In recruiting, most players put priorities that they’re looking for first, but for Notre Dame and Marcus Freeman its a much different story.

The university is a renowned academic institution, one the cultivates the mind and body as an athlete for the Irish. That’s exactly what Freeman sold to star cornerback Leonard Moore, as his father Dr. Leonard Moore explained on the “Two Sports Dads” podcast.

Freeman didn’t mince words when speaking to his future first round pick while he was in high school, as he focused on what makes Notre Dame different. He’d explain to Moore that “it’s cold, there ain’t nothing to do up here, there ain’t a bunch of nightlife, and there ain’t no online classes,” which could turn of some recruits. It didn’t have that effect on Moore, as Freeman finished off by saying “the classes are hard, but if you can come here and do this, there is nothing in life you won’t be able to do.”

The push for the 4-for-40 is one of the biggest recruiting pitches that Notre Dame has, and Freeman has done a great job using it. The classes since he took over the program have been ranked near the top nationally, with the 2026 and 2027 groups having tons of elite talent. Don’t fix what isn’t broken, and the Irish are crushing it on the recruiting trail.