Just In: Incoming Notre Dame Freshman DL Chris Burgess “Excited, Confident”
Chris Burgess is fired up about getting to Notre Dame for good next month.
“I’m very excited,” the 2025 Irish defensive line signee tells Irish Sports Daily.
“And very confident.”
The former Simeon Academy standout sounds very confident heading into his collegiate career and cannot wait to make the short trek down from Chicago to South Bend to enroll.
“Just getting there and being able to contribute, contribute to the team and help the team out,” Burgess says of what he’s looking forward to most.
“Just knowing that I can go in there and compete right away.”
Burgess has kept the past couple months and the remaining weeks ahead of him simple.
“Training, going over film and that’s about it,” he says. “Training, going over plays and stuff.”
The 6-foot-3, 245-pounder appreciates the opportunity to dive into the playbook now before the stress of moving into college and juggling preseason camp.
“It’s been a bit of a breeze right now because I’m just studying it,” he says. “Because I’ve got all the time to work to study right now, so I’m just getting it down pat.”
One of the biggest reasons he chose Notre Dame was for the potential he has to succeed on the field and he “most definitely” still feels that way on the eve of enrollment.
“Because I see where I fit on the field,” he says. “I see it all.
“Just being a strongside d-end. I feel like I can rush the passer and be a good run-stopper.”
Another major piece of his decision was the relationships he formed with the Irish staff, especially defensive line coach Al Washington and defensive line assistant Nick Sebastian.
“It has been great,” Burgess says. “It has gotten better since the time is coming to a close where I’ve got to be on campus. But the relationship is getting better because we can talk more in depth about on-the-field things and film and plays.”
Burgess believes the incoming 2025 recruiting class will make an impact.
“More contributors, more people who are ready to play, more people who are ready to put themselves on the line from Notre Dame,” he says.
While many kids feel bittersweet about heading off to college, not Burgess.
