Four-star OT Sullivan Absher commits to Notre Dame football over Clemson

Belmont (N.C.) South Point class of 2023 offensive tackle Sullivan Absher has committed to Notre Dame over Clemson and North Carolina State, he announced Friday. Before making his decision public, he spoke with Blue & Gold about picking the Fighting Irish.

“On the football side of it, you have Harry Hiestand as the offensive line coach, and he’s one of the best to ever do it,” Absher said. “And on the other side, you have the Notre Dame degree, which you can go anywhere in the world with.”

Former Irish offensive line coach Jeff Quinn extended an offer to Absher Oct. 21, and the four-star recruit was highly interested in Notre Dame right away. The Irish didn’t miss a beat in Absher’s recruitment following Quinn’s departure and Hiestand’s arrival as the new offensive line coach under Marcus Freeman. Absher visited Notre Dame at the end of January and clicked with Hiestand.

The 6-6, 297-pounder announced a top three schools list April 1 and visited Clemson the following weekend. Some pundits felt that Absher was leaning towards the Tigers but he visited Notre Dame the weekend of the Blue-Gold Game, and before he left campus he informed the staff that he was committing to the Irish.

Absher is Notre Dame’s 13th overall commitment of the 2023 class and second along the offensive line, joining fellow North Carolina native Sam Pendleton of Pfafftown (N.C.) Reagan.

He is the No. 5 recruit in North Carolina, and the nation’s No. 176 overall prospect and No. 15 offensive tackle according to the 2023 On3 Consensus.

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Absher details the moment he committed to the Notre Dame staff

Absher and his mother arrived at Notre Dame April 21 for their visit, and after a day and a half on campus he had made his decision. And he wanted to inform the coaches face to face.

“It’s something big that I didn’t want to do over the phone,” he said.

On Friday, April 22, Absher had various meetings and shared a couple meals with the Irish offensive linemen. And after touring campus, Absher was heading back to the hotel with his mom.

“I said to her, ‘I think I need to do this. I can’t see myself anywhere else.’ I texted Coach Freeman and Coach Hiestand and asked if they had a moment any time to meet tonight to tell them something.”

Freeman had an alumni event at the stadium and had Absher meet him there after it concluded. Hiestand met up with them as well.

“I broke the news to them, and it was a special moment that I’ll probably never forget,” Absher explained.

“I had always anticipated not committing until the high school season or after it. That’s what I was telling Coach Hiestand and Coach Freeman as well. I had been telling them I was 99 percent sure I wanted to come here, but I wanted to take a couple more officials.

“When my mom and I went back up there for that weekend, I didn’t need to see anything else. I had that feeling. I couldn’t see myself ending up anywhere else.”

Absher thinks the world of Hiestand and is fired up at the thought of playing for the veteran coach. And with Freeman, Absher is excited about the future of the program.

“Coach Hiestand said I could play guard or tackle,” Absher said. “We just have to see how I fit in with the current group of guys. I’m looking forward to seeing where I end up playing.

“I can’t wait to get up there. I know Coach Freeman is building something special. I’m ready to see where it goes.”

“It keeps getting better,” Absher said of his relationship with Hiestand. “At this point, we don’t even talk about football anymore. We shoot the breeze and talk about whatever. It’s a really smooth relationship. I really enjoy being around him and talking to him. I learn a lot from him, and he’s not even my coach yet.”

Notre Dame isn’t done in the Carolinas along the offensive line just yet. The Irish are hoping to beat out Clemson once again for a talented offensive lineman. Mount Pleasant (S.C.) Oceanside Collegiate Academy’s Monroe Freeling is a top of the board target for Hiestand and Co.

“Sam [Pendleton] and I have been chatting ever since he committed,” Absher said. “As far as Monroe goes, we’re going to have to get him now.”

With his decision finally public, the weight of the recruiting process has been lifted off his shoulders.

“I don’t have to think about getting on phone calls with coaches every minute of the day,” he said. “Obviously, the recruiting process was a blessing, but it got to a point where I needed to make a decision, and that ended up being Notre Dame.”

The Sullivan Absher file

In addition to his finalists, Absher also held offers from Duke, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Michigan State, North Carolina, Penn State, Tennessee, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.

Absher was named to the 2021 Big South 3A first-team all-conference team. He helped pave the way for South Point to reach the 2021 North Carolina 3A state semifinals as a No. 16 seed. The Red Raiders finished the season 11-4 with their run-heavy offense, rushing for 3,973 yards and 50 touchdowns.

On3’s own rankings view Absher higher than the industry average, listing him as the No. 2 prospect from his home state of North Carolina, and the nation’s No. 99 overall player and No. 10 offensive tackle.

“Absher has some of the more dominant run-blocking video we’ve seen from an offensive tackle in the 2023 cycle thus far,” On3 director of scouting and rankings Charles Power said. “He plays in a flexbone offense at Belmont (N.C.) South Point and is a weapon in the run game.

“Absher fires off the ball and mows opposing defenders at the point of attack. He does a nice job of playing low, despite being taller at 6-foot-6. Absher remains a projection as a pass blocker, but his physicality, quick burst and block finishing put him in the top 100 as things stand.”

As the current Notre Dame football roster and 2023 recruiting class stands, Absher, Pendleton and defensive lineman Osita Ekwonu (Charlotte) will be the only players from North Carolina on next year’s roster.