As Notre Dame Rises to No. 3 in the Recruiting Rankings, Javian Osborne Becomes Excited About What July Has in Store

The sun had barely cleared the Indiana horizon when Javian Osborne stepped onto the turf at Notre Dame’s campus, but the heat was already rising—not just from the air, but from the energy crackling around the Fighting Irish program.

In recruiting circles, July is no longer just about summer workouts and unofficial visits. It’s become a pressure cooker of commitments, flips, late pushes, and momentum-building declarations. And in the heart of this summer whirlwind, Notre Dame has surged to No. 3 in the national 2025 recruiting rankings—its highest mark at this point in the cycle in more than a decade.

For Osborne, a four-star linebacker from Denton, Texas, who’s already drawing comparisons to Jaylon Smith with his length, burst, and instincts, the ascent of the Irish isn’t just exciting. It’s galvanizing.

“I’ve been watching what Coach Freeman and the staff are doing,” Osborne said, his voice a mix of youthful exuberance and focused determination. “And man, it feels like something special is happening up there. You can feel it. You can see it in the recruits jumping on board. July’s gonna be wild.”

Much has been made of Marcus Freeman’s charisma and his ability to connect with players and families. When he took the helm in 2021, following the sudden departure of Brian Kelly to LSU, many questioned whether the then-35-year-old defensive coordinator was ready to lead one of the most storied programs in college football.

But three recruiting cycles later, it’s clear Freeman not only had a plan—he’s executing it with precision.

“We’re building a championship team, not just a good team,” Freeman told reporters during a media availability in late June. “And that starts with elite talent and elite people.”

Notre Dame’s current 2025 class features a mix of top-tier prospects across the board. There’s five-star quarterback Deuce Knight, whose dual-threat potential has fans salivating. There’s Camden Hardy, a dynamic edge rusher from Florida. There’s tight end Preston Alston, another in a long line of athletic pass-catchers destined for Saturdays under the Golden Dome.

And now, with Osborne leaning ever closer to making his pledge, the Irish could soon add a centerpiece to their defensive haul

At 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, Javian Osborne looks the part of a classic Notre Dame linebacker—fast, physical, and intelligent. But his journey hasn’t been one of overnight acclaim.

“Javian’s always been that kid who just works,” said Tony Mathis, his coach at Ryan High School in Denton. “Not the loudest guy, not the flashiest. But once he puts the pads on, he does things other kids just can’t.”

Last fall, Osborne racked up 102 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 5 sacks, anchoring a defense that made a deep playoff run. He followed it up with a dominant showing on the 7-on-7 circuit and several eye-popping performances at national camps.

Recruiters took notice. Offers from Texas, Oklahoma, LSU, Alabama, and Ohio State poured in.

But it was Notre Dame’s approach that stood out.

“They didn’t just recruit me—they recruited my whole family,” Osborne said. “They asked about my little sister’s dance recitals. They talked to my grandma. It wasn’t just football—it was love.”

Notre Dame’s surge in July hasn’t come by accident. The coaching staff targeted this month as a pivot point early in the cycle, timing key visits and commitment dates to coincide with a national lull in games—but a frenzy in recruiting.

So far, it’s worked. The Irish have landed six blue-chip commitments in the last three weeks alone, including a pair of top-100 players in wide receiver Zeke Patterson and cornerback Jamari Triggs.

With each pledge, the message becomes louder: Notre Dame isn’t just aiming to make the College Football Playoff—it’s building a roster that can win the whole thing.

Osborne admits the momentum is hard to ignore.

“When I saw Zeke commit, I hit him up right away,” he said. “Told him, ‘We might be teammates, bro.’ It’s like we’re all watching this story unfold together, and I want to be part of it.”

Behind closed doors, sources close to Osborne suggest that Notre Dame is emerging as the front-runner. Though he’s still considering other programs, the buzz around a July decision is getting louder. Osborne won’t confirm a date, but he smiles when asked if something’s coming soon.

“Let’s just say y’all should stay tuned,” he said with a laugh.

Under Freeman, Notre Dame’s identity has shifted—not away from tradition, but toward a new kind of energy.

Practices are more competitive. Social media is more active. Recruits are visiting more often and staying longer. There’s music blasting during workouts, and players dancing on the sidelines. The vibe is unmistakably modern, but rooted in Notre Dame’s time-tested values: toughness, integrity, and brotherhood.

“That balance is why I love it,” Osborne said. “It’s a place where I can grow as a player, but also as a man. They’re gonna push me in the weight room, but also in the classroom and in life.”

His mother, Tanisha Osborne, echoed the sentiment.

“As a parent, you want your son to be somewhere that sees him as more than just a jersey number,” she said. “Coach Freeman sat with us for almost two hours on our visit. He asked about school, about our church, about what makes Javian smile. That meant everything to me.”

If Osborne joins the fold, Notre Dame’s class could become the best the program has signed since the days of Lou Holtz.

The Irish currently sit at No. 3 in the 247Sports Composite rankings, trailing only Georgia and Ohio State. But with key targets like Osborne, defensive lineman Kahlil Benson, and wide receiver Tyrese Murray still on the board, the gap could close fast.

More importantly, Freeman’s efforts are changing the perception of what Notre Dame can be in the NIL era—a program that doesn’t compromise its values but still competes at the highest level.

“People used to think Notre Dame couldn’t recruit like the SEC,” said Steve Wiltfong, national director of recruiting at 247Sports. “That narrative is dead. Freeman and his staff are showing you can win battles against anybody.”

With July in full swing and the commitment dominoes falling rapidly, Osborne knows his moment is approaching.

He’s not one to chase the spotlight, but he understands the power of his decision—not just for himself, but for the class he might help lead.

“I want to win. That’s what this is about,” Osborne said. “And I want to do it with guys who are hungry like me, who want to be great, who want to build something.”

Asked if Notre Dame feels like that place, he doesn’t hesitate.

“It does,” he said. “More and more every day.”

As the calendar flips toward mid-July and Notre Dame’s momentum shows no signs of slowing, one thing is clear: the Fighting Irish are no longer just in the conversation. They’re driving it.

And if Javian Osborne decides to hop aboard, the college football world better buckle up.

Because this summer in South Bend is just getting started.