It doesn’t look like Will Mahone is going to be able to make it to Notre Dame this week as he previously planned, but the 6-foot, 211-pound running back from Fitch High School in Austintown, Ohio still plans on seeing the South Bend campus for the first time this month.
“I plan on going up to Notre Dame, Northwestern and Michigan State all in a couple of days,” said Mahone. “I think I might have to change my plans and come the weekend of the 25th and 26th. I’m trying to knock everything out in one week. That week of Father’s Day, I have to be back here on Wednesday to run our kids’ camp. It’s going to be soon. It’s going to be in June.”
Mahone is looking forward to checking out Notre Dame’s campus and also to meeting with the Irish coaches, especially Brian Kelly, Charley Molnar, Tim Hinton, Ed Warinner and Paul Longo.
“They’re going to give me a tour of the place and everything,” he said. “I’ll get a chance to talk with them and have a good time. I definitely want to talk to Coach Kelly, get some one-on-one time with him, me and my mom.”
Mahone camped at Michigan State as a sophomore and is already familiar with multiple members of the Spartan staff.
“have a good feel for Coach (Pat) Narduzzi, Coach (Brad) Salem and Coach (Mark) Dantonio,” said Mahone. “I talk to them on a regular basis. I’m just really trying to see the campus, I heard it’s beautiful.
“At Northwestern, I want to meet with Coach (Pat) Fitzgerald. I want to talk more with the running backs coach. He came in this year and we sat down and talked a little bit. I want to see the campus of course.”
Education is a high priority for Mahone, but that’s not something he’s concerned about with the three schools he plans to see this month.
“I know all of the schools are really high on academics,” he said. “I’m worried about it, but I’m not too worried about it.”
He’s hoping to make a trip to Boston College at some point this summer, but distance could make that difficult.
“Other than that, I don’t plan on going anywhere else,” he said. “I am going to Oregon in the beginning of July for The Opening. That’s it.”
Mahone was among some the nation’s top prospects to be invited to the Nike training competition in Beavertown, Ore., July 5-9.
Mahone plans on narrowing his list this summer before making an announcement.
“After I get these visits out of the way and clear my mind and pray about it, I’ll definitely cut it down and hopefully make a decision before the season,” he said. “I’ll cut it down anywhere from five to 10.”
