Four-star ATH Antavious Richardson flips commitment from USF to Notre Dame

Happy bye week, Notre Dame fans. The Fighting Irish have pulled off a big flip in the 2025 recruiting class.

Greenville (Ga.) High’s Antavious Richardson, the No. 351 overall player and No. 10 “athlete” in the nation according to the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking, switched his commitment from USF to Notre Dame on Tuesday afternoon. On3’s Hayes Fawcett broke the news on social media.

“I believe in Coach Freeman and his program,” Richardson told Fawcett. “I think that this team is gonna be special! Go Irish.”

The 6-2, 170-pounder originally committed to Georgia State in April, but his recruiting process took a turn when the likes of Memphis, USF, Vanderbilt and Mississippi State took notice and offered him scholarships. He flipped his pledge from the in-state school to the USF Bulls in late June.

But then he saw a second wave of schools pursuing him in August. North Carolina, Duke, Notre Dame, UCF and Louisville all offered him. And on Sept. 1, Alabama joined the mix.

He unofficially visited Alabama this fall and took an official visit to Notre Dame in September for the Miami (Ohio) game.

“I enjoyed the atmosphere and the culture — that was the most amazing part about it,” Richardson told Blue & Gold about Notre Dame following his visit. “When you go places, you don’t always meet people who are that nice and kind — you don’t always get that atmosphere and culture. That’s something Notre Dame has that separates itself from a lot of schools. The coaches, players and everyone were nice the whole time. They really want you to feel a part of the team.

“The people there want you to get your degree and succeed in life. The culture — that’s a big thing.”

The staff gave their 4-for-40 pitch to the 6-2, 170-pounder, selling him on what life after football looks life after graduating from Notre Dame.

“They’re the type of program that if things don’t work as planned, a degree from Notre Dame will set you up for life, basically,” added Richardson. “If I were to get injured or something, a degree from Notre Dame will help me out. That’s how they try to differentiate themselves from other schools.”

Richardson is from a town of less than 1,000 people southwest of Atlanta. Notre Dame doesn’t recruit many players from his area, and Richardson is likely the first-ever football player from Greenville to land an offer from the Irish.

“I’m probably the first,” he agreed.

What position will Richardson play at Notre Dame?

He was committed to USF as a cornerback and had Alabama after him as a safety. And for the position he’s expected to come at in South Bend? Wide receiver.

Richardson previously told Blue & Gold that he didn’t have a strong preference for his position in college.

“I’m cool with either; it doesn’t matter,” he said

Richardson is primarily a quarterback at the high school level and plays all over on defense as well.

Through four games of his senior season, Richardson has thrown for 411 yards with 5 touchdowns and 1 interception. He’s completing 63 percent of his passes and has ran for 571 yards and a score on 44 carries. On the other side of the ball, Richardson has totaled 33 tackles (5 for loss) and 1 interception.

He gives the Irish three wide receiver commits in the class, joining Atlanta Woodward Academy’s Jerome Bettis Jr. and Wayne (N.J.) DePaul Catholic’s Elijah Burress.

On3 is higher on Richardson than the industry average, listing him as the No. 292 overall player and No. 12 “athlete” in the nation.

Richardson was a 2023 state champion in the 400-meter race along with earning all-region athlete of the year honors on the gridiron. He’s been recorded running a 10.68 in the 100-meter race.