Thursday Insider: Notre Dame Lands a Historical WR Recruit, Sooners Five-Star Flips Commitment to Notre Dame Over Georgia and Texas Longhorns; This One Is Very Significant Because of the History He Has With…
In what’s being called one of the most significant recruiting wins of the year, Notre Dame has landed a massive commitment from five-star wide receiver Malik Thompson, who has flipped from Oklahoma to the Fighting Irish. Thompson’s decision sent shockwaves through the recruiting world, especially considering that he turned down Georgia and Texas — two powerhouses that had made strong pushes to secure the dynamic playmaker’s commitment.
This isn’t just another blue-chip pickup. This one’s personal. And historical.
Malik Thompson, a 6’2″, 195-pound wide receiver out of Allen, Texas, had been long projected to remain in the South, with many insiders pointing to Georgia as the most likely landing spot after rumors of a potential decommitment from Oklahoma surfaced last month. But Notre Dame, led by head coach Marcus Freeman and wide receivers coach Chansi Stuckey, had other plans. And a long-standing connection may have helped seal the deal.
This commitment carries deep personal significance for Thompson and a bit of poetic symmetry for the Notre Dame program. Malik is the nephew of former Notre Dame standout wide receiver David Grimes, who played for the Irish in the mid-2000s and later served as a strength coach at the university. Grimes was not only a mentor to Malik but also introduced him to South Bend during summer visits as a kid. Those early memories, along with the family legacy, never left him.
“Notre Dame has always felt like home,” Thompson said in his Thursday announcement. “I’ve walked that campus with my uncle. I’ve heard the crowd at Notre Dame Stadium roar. It’s more than football for me. It’s legacy. It’s tradition. And it’s where I want to build my future.”
Notre Dame hasn’t landed a five-star wide receiver from the state of Texas since Michael Floyd in 2008, and landing one with ties to multiple SEC and Big 12 schools only makes this more impactful. The Irish staff made Thompson their top wide receiver target for the 2025 class, and that effort paid off. According to multiple sources, Freeman personally visited Thompson’s family twice in the past month, solidifying the relationship and emphasizing Notre Dame’s commitment to player development on and off the field.
This flip is also a massive statement about Notre Dame’s evolving national recruiting strategy. Traditionally, the Irish have had more success pulling elite talent from the Midwest and Northeast, but Freeman’s tenure has opened new pipelines into Texas, Georgia, and Florida. Thompson’s commitment could open the door for more elite southern talent to consider Notre Dame as a serious contender, especially with NIL opportunities growing and the program’s emphasis on NFL development gaining traction.
For Oklahoma, this is a gut punch. The Sooners had secured Thompson early in the cycle, touting their wide-open offense as the perfect fit for his speed and versatility. Georgia and Texas, meanwhile, had been in his top five and made aggressive late pushes, with both staffs making multiple in-home visits and reportedly offering significant NIL packages. But in the end, it was the personal connection, the tradition, and the pitch of becoming a foundational piece in Notre Dame’s offensive future that swayed the receiver’s heart.
With Thompson now in the fold, Notre Dame’s 2025 recruiting class vaults into the top three nationally, joining a loaded group that already includes a five-star quarterback and several elite offensive linemen. It’s clear that Freeman and his staff are building something special — and doing it in a way that’s attracting not only talent but true believers in the Notre Dame mission.
Malik Thompson isn’t just a five-star flip. He’s a symbol of Notre Dame’s resurgence and a reminder that sometimes, history matters more than hype.