Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football Flips Kicker Joshua Bryan of Colorado Buffaloes

“I felt like I had to do it because of what Notre Dame is as a school,” Bryan explained. “It was not an easy decision; I enjoyed my visit to Colorado and it was a very beautiful campus. But academically, Notre Dame has such a valuable degree, and I can do very well in a school like this. I have always been in small private schools.

“They’re on a roll right now, and that makes things even more exciting for me.”

For a few months, Bryan was a bit in limbo with the Fighting Irish as he waited to find out whether Notre Dame was going to propose to him or not. Bryan greatly appreciated Polian’s honesty and transparency throughout the process.

“Especially in a time like this, the trust aspect was the most important thing,” added Bryan. “After talking to him for months, he honestly told me if anything was going on or if they didn’t know what they were going to do with me. He really helped this whole process with me. This was a huge plus and added more comfort to my decision.

2020 has been the year of recruiting discomfort as hundreds of prospects have to commit to schools where they have never had a normal visit or met the coaching staff – all because of the NCAA’s dead period due to COVID-19.

But with a strong relationship with Polian, Bryan finds solace in Notre Dame because he was able to take a trip to South Bend at the end of August and enjoyed every second of it.

“I loved the campus,” Bryan said. “I walked around and felt like I was at home even though I couldn’t see the coaches or the facilities. So much time is going to be spent in school. If I am comfortable and happy there, then this is the right school for me.

“I feel ready for this opportunity. It’s a big step, but I wanted to continue this. Our Lady is going to make this happen for me.

Bryan credits Chris Sailer Kicking for his development as a specialist. The service classifies Bryan as a “six star” recruit, which is referred to as a Power Five freshman recruit and a selection of scholarships.

“Josh is just a phenomenal prospect in high school,” said Chris Sailer. “He’s a great athlete with great academic potential. He hits a pure ball to the basket on the field. He gets a big comeback on his ball and has a range of over 60 yards. His kicks off are excellent, D1 ready. He drives the ball deep into the end zone with a suspension time of over 4.0.

“He’s also a capable bettor. It is a major competitor that thrives under pressure. Josh continues to prove he is America’s best kicker in the class of 2021. I can’t wait to see what the future holds. He’s a handsome young man who is always a pleasure to work with – one of the hardest workers. Josh is definitely a scholarship choice.

Bryan is the # 21 engagement for Notre Dame in the 2021 class, which ranks # 10 nationally by Rivals.

Notre Dame kicker Jonathan doerer has expressed interest in returning for a sixth year, which is made possible by the fact that the NCAA gives student-athletes an additional year of eligibility. If he returns, Bryan might not make his mark on the Notre Dame football team until 2022.