National Signing Day: Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman press conference updates

Notre Dame finalized its allotment of National Signing Day class of 2024 additions in the early period prior to 10:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday. All 23 of them.

At the time of the 23rd signee putting pen to paper, the Irish boasted the No. 11 signing class in the country according to the On3 Industry Ranking Team Rankings. Head coach Marcus Freeman is scheduled to speak about his incoming freshmen at 1 p.m. ET.

You can watch Freeman’s press conference below and/or follow along with real-time, written updates of what Freeman is saying under the YouTube video player.

WATCH: Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman National Signing Day press conference

What Freeman is saying

**Keep refreshing this page for real-time, written updates of what Freeman is saying.**

• Freeman starts by saying he is excited for new strength and conditioning coach Loren Landow to get to Notre Dame. He also gives credit to Fred Hale for leading the program in the interim. Landow was one of 30ish candidates the Irish vetted.

• Freeman is really impressed by Landow’s ability to utilize science to attack an individualized approach to making sure every student-athlete maximizes his potential.

• Freeman says he’s happy for Gerad Parker taking the head coaching job at Troy, and he’s excited for Gino Guidugli to get a chance to be Notre Dame’s offensive coordinator in the Sun Bowl.

• Freeman says there is no timeline to replace Gerad Parker as the Irish’s offensive coordinator. The program will embark on a national search, but Gino Guidugli will also be considered as a candidate. “We’ll make the best decision for our offense.”

• Freeman on recruiting rankings: “Ratings matter too. They keep score, and we always say we want to win.” The Irish currently have the No. 11 class of 2024 in the country according to the On3 Industry Ranking.

• Freeman says the core of the Notre Dame football program will continue to be through the recruitment and signing of high school prospects despite the age of the transfer portal having such an influence on roster management.

• Freeman says the lack of signing day drama goes back to the ideology of establishing relationships and creating something so strong that isn’t worth flipping a commitment to someplace else at the 11th hour.

• Freeman says the thing that attracted Notre Dame to Cam Williams was his speed. That’s the one attribute Freeman felt the Notre Dame wide receiver room needed, and it’s coming in Williams.

• Freeman on the recruitment of running back Aneyas Williams: “There were a lot of people pulling at Aneyas. He stayed strong.”

• Freeman says he vividly remembers sitting in Kedren Young’s living room with his family on a recruiting visit. He left that meeting feeling that Notre Dame got a really good one out of Texas.

• It’s mesmerizing how Freeman can call to memory specific recruiting visits with particular prospects when asked such a broad question. He truly cares about the kids, as any head coach should. But it’s of no worry with Freeman.

• Freeman says edge rusher Bryce Young has all the tools, just like his father Bryant who was one of the best defensive players in Notre Dame history.

• Freeman on linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa: “He’s probably the most college-ready recruit that we have — physically, mentally. He’s mature. He has great parents.”

• Freeman says Notre Dame is able to attract offspring of Hall of Famers like Bryce Young and Kennedy Urlacher, son of Chicago Bears great Brian Urlacher, is the fact that it resonates with them that you can be one of the best there is but football eventually ends. Notre Dame sets up student-athletes for life after football as well as anywhere else in the country.

• Freeman on CJ Carr’s ceiling at Notre Dame: “It’s extremely high.” He lauds the arm talent and decision making he’s seen this month with Carr being able to take part in the Irish’s Sun Bowl practices. He also compliments Carr’s competitiveness.

• A Freeman buzzword during this presser has been competitiveness. He says that’s a trait that can be a difference-maker in choosing between one recruit or the other.

• Freeman says he was looking for size and speed from the transfer portal at the receiver position. He says the Irish got that in Beaux Collins and Kris Mitchell.

• Freeman says Joe Alt told him that former Duke defensive end RJ Oben was probably the best guy he went against all season.

• Freeman on new Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard: “He was the best quarterback that we believe was in the portal.”

• Freeman says Leonard is an example of Notre Dame finding ways to get guys on campus. Leonard was only on campus at Duke for three years; he was not a graduate. Freeman says he sees progress in admitting non-graduate transfers.

• Freeman says it’s important to get points on the board. He doesn’t want to be too greedy. Mitch Jeter transferring in from South Carolina makes it easier for Freeman to “settle” for points.

• Freeman says Leonard is a “complete quarterback.” He adds, “He can make every single throw.” He feels it’s an important factor to have a QB that has the ability to run, too. Leonard certainly has that.

• Freeman says Riley Leonard is staying with the Duke program through bowl season even though he is not playing. He wanted to finish the year with his Blue Devils teammates before getting to Notre Dame. “That speaks volumes to who he is as a person.”

• Freeman says he does not want any of his coaches to talk negatively to other coaches about any Notre Dame players who are in the transfer portal. He says if you cannot say only nice things, put the phone down.

• Freeman says he has not talked to Tyler Buchner or Drew Pyne about returning to South Bend. Buchner is going to play lacrosse. Pyne is going to be a normal student. “What I do love about it is two guys coming back to get a Notre Dame degree. That’s what this is all about.”