Notre Dame’s 2025 recruiting class has received a significant boost with the commitment of talented safety Ethan Long from Milford, Connecticut’s Brunswick School. This acquisition addresses a historical challenge for the Fighting Irish in recruiting top-notch safeties, marking a crucial addition to the 2025 defensive lineup.
Historically, the safety position has posed recruiting difficulties for Notre Dame, as the coaching staff struggled to consistently secure the depth and talent required for this key defensive role. The current safety depth chart has even resorted to transitioning former wide receivers and cornerbacks to fill the gap, with transfers assisting in previous seasons.
Ethan Long will be joining a safety class that already boasts a commitment from the highly regarded Florida defender, Ivan Taylor. This move aligns with Notre Dame’s recent strategy of adding players with the right mix of length, athleticism, and playmaking skills to fortify their defense. Long, with his impressive size, smooth athleticism, and a track record of high productivity, offers the versatility that Notre Dame values in its defensive backfield.
The addition of Long and Taylor to the 2025 class follows the successful recruitment of Brauntae Johnson, Kennedy Urlacher, and Taebron Bennie-Powell in the 2024 class, marking a promising trend in bolstering the safety position under the guidance of safeties coach Chris O’Leary. Establishing a consistent pattern of strong safety classes is crucial for the Fighting Irish’s future success, and with Long and Taylor, the 2023 and 2024 recruiting efforts are moving in that direction.
Moreover, the Irish coaching staff has indicated their determination to continue strengthening the safety position in this recruiting cycle.
Ethan Long, standing at 6-2 and weighing 185 pounds, earned first-team All-Conference honors during his junior year. As a sophomore, he demonstrated his defensive prowess with 31 tackles, five tackles for loss, three interceptions, and three fumble recoveries.
Remarkably, Long did not allow a single completion during the 2022 season. His reputation as a shutdown defender is well-deserved, considering he intercepted eight passes and broke up 11 throws as a freshman in 2021. During his junior year, Long continued to impress with 56 tackles, three interceptions, and three forced fumbles.
In addition to Ethan Long, the 2025 recruiting class for Notre Dame features a remarkable array of talents, including elite quarterback Deuce Knight, running backs Daniel Anderson and Justin Thurman, tight end James Flanigan, offensive tackle Will Black, defensive tackle Davion Dixon, defensive ends Christopher Burgess Jr., CJ May, and Joseph Reiff, hybrid defender Dominik Hulak, cornerback Cree Thomas, and Ivan Taylor.
Long’s recruiting journey saw offers from prominent schools like Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Michigan State, Duke, Pittsburgh, Boston College, Maryland, and BYU. His exceptional academic performance also garnered offers from Ivy League institutions, Yale and Dartmouth, showcasing his well-rounded abilities beyond the football field.
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