Notre Dame Football Recruiting Staff Shatters Expectations with Record-Breaking June Surge Led by Becca Sites’ Relentless Leadership and Precision
June 2025 will be remembered as a transformative chapter in the history of Notre Dame football recruiting. For years, the Fighting Irish have stood on the shoulders of tradition, academic prestige, and a loyal fanbase. But what happened this June wasn’t just about legacy—it was about execution, innovation, and relentlessness, and it has thrust Notre Dame into the national spotlight for all the right reasons.
At the center of the surge is Becca Sites, Notre Dame’s dynamic Director of Recruiting Strategy. In what some are already calling the most productive single-month stretch in modern Irish recruiting history, Sites and her tireless staff secured a wave of commitments, flipped high-profile prospects from other programs, and solidified Notre Dame’s standing as a legitimate contender both on the field and in the recruiting battles that often decide championships.
By the end of June, Notre Dame had added nine commitments, including four top-100 national prospects, two elite defensive backs, and a dual-threat quarterback that analysts are calling the best fit for the Irish offense in nearly a decade. Even more impressive? Each of these decisions came after carefully orchestrated campus visits, one-on-one family engagements, and behind-the-scenes grind that went well beyond ordinary recruiting.
What separates Notre Dame’s June campaign from others isn’t just the volume—it’s the method. Sites has long emphasized the value of “fit” in recruiting, a concept often thrown around but rarely executed at this level. Every visitor to South Bend this summer walked away with a unique, hyper-personalized experience, complete with tailored itineraries, academic immersion, and meaningful time with current players and staff. Families praised the transparency and authenticity of their visits, noting that Notre Dame “felt different” than any other program.
Insiders credit Sites’ organizational mastery, describing her whiteboard tracking system as “a war room of synchronized chaos.” Her ability to balance data, relationships, and timelines proved crucial, especially as other blueblood programs tried to raid the same targets. According to one staff member, “Becca is five moves ahead before we even step into a room. That’s the difference.”
This strategy paid off not only in commitments but in the flip of a top defensive lineman previously pledged to SEC powerhouse LSU. That move alone sent shockwaves across college football. Suddenly, national analysts were no longer asking if Notre Dame could compete—they were asking who could stop them.
While Sites has earned much of the public praise, she’s quick to deflect credit to her team. And rightly so—this June wasn’t a one-woman show. It was a cohesive effort that blended position coaches, operations staff, player liaisons, and even alumni in a synchronized blitz of communication and connection.
Receivers coach Chansi Stuckey, known for his charisma and sharp football mind, played a vital role in landing two top-50 wideouts, one from Texas and another from Florida. His rapport with families and clear vision for development resonated deeply with recruits who were also fielding offers from Alabama, Georgia, and USC.
Meanwhile, defensive coordinator Al Golden and linebackers coach Max Bullough tag-teamed an aggressive push to shore up the front seven, helping secure commitments from two four-star backers with SEC frames and Big Ten discipline. The message was clear: Notre Dame is not just recruiting for fit—they’re building a defense that can contend with anyone, anywhere.
Perhaps the defining moment of this surge came on June 18th, when five-star defensive end Jaheim Wallace shocked the recruiting world by decommitting from LSU and announcing his intent to play for the Irish. Wallace, a 6-foot-5, 265-pound edge terror from Baton Rouge, had been a lock for the Tigers since his sophomore year. His switch not only added a generational talent to Notre Dame’s class—it punctuated a broader narrative shift.
Recruiting insiders immediately began reassessing Notre Dame’s 2025 class rankings. Rivals moved the Irish from No. 7 to No. 3 nationally within 48 hours. 247Sports praised the staff’s “unmatched June momentum,” while On3 declared the Irish “as hot as any program in America.”
Wallace’s decision was reportedly influenced by multiple factors—Notre Dame’s academic prestige, the chance to play early, and most importantly, the sincerity of the staff’s pitch. “They didn’t just want me,” Wallace said in an exclusive interview. “They saw me. They understood me. That’s rare.”
Historically, Notre Dame has struggled to consistently pull elite Southern talent away from the SEC footprint. That may now be changing. Of the nine June commitments, six hail from the Southeast, including prospects from Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana. Credit that to Notre Dame’s elevated national profile and a revamped campus visit experience that rivals anything in the nation.
“South Bend isn’t just a stop—it’s a destination now,” said one visiting parent. The staff’s integration of modern facilities with deep-rooted tradition has created a recruiting pitch that feels both fresh and grounded. Add in the buzz from former players and NFL alums now actively engaging in recruitment, and it’s no surprise high school stars are listening.
Becca Sites made sure of that. Every detail of each visit—whether it was the hand-written notes waiting in lockers, the carefully crafted academic presentations, or the post-visit follow-ups—carried intentionality. “We’re not selling a dream,” Sites said. “We’re showing them a plan.”
The current class now stands at 18 commitments, with a strong balance between offense, defense, and the trenches. Sites’ philosophy of “stacking wins” is clearly in play. Every commitment is a building block, not a splash for headlines.
Quarterback Malik Davidson, a dual-threat standout from Atlanta, headlines the class. His June 6th commitment set the tone for the month. His decision gave Notre Dame a versatile signal-caller who fits perfectly in offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock’s evolving scheme.
“I see what Coach Denbrock is building,” Davidson said. “And I want to lead it.” His leadership has already paid dividends, as he’s become an active peer recruiter, especially for offensive skill players. “I’m building my class,” he told reporters. “We’re coming for rings.”
Other key commits include:
- Jordan Thomas, a 6’1″ cornerback from Miami with 4.4 speed and elite hips.
- Tyler McDaniel, a 320-pound interior offensive lineman from Ohio, who projects as a day-one starter.
- Eli Ramirez, a hybrid linebacker/safety from California who’s been dubbed a “chess piece” by analysts.
While June was historic, the staff knows there’s more work to be done. “July and August are about retention and reinforcement,” Sites said. “We’re not just closing—we’re keeping.”
That mindset has led to an innovative retention strategy focused on continuing contact with commits and their families, offering development plans, academic mentoring, and peer support groups. In essence, Notre Dame isn’t just recruiting players—they’re onboarding future alumni.
National media have taken notice. ESPN analyst Tom Luginbill recently said, “Notre Dame is the most efficient operation in the country right now. They’re not missing.”
Ultimately, this June wasn’t just about rankings or headlines. It was about building a culture that sustains itself—a culture that values character as much as talent, and development over hype. At the heart of that is Becca Sites, whose relentless vision has elevated Notre Dame’s recruiting to a standard that others are now chasing.
What she and her team have done this month didn’t happen by accident. It was the result of long nights, precise planning, and an unshakable belief in what Notre Dame can be—not just a historical powerhouse, but a modern-day destination for the nation’s best.
As the echoes continue to grow louder in South Bend, one thing is clear: The Irish aren’t just back—they’re building something unstoppable.
