Blue & Gold’s Notre Dame assistant coach recruiter of the year: Mike Mickens

This one is pretty easy. Mike Mickens has been a crucial part in making Notre Dame’s secondary go from a weakness to a big strength.

His development is a key part of that (especially with getting young players ready to play as soon as possible), and the caliber of recruits he’s getting to South Bend has been impressive.

And it should be noted that this is the first year that Mickens had the title of defensive backs coach rather than just cornerbacks coach, a title he’s had since 2020. But after Chris O’Leary left Notre Dame to join the Los Angeles Chargers staff, the Irish didn’t hire a dedicated safeties coach among the assistant coaches. Mickens leads both groups along with special teams coordinator Marty Biagi.

And Mickens’ half-dozen defensive back signees make up a very strong group.

Three of Notre Dame’s six top-250 overall ranked prospects in its class are four-star defensive backs: Tampa (Fla.) Berkeley Prep cornerback Dallas Golden, Winston-Salem (N.C.) Mount Tabor safety JaDon Blair and Indianapolis Ben Davis cornerback Mark Zackery. They are the Nos. 114, 125 and 154 overall players in 2025, respectively. 

Golden and Zackery are elite as they come athletically. Golden is a specimen on both sides of the ball, and Zackery shows off his skills as a state champion in both football and basketball. Blair is a long safety who gives off Kyle Hamilton vibes with his ability to move so well at over 6-4.

Only one other time in the internet recruiting rankings era — which dates back to 2004 — have the Irish signed three or more top 250 defensive backs. 

That would be in 2012 when the Irish landed CB DaVonté Neal (No. 51), CB Tee Shepard (No. 73), S Elijah Shumate (No. 134) and CB KeiVare Russell (No. 166). 

The other defensive backs in Notre Dame’s 2025 recruiting class rank as three-stars per the On3 Industry Ranking. One of them is Fort Wayne (Ind.) Snider’s Brandon Logan, who is a four-star and No. 31 safety nationally according to On3’s own ranking.

And then there’s Greenwich (Conn.) Brunswick School three-star safety Ethan Long, who committed to the Irish over Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and others.

And Phoenix Brophy Prep cornerback Cree Thomas was another strong get for Notre Dame, beating out Wisconsin, Oregon, Boston College, California and others. He comes from the same high school that produced Irish star Benjamin Morrison.

What the recruits say about Mickens

Cree Thomas: “Coach Mickens has been great. He has been there from the beginning and made me feel wanted. As soon as they offered, we started building our relationship and it was easy. My connection with Coach Mickens was big [in my decision to pick Notre Dame].”

Ethan Long: “Coach Golden, Coach Mickens and Coach Freeman are the best at what they do. They really make that defense work. They fly around and play with passion. That’s what really separates them.”

Mark Zackery: “(Mickens) was basically telling me it’s not just about football. We’re going to develop you, of course. You’re going to gain weight like you want to. If you’re given the opportunity, take advantage of it. Just work hard like everybody does. I’m in the right position right now.”

JaDon Blair: “I spent a lot of time with Coach Mickens, and I would say my relationship with him is probably stronger than with O’Leary,. Coach Mickens is a great guy; I’ve met his family and it’s on a personal level with him. I know the type of guy he is.”

Dallas Golden: “He’s a really great person. I have family friends at Notre Dame right now ­— Troy and Tre Reader ­— and they tell me great things about Coach Mickens. Being around him is a great vibe.”