Will Putnam, 6-foot-4, 250 pound offensive tackle from the class of 2019, got his second look at Notre Dame over the weekend of the Virginia Tech game.
Putnam, a Chatham (Ill.) Glenwood product, first visited South Bend for the Irish Invasion over the summer. The talented sophomore was impressed with what he saw then, and knew right away that he wanted to make a return visit for a home game.
This past weekend, that’s’ exactly what he did, and Putnam said Notre Dame was just like he remembered it.
“It was really nice getting back up to Notre Dame,” Putnam said. “I was there over the summer for the Irish invasion, but it was nice to get up there for a game.”
This summer was his first time visiting, but Putnam said he’s known about Notre Dame and what it has to offer for some time.
“It was great,” Putnam said of the visit. “Hearing about Notre Dame football since I was a little kid, and now being able to go watch a game as a recruit was a really amazing feeling and experience to be a part of.”
But it’s not just football.
Putnam said he knows well the non-football opportunities that would come with attending Notre Dame.
“The campus was beautiful,” Putnam said. “One thing that really sticks out about Notre Dame is how great of an academic institution it is.”
Those factors combined, Putnam said, make Notre Dame a unique opportunity.
“It's pretty simple,” Putnam said. “Notre Dame is Notre Dame. The football tradition and academic excellence make it one of a kind.”
As just a sophomore in high school, Putnam already holds offers from Illinois and Pittsburgh, and is hopeful that his third offer, or down the road, will come from Notre Dame.
“It would be big,” Putnam said of the possibility of landing an Irish offer. “I had a great time on my visit and an offer would mean a lot in building a better relationship with the school and coaching staff.”
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