Ivan Taylor, a 2025 defensive back commit for Notre Dame, has frequently visited South Bend since committing last December. However, his recent visit was particularly significant for both him and the university.
Ivan Taylor recently visited Alabama and plans to visit Michigan next weekend, but his focus was solely on Notre Dame during his official visit, where he spent considerable time with 2025 Irish quarterback commit Deuce Knight.
“It was good seeing the guys again,” Taylor told ISD. “Deuce is hilarious, so it was good to be around him.”
Knight added some fun to the weekend by tweeting a video of Taylor assuring fans he wasn’t going to flip his commitment, which amused the West Orange (Fla.) star.
“That’s Deuce,” laughed Taylor. “We get along so well. He was like, ‘I’m going to post this.’ I was like, ‘Alright, Deuce. You do what you want with it.’ Deuce loves social media and being the quarterback. We were walking around in South Bend, and we had like seven people yelling, ‘Deuce Knight!’ Deuce is already a celebrity.
Taylor also enjoyed bonding with other Notre Dame commits, strengthening their relationships.
“We all enjoyed ourselves and had a good time with each other. I had a lot of laughs,” said Taylor.
One highlight was watching Notre Dame’s football team cookout. While Taylor didn’t cook, he enjoyed observing others.
“I didn’t cook, but I watched the guys cook,” said Taylor. “It was enjoyable to see some people fail and others do well. Those offensive linemen know how to cook.”
The visitors also spent time at head coach Marcus Freeman’s home, which Taylor found impressive.
“We were saying you can’t hide money, and that’s one of the places where you literally can’t hide money,” Taylor laughed. “He has everything you need. It’s all there. You don’t even need to go anywhere.”
On the serious side, Taylor met with the Notre Dame staff, including defensive backs coach Mike Mickens, discussing his fit within the Irish defense and reviewing some installs.
Taylor also had a candid conversation with Notre Dame General Manager Chad Bowden about his commitment status.
“Chad and I were talking about how everything is going,” explained Taylor. “He was asking about what was going on, and I was being straight up with him. It was good.”
Taylor values these honest conversations with the Notre Dame staff, appreciating their straightforwardness.
“They’re very real with us, so you have to be very real with them. I think coaches appreciate us being honest,” stated Taylor.
Taylor is focused on making the right decision for his future and is not rushing the process.
“I’m not going to rush it at all,” said Taylor. “Whenever God puts something in my heart, that’s when I’ll know.
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