What are the top things 2023 Notre Dame QB target Austin Novosad wants in a school?
Just as Notre Dame continues to look over its options for a 2023 quarterback pledge, Baylor commit Austin Novosad is still examining his college choices with less than five months to go until Early Signing Day. He’s narrowed the list down to Baylor, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Texas A&M.
The good news for Notre Dame? The Irish offer several things he wants.
On Tuesday, the 6-3, 185-pound signal-caller out of Dripping Springs (Texas) High, which outside of Austin, joined a Twitter Space hosted by the Irish Players Club. Novosad provided a quick, succinct answer when ask for his three top priorities when it comes to finding a college football program.
“Academics, playing time and overall coaching staff and relationships,” Novosad said. “I (want) somewhere where you can get a good degree and have a good life after football, and network with the people at the school. One day, football is going to end, so having great academics is definitely a positive.”
Notre Dame certainly has relationships worth checking out as well, as several recruits have cited the new coaching staff as a primary reason for committing to or even just visiting South Bend. Head coach Marcus Freeman is building a program heavily reliant on relationships and open communication, and it seems Novosad has already picked up on that focus.
“Coach Freeman, I’ve had a couple of calls with him,” Novosad said. “We’ve talked for about a week, and then I got the offer. He’s a genuine, down-to-earth guy. I think the biggest part of what Coach Freeman does is he has each quarterback’s back.”
“I think that the whole Notre Dame staff has been great so far.”
The playing time portion of the request is a bit up in the air, but that’s the way it works with most high-level football programs. Ohio State, Texas A&M and Baylor are going to bring in talent under center, and Novosad will have to compete anywhere.
For now, the No. 10 quarterback and No. 165 player overall in the 2023 class per On3 Consensus is continuing to learn more about offensive coordinator Tommy Rees’ offense and see where he might fit in should he make South Bend his next home. It’s clear Novosad understands what he brings to the table.
“When you watch my film, I think the biggest thing is my ability to process the whole play, make the right reads, and be accurate,” Novosad said. “I think a lot of (high school players) run around and make plays, but when you get to the next level, you can’t do that.
“I think I pick up the first down when it’s needed, take what they give you, and give (the ball) to your athletes. Let them make plays. So I think staying in the pocket sometimes is a positive of my game.”
The Texas native threw for 3,399 yards and 40 touchdowns as a junior en route being named the 2021 Texas District 12-5A-1 Overall MVP. The season prior, he was the district’s Newcomer of the Year.
Novosad is targeting a final commitment in the coming weeks, as he wants to have everything wrapped up by the time his Dripping Springs season starts. As it currently stands, Baylor still leads the race for Novosad with a 38.7 percent chance per the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine. He is the Bears’ top-ranked commit in the 2023 class, one which ranks No. 19 nationally at this time.
