There is a different feeling in the Marcus Freeman era, specifically on the recruiting trail. With the prestige of the Notre Dame program, it gave the new defensive coordinator much more energy on the recruitment trail. This was shown tonight when Texas’ Harold Perkins spoke to Freeman and later received an offer.
Perkins checks in as the 19th best player in the country and the best external linebacker according to the 247Sports team. Standing six feet tall and weighing 200 pounds, this offer is significant.
There seems to be a change in philosophy about who the Irish make offers. Freeman has been looking for top players like Perkins, certainly a difference from when Clark Lea was making the offers.
Obviously, there was a difference in talent levels when the Irish ended up losing their final two games of the season to Clemson and Alabama. Perkins can play at any school in the country. Now the Irish have put their offer in the mix and a change of guard has been made. Only good things can come from Freeman and Brian Kelly in their new recruiting philosophy.