Notre Dame lands four-star RB Justin Thurman

Hailing from Tampa, Fla., Justin Thurman doesn't seem to have any qualms about living in South Bend, Indiana during his college years.

The fact that he'll be going to Notre Dame as a four-star running back commit certainly plays into that. Thurman announced his commitment to the Fighting Irish on Tuesday, saying that everything about what head coach Marcus Freeman is offering fits the bill.

“The culture, the academics, the people, and the program all appeal to me," Thurman told On3. "Everything at Notre Dame fits the 'The Golden Standard', that’s why I have decided to commit."

The "Golden Standard" is a term introduced by Freeman to the Notre Dame lexicon. According to On3's Patrick Engel, it features three ideas: Challenge everything, unit strength and competitive spirit. Those ideas may not have been always apparent in Freeman's first season when the Irish went 9-4, but that is the standard he's building his program on in the post-Brian Kelly era.

In Thurman, the Fighting Irish are getting a talented back who can help define the new culture Freeman is trying to instill. Ranked as the No. 27 running back in the 2025 recruiting cycle, he still has some time before he heads to South Bend, but that also means he has time to improve his already impressive base set of skills.

"As a versatile athlete, they plan to use my speed and overall skill set in multiple areas on offense and special teams," Thurman explained.

It's important for Freeman to get off to a strong recruiting start in the 2025 cycle after posting a 2023 class that was ranked No. 12 in the country. Momentum can and does translate on the recruiting trail, and that's evident in Notre Dame's 2024 class, which already has 14 commitments and is ranked No. 7 nationally.

Thurman is now Freeman's third 2025 commitment, joining 4-star tight end Nate Roberts and three-star defensive lineman Davion Dixon. 

“Coach Freeman is a players coach, and you know that instantly when you first meet him," Thurman said of Notre Dame's head coach, per 247Sports. 

That's the type of rapport with recruits that will continue to bode well for Freeman and the Fighting Irish.