Wyoming DB Luke Talich discusses choosing Notre Dame walk-on spot over Power Five scholarship offers
Cody (Wyo.) High class of 2023 safety Luke Talich took an official visit to Oregon State Nov. 29 and was at Wyoming and Utah for officials the next two weekends, respectively. And the weekend before National Signing Day, the 6-3, 185-pounder stayed home to give himself time to assess his options.
Talich had 10 scholarship offers to choose from, including the three programs listed above. Washington State had also offered him.
He didn’t choose any of those programs, though. Talich opted to take a preferred walk-on spot at Notre Dame.
“I had great opportunities at the schools that offered me, but I knew that if I would’ve gone to one of those places, I would’ve thought, ‘What if I would’ve tried Notre Dame?’ I didn’t want to live with that regret,” Talich explained. “So, I wanted to give it a shot. If it doesn’t work out, then it doesn’t work out. But at least I can say that I tried.
“I didn’t want to have the regret of going somewhere else and know that I had the opportunity to attend a school I always dreamed of going to.”
Talich told Blue & Gold emphatically that Notre Dame was the only other school he would’ve denied a scholarship offer to go to as a PWO.
“Notre Dame has always been a dream of mine,” he said. “As a little kid, I’d watch Notre Dame with my parents and always talked about how I wanted to play there one day. There’s also the faith component — I’m Catholic — and that’s a big part of it.
“My room is all decked out in Notre Dame stuff. I did that when I was younger, and it’s been that way ever since. It was the right thing to do, fulfilling this dream of mine. I want to give it my best effort.”
How Talich to Notre Dame came together
Talich took an unofficial visit to Notre Dame for the Boston College game in November. The Irish had a handful of other scholarship targets in the 2023 and 2024 class on campus that day, so Talich got more of the staff’s focus on Sunday after the other prospects left. He saw practice the day after Notre Dame crushed the Eagles and spent time talking with safeties coach Chris O’Leary, head coach Marcus Freeman and defensive coordinator Al Golden.
“It felt like I was wanted and taken care of,” Talich said. “(Notre Dame recruiting staffers) Chad Bowden and Caleb Davis were so good to us. They were shocked when they realized how much I was considering Notre Dame.
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The Irish staff made it clear to Talich how much he was wanted as a preferred walk-on. In terms of a PWO, Talich is like a five-star. It’s rare to land a PWO who has Power Five offers.
“Chad had been on me in the last week [before signing day],” continued Talich. “He was calling me like crazy, and I’ve talked with Coach O’Leary, Coach Golden and Coach Freeman.
“They’ve been very active in recruiting me. I told them the night before National Signing Day that I was coming there, and they were pretty excited. That was a moment I’ll always remember.”
Talich will enroll at Notre Dame next summer and is expected to start out playing safety. He has the frame that could allow him to grow into a linebacker.
“This was the right decision,” he said. “I had to follow my heart, and I’m happy with the decision I made.”
According to Wyoming-Football.com, Talich was named to the Class 3A all-state team following his sophomore, junior and senior seasons. He also played quarterback during his prep career.
