Five things elite Notre Dame OT commit Will Black told Andy Staples at On3 Elite Series event
Notre Dame elite four-star offensive tackle commit Will Black was one of about 40 prominent high school football prospects who attended On3’s Elite Series event in Nashville at the end of May. The Wallingford (Conn.) Choate Rosemary Hall product was actually one of the top recruits there.
According to On3, Black is a five-star who ranks as the No. 5 overall player and No. 1 offensive tackle in the 2025 class. The 6-foot-7½ , 283-pounder verbally committed to the Fighting Irish on Dec. 21 over Michigan, Penn State and several other notable power conference programs.
During the On3 Elite Series, college football reporter Andy Staples interviewed the longtime Irish commit. Here are five things Black told Staples during their about 11-minute conversation.
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On what made Notre Dame feel like the right place for him:
“The people there. I think the culture is amazing. Everyone’s very like-minded. Everyone goes there, not just for football, but to get a good degree. That’s what the coaches always talk about — the 4-for-40. So, the degree from Notre Dame is super valuable and will carry you on past football. …
“They also produce offensive linemen like no other school.”
On his bond with Notre Dame’s offensive line class, which includes Matty Augustine and Owen Strebig:
“We talk every once in a while. We got to the spring game together, where we met and got to hang out. But we have a group chat. We’ve gotten to know each other.”
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On the influence of Notre Dame’s offensive line development into his decision to commit:
“It did a lot. I remember I committed when I visited in December and went to the awards banquet. I got to meet Joe Alt and Blake Fisher. Just talking to them was really awesome. They told me how great of a coach Joe Rudolph is. I think they had three offensive line coaches, just just those two guys. So I mean, Joe Rudolph is the best. I think he’s the best coach for me.”
On being appealed to the Notre Dame college experience
“That definitely appeals to me, especially how they like to push their students. Like some schools, they will put their athletes in easy programs just so they can focus on football, but I like the challenge of doing both.”
On his major at Notre Dame:
“Business. I’m thinking of either finance or marketing. I’m not 100% sure yet. I like the challenge of going to a hard school, and that’s why I chose to go to a hard high school. Then, Joe Alt really inspired me when I found out he was doing mechanical engineering at Notre Dame. Then, at the same time being the best offensive line in the country. Yeah, like no one else does that.”
