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LOOK: Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman checks out four-star Irish DL commit Elijah Golden

Singer headshotby: Mike Singer15 hours agoMikeTSinger
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The Notre Dame coaching staff hit the road to recruit during their second bye week of the 2025 season, and head coach Marcus Freeman spent Thursday and Friday in the Sunshine State.

His last stop was in the greater Tampa Bay area to see Notre Dame defensive line commit Elijah Golden play on the road for Sarasota (Fla.) Cardinal Mooney against Tarpon Springs (Fla.) High.

NCAA rules prohibit college coaches and high school student-athletes from having off-campus contact during the fall evaluation period. However, Freeman is allowed to speak with the high school’s head coach, and Cardinal Mooney’s has strong ties to the Irish.

Jared Clark played for the Irish in the early 2000s. He came to South Bend as a quarterback but moved to tight end later in his collegiate career. In a picture captured by Blue & Gold, Clark and Freeman embraced and spoke for a few minutes before the game kicked off.

Notre Dame defensive line assistant Nick Sebastian, who was a key figure in Golden’s summer commitment to the Irish, made the trip with Freeman as well.

Cardinal Mooney — ranked No. 10 in Florida by the Massey Ratings, which also projects game scores — was predicted to win 49-6. That prediction was spot on, as the Cougars rolled 48-0, and it could’ve been even worse if not for a running clock throughout the second half.

Golden had a solid night with several tackles, but it was hard to learn much from his performance given the disparity in talent.

The 6-4, 270-pounder committed to the Irish on Aug. 9 over Alabama, Oklahoma and Virginia Tech. Other programs would love to flip him away, but he’s firm in his Notre Dame pledge.

“I’m locked in,” Golden told Blue & Gold after the game. “God led me to this decision, and I’m sticking with that decision. I’m definitely locked in with the Irish.”

Golden has been tremendous this season, logging 42 tackles (20 solo), 23 TFLs, 11 sacks and 23 QB hurries in the first eight games of Cardinal Mooney’s season. With the win on Friday night, the Cougars improved to 8-1 on the year.

In 2024, he recorded 61 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 8 quarterback hurries and a pass breakup in 11 games. His performance earned him MaxPreps second-team junior All-America honors. He also competed in the 2025 Navy All-American Bowl, which now allows juniors to participate.

“He’s a big, physical defensive lineman who can move,” Clark previously told Blue & Gold about Golden. “There aren’t a lot of guys with his size and strength who can move like he does.

“He has great hands, plays low and has great feet. His improvement throughout last season was noticeable, so I think he’s going to have a breakout year. He’s athletic enough to play anywhere on the defensive line.”