Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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PREP PROFILES BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM OCT. 10, 2026 45 One of Notre Dame's top recruits was in South Bend for the Michigan State game Sept. 19: Hyattsville (Md.) De- Matha Catholic's Langston Pridgeon, a coveted four-star defensive back in the 2028 class. The 6-2, 190-pounder raved about the experience during a phone interview with Blue & Gold Illustrated. "The highlights of the visit for me were getting back on campus and get- ting to meet Coach [Aaron] Henry," Pridgeon said. "They had a defensive backs coaching change, so that was my first time meeting him. That was defi- nitely a highlight. "Other than that, I enjoyed the game. Under the lights, that Notre Dame game was one of the best fan experiences. The entire vibe of the game was great." Pridgeon first visited Notre Dame for the North Carolina State game last Oc- tober, and he earned a scholarship offer from the Fighting Irish in April 2026. Pridgeon enjoyed spending time with Henry and the rest of the staff, and it appears that they're a big reason why Notre Dame is a top contender in his recruitment. "Off the interaction I had with him, I can definitely tell that he's a family man and he's big on his faith," Pridgeon said. "He coached Devon Witherspoon at Illinois, and that's amazing. I know that Coach Henry is great at developing defensive backs. That was great infor- mation to hear. "Coach [Jevaughn] Codlin is the main coach that I talk with on the phone. It was great to see him in person and con- nect with him. "He's an upbeat coach, and he's in tune with the younger generation. In the locker room, he was dancing with all the players. He's a player's coach, and I have a great relationship with Coach Codlin." Pridgeon, the No. 11 cornerback and No. 156 overall prospect nationally ac- cording to Rivals, loves what Notre Dame has to offer on and off the field. "I like how Notre Dame is a storied program," Pridgeon said. "There's a lot of eyes on Notre Dame, and that's also good for NFL looks. It's my dream to play a long career in the NFL, so that's a plus. "Another intriguing thing for me and my family is the blend I could get of ac- ademics and football. There's a lot of connections you can get from being a Notre Dame graduate." — Mike Singer It had been 53 weeks between Notre Dame visits for Allen Kennett V, and his latest South Bend trip didn't disappoint. Anaheim (Calif.) Servite had a bye, so the four-star class of 2028 linebacker was able to fly to the Midwest on a Fri- day to spend time on campus the day prior to seeing the Irish knock off Mich- igan State 27-10 Sept. 19. "It was a great visit," Kennett told Blue & Gold Illustrated. "I loved the player walk with the team. I love the campus, and they treat me like family there. I love Coach [Marcus] Freeman and Coach BJ [Brian Jean-Mary] and how they coach. I was sitting in a line- backer meeting, and he's a really good teacher. He explains things well. Kenny Sanders, the assistant GM, was showing me around and treated us well." Kennett participated in Notre Dame's Irish Invasion camp in June 2025 and re- turned three months later for the Texas A&M game, but the Sept. 19 Michigan State weekend was the first time Ken- nett's mother was able to see campus. They got a full campus tour together on Friday, and Kennett raved about the game-day atmosphere. "It felt like a real college town," he said. "The student section brought a lot of energy, and I don't think they sat down the entire game. The linebackers were flying around for sure." A highlight of his visit was interacting with fellow Southern California natives Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa and Madden Faraimo. "Kyngstonn is really cool and is from St. John Bosco, which is similar to my school," Kennett added. "We played in the same league. He can relate to me. Kyngstonn and Madden were both re- ally cool." It's early in the 2028 cycle, but re- cruitments are already starting to take shape. In Kennett's case, it's becoming clear that Notre Dame is a top contender for him. "Notre Dame is definitely one of my top schools," he said. "Everything about the visit was great. They have a really good business school, and that's some- thing that's important to me. For what I want to get into after football, I'll need connections. And Notre Dame would help with that." California has been an important state to Notre Dame for decades, but it's not the easiest transition for recruits to make considering the distance between the Golden State and the Hoosier State. "That doesn't really matter," Ken- nett stated. "It's about where I feel is the best fit." — Mike Singer Notre Dame Visit Impresses Four-Star Cornerback California Linebacker Has High Interest In The Irish LANGSTON PRIDGEON ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ DeMatha Catholic H.S. Hyattsville, Md. Status: Offered Class: 2028 Position: Cornerback Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 190 Rivals Rankings: No. 6 player in Maryland, and No. 11 cornerback and No. 156 overall player nationally ALLEN KENNETT V ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Servite H.S. Anaheim, Calif. Status: Offered Class: 2028 Position: Linebacker Ht.: 6-1 • Wt.: 215 Rivals Rankings: No. 18 player in California, and No. 22 linebacker and No. 293 overall player nationally