Breaking: 2026 Elite Superstar Makes Triumphant Return To Notre Dame After Loving First Visit

Camp season is crucial for rising sophomores, and 2026 Bolles School (Fla.) athlete Simeon Caldwell made the most of it.

The four-star prospect traveled to the Midwest to attend camps at Michigan and Ohio State, which were key opportunities for him to evaluate each coaching staff.

“Going to camp was very important for me to see how they coach recruits and interact with their recruits,” Caldwell told ISD. “You can see some coaching hard and some not coaching as hard with their recruits. It’s just different in what you get from all these different places. It was important to get a feel for the coaching staff and the environment built at those places.”

Notre Dame hosted Caldwell in April for a scrimmage, allowing him to observe the Irish staff up close, leaving a strong impression.

In fact, Caldwell will return to South Bend on Thursday for Notre Dame’s Grill and Chill event.

“There’s definitely a reason I’m going back,” Caldwell said. “I loved my first visit in the spring. I love Coach (Marcus) Freeman, Coach (Al) Golden, and Coach (Max) Bullough. I loved being around those guys and the whole coaching staff. When I heard about the cookout, I definitely made it a priority to get back up there. I just love being up there.”

Caldwell, son of longtime NFL coach Mike Caldwell, felt he gained a good understanding of Notre Dame’s staff and defense during his initial visit. He was particularly impressed with Bullough’s approach both in the meeting room and on the field.

“He’s a young coach and he’s truly a players’ coach,” Caldwell explained. “When I went up there, it was their jersey scrimmage, so being in the meetings with him and his players before the scrimmage to see how everything went, it was very interactive. All the players were asking questions and everyone was engaged. He’s been in the shoes, so he knows what you need to go succeed on the field.

“He’s not just X’s and O’s; he says sometimes you can’t be a robot, and you have to go out there and make a play. I really like that about him.”

The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder aims to immerse himself in Notre Dame’s culture and understand how the players interact with each other during this visit.

“I definitely want to see more of the culture they have built,” stated Caldwell. “Last time, I hit all the X’s and O’s of the place. I know what they have to offer football, academically, and with nutrition and recovery. This time is more about getting a feel for the environment and building a connection with the players and coaches.”

Regarding his recruiting process, Caldwell is approaching 30 offers and is actively visiting programs to determine what he wants in a school.

He’s also leveraging his father’s expertise, who not only understands football but also the importance of success off the field.

“I’ve been around football my whole life,” Caldwell said. “With my dad, he’s helping me make a decision on what school is best. He wants to see what scheme I fit best in, but also academically.

“Academics are important in my family. I have two older sisters and both went to the Ivy League to play basketball at UPenn. With them going Ivy League, it just shows how important academics are to my family and Notre Dame has a great balance of the football side and the academic side.”

Caldwell is not rushing his commitment and plans to take his time to make the right decision for his future.

“I don’t have a timeline of when I want to narrow it down,” said Caldwell. “I consider myself a Pokémon trainer and have to get them all. I’m trying to get as many offers as I can to evaluate all the different schools to see what is the best fit for me.

“This is a decision that is going to affect the rest of my life, so there’s no rushing it. I feel like I’m going to take my time and be very thorough with the decision I make.”

Offers: Auburn, Baylor, UCF, Duke, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, UMass, Miami, Michigan, Missouri, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Pitt, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, Toledo, Troy, West Virginia, and Western Kentucky.