. 74 overall in the mid-90s, the elder Flanigan went on to have a nine-year NFL career. He won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2000.

The Fighting Irish offered him a scholarship during their St. Patrick’s Day-themed “Pot of Gold Day” recruiting event on March 17. He visited campus a few times, including seeing Notre Dame knock off USC 48-24. Wisconsin, Michigan and Stanford were programs he also considered closely.

Elmhurst (Ill.) York Community DL Joseph Reiff

Height: 6-5
Weight: 230
Commitment date: Sept. 24, 2023
On3 Ranking: No. 41 DL and No. 10 player from Illinois

Notre Dame was also going to be tough to beat from the Chicagoland prospect, and a day after taking trip No. 3 to South Bend, Reiff had seen enough of the recruiting process and knew where he wanted call home for his days as a collegiate student-athlete. Reiff also held offers from likes of Iowa, Northwestern, Purdue, Louisville and Cincinnati. Iowa was the first school to offer him back on May 18.

His father, Joseph, played on the defensive line collegiately for the Northwestern Wildcats. Reiff had 21 solo stops, 7 tackles for loss and 3 sacks during his sophomore season in 2022.

Highland Home (Ala.) High EDGE C.J. May

Height: 6-4
Weight: 225
Commitment date: Sept. 23, 2023
On3 Ranking: No. 211 NATL, No. 17 EDGE and No. 13 player from Alabama

There are often surprises in recruiting, and no one expected May to announce a commitment about 15 minutes or so after Notre Dame’s last-minute loss against Ohio State Sept. 23, 2023. He was mostly considering Auburn — the local school — and Notre Dame, but he felt most at home in South Bend, and he has a close connection with Notre Dame’s 2025 quarterback pledge, Deuce Knight.

“He’s a great football player,” Highland Home head coach Will Pouncey told Blue & Gold about May. “You see his frame and how big he is. He’s become a very mature young man, too. He’s very athletic and brings a tenacity off the edge. C.J.’s combination of speed and bull rush is rare at any level, especially here in South Alabama at the high school level.”

Bryant (Ark.) High RB Daniel Anderson

Height: 5-11
Weight: 190
Commitment date: Sept. 23, 2023
On3 Ranking: No. 41 RB and No. 8 player from Arkansas

In May 2023, the Notre Dame staff invited Anderson to participate in their Irish Invasion camp the following month, and at that point, he held zero scholarship offers. He earned an offer from the Irish after showing out at the camp, and the likes of Arkansas State, Colorado, Mississippi State and Tennessee offered him in the ensuing weeks. Anderson visited Notre Dame in July and returned for the Ohio State game in September. About an hour before kickoff, the Arkansas back announced his pledge to the Irish.

During his sophomore season, Anderson totaled 74 carries for 856 yards and 11 touchdowns in Bryant’s undefeated, state-title winning season. And through four games of his junior season, he has 27 carries for 136 yards and a score.

Lucedale (Miss.) George County QB Deuce Knight

Height: 6-4.5
Weight: 180
Commitment date: Sept. 18, 2023
On3 Ranking: No. 29 NATL, No. 4 QB and No. 2 player from Mississippi

Notre Dame was always a top option for Knight, but Auburn, Tennessee and Ole Miss looked to be the teams to beat at various points of his recruitment. His parents always preferred him to land with the Fighting Irish, and when it came to crunch time as Bear Bachmeier was closing in on committing to Notre Dame, Knight came to the conclusion that he wanted to be the face of ND’s 2025 class. Knight announced his commitment to Notre Dame without any notice publicly, and he’s been actively recruiting for the Irish since.

During his sophomore football season, Knight completed 111 of 174 passes for 1,780 yards with 11 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. He also added 488 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 54 carries.

Knight’s team finished 2-8 in 2022, but his individual performance earned him All-Region 4-5A first-team honors. The Mississippi Association of Coaches listed him as its 5A second-team all-state quarterback.

Tampa (Fla.) Jesuit RB Justin Thurman

Height: 6-0
Weight: 180
Commitment date: Aug. 1, 2023
On3 Ranking: No. 27 RB and No. 46 player from Florida

Notre Dame beat out the likes of Florida, Tennessee, Auburn, Louisville, Iowa, Purdue and Indiana when Thurman announced his commitment to the Irish just before the start of his junior season. Thurman picked up an offer from Notre Dame May 25 during a conversation with Irish running backs coach Deland McCullough, and he quickly set up a visit to get out to South Bend for a visit.

The four-star prospect had a two-day visit at Notre Dame in mid-June, which included participating in a recruiting camp where he impressed the Irish staff. The 6-0, 180-pounder returned to South Bend July 29 for another two-day trip, and by the end of the visit, he informed the Notre Dame coaches Saturday night of his decision to commit.

In a track event at Florida State in March, Thurman ran a 10.84 in the 100-meter dash. He’s reportedly been clocked in the 4.4 to 4.5 range in the 40-yard dash. His father, James, was a wide receiver at Florida A&M in the early 1990s.

Miami Palmetto DL Davion Dixon

Height: 6-3
Weight: 305
Commitment date: April 21, 2023
On3 Ranking: No. 38 DL and No. 44 player from Florida

Dixon announced his commitment the day before Notre Dame’s Blue-Gold Game in April 2023, and it was truly unexpected. It was Dixon’s second trip to South Bend, as he also camped for the staff last June. He’s picked up offers from Georgia, Ohio State and others since committing to the Irish, and the local Miami Hurricanes are in hot pursuit of him as well. Notre Dame will have competition to keep him locked in the class, but Dixon gets up to campus as much as he can, which is a great sign.

In 11 games last fall, Dixon registered 70 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, 24 quarterback hurries, 10.5 sacks and five pass breakups. He also had a forced fumble and a blocked kick.