The Notre Dame coaching staff has been putting in the work on the recruiting trail the past few months, especially on the defensive line. Notre Dame is off to a great start, but the finish will be the key, and one player the staff would love to add to the class is Gardena (Calif.) Junipero Serra lineman Khary Wilder. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound edge rusher made his first trip to South Bend within the past few weeks, and came away from the visit with a lot to think about — in the best way possible.
“It was a great visit,” Wilder said of the visit. “I got to meet the coaches and see the whole campus. It was an all-around great experience.”
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While it was his first time seeing Notre Dame in person, Wilder had already been familiar with the Irish through conversations with the staff and watching the team from afar. But seeing the culture up close, and getting a feel for the people behind the program, helped Notre Dame take a major step forward in his recruitment.
“I really got to chop it up with Coach (Marcus) Freeman and spend time around Coach (Al) Washington,” Wilder said. “That was big for me.”
It wasn’t just about getting a campus tour — Wilder was locked in on learning what makes Notre Dame different. He left with a strong impression of the program’s direction, especially the championship mindset that head coach Marcus Freeman and his staff are working to instill.
“I really got to see the Notre Dame culture and what they’re building in South Bend,” Wilder explained. “Their goal was clear — they are competing for national championships and recruiting specific guys that they see fitting their system to do that.”
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That message wasn’t lost on Wilder, who said he could feel how much of a priority he was throughout the visit.
“They made me feel like a priority,” he said. “And all in all, it was a great experience.”
If the Irish coaching staff was hoping to move the needle with Wilder, mission accomplished.
“Yes sir, they most definitely have,” he said when asked if Notre Dame had moved up his list. “They’re one of my top schools for sure!”
Wilder is a physical and aggressive presence on the defensive line. His junior film is filled with clips of him bursting off the line of scrimmage, using his hands to shed blockers, and playing with a violent edge. He already shows signs of good technique, and with the right development, he has the upside to be a serious difference-maker at the next level. He also carries a frame that should be able to add quality weight in a college strength program without sacrificing athleticism.
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Notre Dame’s staff has taken notice of all that potential — and they’re pushing hard to stay in the mix. Defensive line coach Al Washington and Nick Sebastian have built a strong relationship with Wilder, and the next step is getting him back on campus for an official visit.
“I’m working with the coaching staff right now to find a fitting date,” Wilder stated. “I most definitely want to make it back to South Bend for an official visit.”
With his tools, production, and the motor he plays with, Wilder checks a lot of boxes. If Notre Dame can secure that return visit and continue building on the relationships already in place, they’ll be in a strong position to compete for one of the West Coast’s top defensive prospects.
Wilder is rated as a four-star prospect and the No. 111 player in the nation according to Rivals. He holds offers from Notre Dame, USC, Alabama, Texas A&M, Penn State, Tennessee, Washington, Cal, Arizona State, Kansas, UCLA, Syracuse, Nebraska, Purdue, Oregon State, Arizona, Boise State and Utah.
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