Xavier Nwankpa's mother has high praise for Notre Dame

On3 imageby:Peter Warren10/24/21

thepeterwarren

Altoona (Iowa) Southeast Polk four-star safety Xavier Nwankpa has been at two of the biggest games in the Midwest this season.

He was at the top-five matchup between Iowa and Penn State a few weeks ago. And this past weekend, he was at Notre Dame Stadium for the latest iteration of the classic rivalry between Notre Dame and USC.

Nwankpa’s mother Amy Erickson talked with 247 Sports after the game and had high praise for the visit to Notre Dame and the institution as a whole.

“Notre Dame has the most beautiful campus and the best traditions!” Erickson said. “The students are so supportive towards all the players and just feels like one big family!”

Erickson also highlighted the coaching staff as a key component to Nwankpa’s recruiting.

“The coaches have a really great connection with Xavier and makes us feel right at home which is very important to our family!” Erickson said. “We talked with Coach O’Leary, Coach Freeman and Coach Kelly. They all talk to us as if we are a part of their program already. There really is no place like Notre Dame. Just something about it that makes you feel a part of something special.”

The coaching staff is something Nwankpa has previously said is one of the top reasons he is considering the school.

When he cut his list to IowaNotre Dame, and Ohio State.  in early October, Nwankpa told On3’s Hayes Fawcett that he had a great relationship with the coaches on staff in South Bend.

“I’ll be able to get around some of the most genuine coaches that were one of my first offers, and have recruited me since my sophomore year,” Nwankpa said. “To top that off, Notre Dame offers a top notch education that can set me for life outside of football. Also, with Kyle Hamilton most likely leaving to go to the league, they have shoes to fill.”

Xavier Nwankpa also got to meet an NFL wideout

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool was at Notre Dame Stadium for the game with he Steelers are on a bye the week. Claypool played for the Fighting Irish from 2016-2019, leaving the program as the seventh-leading pass catcher in history with 150 grabs.

Claypool a rising talent in the pro ranks and has 22 catches for 358 yards and one touchdown in five games this season.

Xavier Nwankpa managed to see Claypool and snag a picture of his family with the former Notre Dame player.

It is hard to imagine Claypool didn’t give Nwankpa at least a little recruiting pitch when the two met each other Saturday.