The Notre Dame Fighting Irish may have lost the game against Northern Illinois in epic fashion but had some successful visitors during the game.
The Fighting Irish suffered an upset loss to the Northern Illinois Huskies over the weekend, a team they paid a whopping $1.4 million to play against. Notre Dame had some visitors in the crowd during the game, including Ryland Watters, a two-sport athlete that has a close connection with the Fighting Irish. Watters recently spoke about the visit as well as his plans moving forward as the recruiting process continues to ramp up.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Staff Hosts 2026 ATH Ryland Watters
During the Notre Dame football game this weekend, a certain dual-sport athlete in the 2026 recruiting class visited the program. The Michigan native recruit is an accomplished baseball player as well as a dynamic athlete on the football field. Ryland Watters is a special player who has gone under the radar with the ability to play multiple positions on the football field.
Watters is a first baseman and outfielder in baseball and a quarterback, linebacker, and tight end in football. Watters grew up watching the Notre Dame football program but never truly became interested in the school until his brother touched down on campus. Bino Watters, the older brother of Ryland, is currently a freshman at Notre Dame and a member of the baseball program.
The younger brother stated in reference to the school, “They are a great program and my brother is there as well as a freshman of the baseball team.” Watters stated he learned a lot about how great the school and the environment is from his brother. Watters is looking for a great academic program that has a great culture surrounding the football team on and off of the field.
Watters accepted the visit after hearing about the environment from his brother, and the athlete figured it would be a ‘great experience’. The athlete is also scheduled to visit the Central Michigan Chippewas on September 28th for a game as well.
What Can Watters Offer the Notre Dame Football Team, Other Potential Programs?
With Watters on the field, a team would get quite a lot out of the player due to what he offers on both sides of the football. Watters is a dynamic quarterback and feels some of his best skills on the field are showcased when he is playing quarterback. The recruit stated, “I feel my leadership skills and ability to perform under pressure really allow me to excel in games.”
Along with his ability to lead and excel under pressure, Watters also points to his clutch playmaking ability as something that truly sets him apart. Watters stated, “In big-time moments you’re going to need someone who can step up to the challenge at hand, and I know I can be that guy.” The quarterback performs his best when his back is against the wall, and that is a situation Watters is not afraid of seizing.
While Watters has plenty of ability as a quarterback, the athlete is also confident that he could make an impact regardless of which position his future staff chooses. At 6-feet-2-inches, and roughly 210 pounds, Watters can pack a punch in his hits on the defensive side of the ball. Combining the vision the athlete possesses as a quarterback along with the physical strengths he has could make for the perfect linebacker at the collegiate level.
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