2025 four-star OT Owen Strebig commits to Notre Dame football

Owen Strebig should never have to visit Notre Dame as an uncommitted recruit again. Less than three weeks after his last trip to South Bend — his sixth since April — the top-125 2025 class recruit announced his verbal commitment to the Fighting Irish on Thursday. 

Strebig, a four-star offensive tackle from Waukesha (Wis.) Catholic Memorial, pledged to the Irish over Wisconsin, Southern California, Miami and Florida State. The On3 Industry Ranking’s No. 125 overall player and No. 12 offensive tackle in the class, Strebig, held 21 other scholarship offers before locking up his spot in Notre Dame’s 2025 class. 

In late January, the 6-foot-7, 295-pound Strebig privately committed to the Irish, the same month Notre Dame offensive line coach Joe Rudolph stopped by his high school twice, including most recently on Jan. 30. Rudolph, head coach Marcus Freeman and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock also made the trip to the Milwaukee area to see Strebig on Jan. 19. That was one day before his Notre Dame junior day visit.

The On3 Industry Ranking’s top player in Wisconsin, Strebig’s longstanding relationships with Freeman and Rudolph greatly influenced his declaration. 

“I have such a strong relationship with them,” Strebig told Blue & Gold before making his decision public Thursday. “I really trust what they’re building. Also, on the academic side, that degree is something special. It’s something that will take you far in life. I noticed that especially because I want to get into business. Notre Dame has good connections.

“At Notre Dame, you get the best of both worlds. You get the books and the ball. I’m excited to be a part of that.” 

In On3’s own rankings, Strebig is the No. 111 overall player, No. 11 offensive tackle nationally and the No. 2 recruit in Wisconsin.

Strebig is the 14th overall commit and second offensive tackle in Notre Dame’s 2025 class. On Dec. 21, the Irish secured the pledge of four-star offensive tackle Will Black from Wallingford (Conn.) Choate Rosemary Hall. According to the On3 Industry Ranking, the 6-foot-7, 285-pound Black is the No. 319 overall player, the No. 23 offensive tackle and the No. 2 prospect in Connecticut. 

When Strebig signs with the Irish in December 2024, he will be just one of three players the Irish have added from the state in the internet recruiting era, which dates back to 2002. In 2022, offensive lineman Billy Schrauth from Fond Du Lac (Wis.) St. Mary’s Springs became the first. 

The Irish also have a verbal commitment from four-star tight end James Flanigan of Green Bay (Wis.) Notre Dame de la Baie Academy, who would join Strebig on signing day. According to the On3 Industry Ranking, Flanigan is the No. 134 overall player, the No. 7 tight end and the No. 2 prospect in Wisconsin.

A look at Owen Strebig’s Notre Dame football recruitment

Rudolph offered Strebig on March 20. From there, he visited Notre Dame for the first time on April 15. Strebig left South Bend with a message that set the stage for his recruitment. 

“They said I’m their number one tackle,” Strebig told Blue & Gold on April 16. 

That theme remained the same even as other schools became involved and the Irish offered new offensive tackles, such as Black. On June 22, Strebig returned for his second visit and left feeling like the Irish were a strong contender in his recruitment. 

“I really like (Notre Dame),” Strebig told Blue & Gold on June 26. “I’m really at a good point. They’ve done a good job of recruiting me. I’m really, really liking Notre Dame right now.” 

Eventually, after his next trip for the program’s “Grill & Chill” recruiting event on July 30, Notre Dame became the team to beat. 

“The feelings I had before remain,” Strebig told Blue & Gold on Aug. 2. “Notre Dame stays one of my top schools.” 

Strebig attended two games each during football season at Notre Dame and Wisconsin. He specifically saw the Irish host Ohio State on Sept. 23 and USC on Oct. 14. He then made it to Southern California on Nov. 19 when the Trojans hosted UCLA. Despite a fall push from USC and a winter one from Wisconsin, Notre Dame remained the top school in Strebig’s recruitment. He did not wait long after his Jan. 20 junior day visit to formalize it. 

A return trip to Miami on Jan. 28 only clarified his decision. He also saw plenty of other programs throughout the process. Since June 2022, Strebig has visited Iowa (twice), Florida (twice), Minnesota, Illinois, Penn State, Northwestern, Michigan, Florida State, UCF and UCLA, not to mention five other trips to Wisconsin and one each to USC and Miami.

“Everything was getting compared to Notre Dame,” Strebig told Blue & Gold on Monday. “Honestly, the toughest part about it was I built such good relationships with other schools. … But Notre Dame was a better fit for me and my family.” 

The Owen Strebig File

Strebig is fresh off a junior season in which he earned a spot on the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) Large School All-State Team for the first time. They also honored him with a spot on their All-Region (3-Large) Team. Catholic Memorial concluded the season 9-3 with a loss in the Division 4 semifinals. 

Also, in 2023, the Associated Press recognized Strebig as an honorable mention on the All-State team. The Parkland Football Conference named him first-team All-Conference. 

As a junior in 2022, Strebig helped the Catholic Memorial Crusaders reach the Division 4 state final and earned first-team All-PFC recognition for the first time. 

Catholic Memorial has won the PFC all three years (2021-23) of Strebig’s high school career. In addition to playing left tackle, he also long snaps.