There’s a history of Cincinnati influence in South Bend, including Kelly, who spent three seasons with the Bearcats before taking the Notre Dame job. A year before Kelly poached Freeman, he hired Bearcats defensive backs coach Mike Mickens, a Cincinnati alum who was a teammate of Freeman’s at Wayne High School outside of Dayton.

One of the greatest linebackers to ever play football is incredibly impressed with Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame.

ESPN reporter Molly McGrath teased her upcoming interview with Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, praising his demeanor before the National title game against Ohio State, where he graduated in 2008