Notre Dame is set to appoint Ja’Juan Seider, Penn State’s Assistant Head Coach and Co-Offensive Coordinator, as its new running backs coach, filling the vacancy left by Deland McCullough’s move to the NFL. Seider, renowned for his recruiting prowess and development of standout running backs, has been with Penn State since 2018.
His anticipated move to Notre Dame has sparked speculation about the potential flip of four-star running back Messiah Mickens from Penn State to the Fighting Irish. Mickens, a standout from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, has been a key recruit for Seider at Penn State.
This development mirrors previous instances where coaching transitions have influenced recruit decisions. For example, when former Penn State basketball coach Micah Shrewsberry joined Notre Dame, he successfully brought along recruits like Carey Booth and Logan Imes.
As Seider transitions to Notre Dame, the possibility of Mickens following him could significantly bolster the Fighting Irish’s future backfield.