Gavin Mueller, a standout tight end from South Elgin High School in Illinois, has long aspired to join the ranks of Notre Dame football. His dedication and proactive communication with the coaching staff culminated in an official offer from the Fighting Irish on February 20, 2025.
Mueller’s relationship with Notre Dame’s offensive coordinator and tight ends coach, Mike Denbrock, played a pivotal role in this development. Through consistent dialogue, Mueller expressed his keen interest in the program. Reflecting on the moment he received the offer, Mueller shared, “I’ve stayed in decent contact with Coach Denbrock. He told me he was ready to pull the trigger and ready to invest in me. It was great.” citeturn0search0
The significance of the Notre Dame offer resonated deeply with Mueller and his family. Growing up in the Chicagoland area, where Notre Dame holds substantial influence, the offer was particularly special. Mueller recounted, “Everyone loves Notre Dame over in the Chicagoland area, so every time I walked into a class, they’re like, ‘Go to Notre Dame, go to Notre Dame.’ So it’s great.” citeturn0search0
His father’s pride extended beyond the offer itself, emphasizing the life skills Mueller demonstrated throughout the recruitment process. Mueller acknowledged this, stating, “This really is a lot of life skills, reaching out to important people and just being honest with them and upfront about how you’re getting recruited and how you want to pursue your relationship with them.” citeturn0search0
Mueller’s connection to Notre Dame began early. He attended the Irish Invasion camp in the summer of 2024, even before playing his first high school football game. Now, with the offer in hand, he plans to visit the campus during spring practices to experience the environment with students present. He noted, “I don’t think I’ve ever been there while students are actually on campus, so that’d be cool, just to see the day-to-day life.” citeturn0search0
In addition to Notre Dame, Mueller is exploring other programs. His upcoming visits include Wisconsin, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Purdue, Kentucky, Arkansas, and potentially Duke and North Carolina. He aims to finalize his college decision by June 2025, intending to commit during his official visits. Mueller stated, “I want to be committed by June, and if everything goes good, I want to probably commit to the school I’m going to on my OV.” citeturn0search0
As his recruitment intensifies, Notre Dame stands out as a strong contender for Mueller’s commitment, given his enthusiasm and the established rapport with the coaching staff.
