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Pot of Gold Day: Notre Dame football offers younger brother of 2025 class signee

Kyle Kellyby:Kyle Kelly03/17/25

ByKyleKelly

Richie Flanigan
Green Bay (Wis.) Notre Dame de la Baie Academy 2027 DL Richie Flanigan. (Kyle Kelly/Blue & Gold)

Notre Dame has identified another member of the Flanigan family who could become a key contributor to the football program.

On Monday, Richie Flanigan, a 2027 class defensive lineman from Green Bay (Wis.) Notre Dame de la Baie Academy, reported a scholarship offer from the Fighting Irish. The 6-foot-3, 265-pounder announced it during the program’s St. Patrick’s Day-themed Pot of Gold Day recruiting event. 

Flanigan is the younger brother of University of Notre Dame 2025 tight end signee James Flanigan. Their father, Jim Flanigan, played defensive line for the Fighting Irish from 1990-93. The eldest Flanigan was drafted in the third round of the 1994 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. He spent 10 years in the professional ranks before calling it a career. 

The youngest Flanigan, Richie, now has an opportunity to follow in his brother and father’s footsteps. 

Like most 2027 class prospects, Flanigan does not yet hold a star rating or ranking; that will likely occur sometime this offseason. However, three other schools — Duke, Illinois and Wisconsin — have liked what they’ve seen from his film and offered him a scholarship. So far, Flanigan has unofficially visited Duke on Jan. 11 and Illinois on Jan. 25. 

Flanigan played offensive and defensive line for the state-champion Notre Dame Tritons last season.  In 12 games, he posted 35 tackles, 2 stops for loss and 0.5 sack. James also played defensive end and racked up 61 tackles, 19 TFLs, 13 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery and 1 pass breakup. 

Under Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman, the Irish have made headway in recruiting the Badger State. 

In addition to James, they signed Owen Strebig, a four-star offensive tackle from Waukesha (Wis.) Catholic Memorial. According to the On3 Industry Ranking, James and Strebig are the state’s Nos. 1 and 2 players, respectively. Notre Dame also flipped Milwaukee (Wis.) Marquette University High three-star kicker Erik Schmidt from the Badgers. 

Three classes ago, Freeman signed Fond Du La (Wis.) St. Mary’s Springs four-star offensive lineman Billy Schrauth, the No. 2 player in the state. Before Schrauth, the Irish had never signed a recruit from Wisconsin in the internet recruiting era, which dates back to 2002. 

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