In depth with Guerby Lambert on choosing Notre Dame, Irish staff, more
When Guerby Lambert took his June official visits, it was his first time leaving Massachusetts for a college visit. Prior to that, he had only been to in-state programs.
Lambert tripped to Notre Dame and Ohio State and took local trips to Boston College and Harvard for his official visits in June.
“It was a blessing,” Lambert told Blue & Gold. “I tried to take everything in. All of it — even football — is new to me. I try to take everything in as it comes, and it was a real blessing.”
And after taking in the experiences at the four programs, Lambert took time to mull over his options. Listed as the nation’s No. 37 player and No. 4 offensive tackle per the 2024 On3 Industry Ranking from West Roxbury (Mass.) Catholic Memorial, Lambert announced his pledge to the Irish Sept. 19. He signed his letter of intent with Notre Dame Dec. 20.
“It had a community feel that’s similar to Catholic Memorial,” Lambert said about Notre Dame. “The coaches are great. I love the facilities. The academics, too — I know I’m going to get an elite education. And at the same time, I get to play elite football.”
Among the factors that Lambert considered during his recruiting process were location, academics and football. For Boston College, the Eagles offered a program that is close to home and is good academically but hasn’t been up to par on the football side of things recently.
Harvard is in state and is the best of the best academically but plays FCS football. Ohio State has very good football and while it’s considered the weakest of the four according to usnews.com, it’s a good school but is far from home.
And for Notre Dame, it is far from home like Ohio State, but the Irish are a powerhouse program with prestigious academics.
Lambert hasn’t been able to return to South Bend since his official visit in June. He’s hoping to get back to the Midwest before his enrollment.
“[The distance] is going to be hard, but with any of the four schools, there would be some kind of challenge,” noted Lambert. “For Notre Dame, it’s the distance, but it’s something we’ll overcome.”
Lambert got to see the coaching staff during an in-home visit Dec. 11. Head coach Marcus Freeman and offensive line coach Joe Rudolph made it by his school.
“We have a really good relationship,” he said of the Fighting Irish coaches. “ Coach Rudolph is a great guy. He’s an awesome coach and also a really good person. He’s very easy to talk to and cares about you as a person and football player. The Notre Dame coaches treat you like you’re one of their sons.”
Lambert, who plans to major in civil engineering at Notre Dame, may not be able to contribute much as a true freshman like Blake Fisher, who enrolled early back in 2021. But don’t count out Lambert.
“I’m extremely excited,” Lambert said about beginning his Notre Dame career next summer. “When I get there, I’m going to see what I can do and how they can use me in any way possible. I’m not going to be developed as I’d be if I were able to come in January, but I’m going to compete and take all the opportunities given.”
Lambert was Maxpreps’ 2023 Massachusetts high school football player of the year and was named the Massachusetts Catholic Conference Lineman of the Year.
He was named to the Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Association 2023 all-state first-team offensive line.
