Notre Dame TE signee Preston Fryzel turning setbacks into motivation

Preston Fryzel was pulled up to the Toledo (Ohio) Central Catholic varsity football team at the end of his freshman season on the JV team, which went 16-1 and captured the Ohio Division II state championship.

As a sophomore in 2023, he helped lead Central Catholic to a perfect 16-0 season and a Division II title triumph.

Fryzel’s high school experience couldn’t have gotten off to a better start, but he experienced heartbreak in his final two seasons of high school ball, losing the state title to Columbus (Ohio) Bishop Watterson both years.

The Notre Dame class of 2026 tight end signee has experienced the highs and lows of football.

“It was tough,” Fryzel said. “We started off this season 0-3 and had no idea the direction the season was going to take us. Our senior captains and leaders had a players-only meeting, and that changed the dynamic of the team. We rallied together and became closer, and ever since that meeting, we had a win-or-go-home mentality. We carried that from Week 4 to Week 16.”

Fryzel’s squad lost on Dec. 5, and two days later, Notre Dame was questionably removed from the College Football Playoff field after being comfortably in it during each rankings release. It was a tough weekend for Fryzel.

“I was pretty shocked,” he said. “All of us (Notre Dame signees in the 2026 class) were shocked. Between losing the state championship and Notre Dame getting snubbed from the playoff, it gives me and the entire class extra motivation so that this never happens again. We never want to feel that again.”

The Irish signees are rallying together, and the ND staff is helping them push forward as well.

“We just have to look to the future,” Fryzel added. “[General manager] Mike Martin said that’s why they’re bringing in this strong 2026 class — so that it never happens again. We got motivation and encouragement from the coaches.”

Fryzel has a chip on his shoulder heading into his Fighting Irish career, which begins in January when he enrolls early, and he couldn’t be more fired up.

“For sure. My main thing going into Notre Dame is developing more physically in the weight room,” he said. “These early months with the extra motivation are going to help a lot.”

“I’m really excited. In a few weeks, we’re all going to be on campus, and we have a really close group of guys.”

In his 15-game senior season, Fryzel — who ranks as the No. 195 overall prospect and No. 8 tight end nationally per Rivals — had 38 receptions for 894 yards and 8 touchdowns.