Notre Dame Is In Great Spot With Safety Ethan Long Going Down The Stretch
Since being offered this past offseason, star 2025 Greenwich (Conn.) Brunswick safety Ethan Long has been a player that Notre Dame is very high on. Long has seen other prominent schools follow the Irish lead over the last few months, quickly becoming one of the biggest risers of any safety in the class.
After checking in with Long, Notre Dame remains very high on his list. There has been a semi break in the recruiting side of things. Long has been busy focusing on the season and letting the recruiting process play out.
"Everything has been going really well,” Long told Irish Breakdown. "We have mostly just been relaxing and enjoying the process, focusing on the season. I’ve been in contact with coaches, calling and texting here and there.”
One of the most exciting parts of Long’s game is the ability to do so many things. As a junior, the Connecticut standout has seen a big jump in his play both physically and technically. There are a lot of possibilities for what he can do on the next level, which programs are taking notice of.
"I have definitely improved,” Long said. "It is just a glimpse into what I can do. I’m excited to turn some heads down the stretch of the season.
"Some teams see me as a free safety with the ability to come down,” he continued. "Others see me as a man-to-man cover rover. They are interested to see how I continue to grow physically. I really think I can do everything and be versatile.”
While there is a long list of outstanding programs continuing to check in, Notre Dame continues to be right near the top. The Irish staff has maintained great communication and really made waves with Long since offering.
"Things with the Notre Dame staff have been great,” he explained. "We have been staying in contact consistently. I talk with Coach (Marcus) Freeman a lot. We call and text. Same with Coach (Chris) O’Leary. I text a lot with Coach (Al) Golden. Chad Bowden and Caleb Davis also stay in touch. I love the staff.
"Notre Dame shows so much love,” Long added. "They constantly let me know how much they want me there. They tell me that they can see themselves coaching me and helping me reach my potential.”
Long has also loved what he has seen on the field from the Irish this season. At their best, they have shown a lot of upside and potential. The best is still yet to come.
"They have really made their statement this year,” said Long. "They obviously had a tough loss but I expect them to finish strong and go win their bowl game. Coach Freeman is building something great.”
Since being offered, Long has been on campus twice in South Bend. Every time he is there, it becomes more apparent just how easy he could fit. It’s a potential seamless transition.
"It fits me really well,” he stated. "Every time I’m up there, I just imagine myself walking on campus as a student. It really seems to fit me well.”
If the decision happened today, Notre Dame would be very hard to beat. There does seem to be a commitment on the horizon, giving the Irish a chance to close down the stretch.
"I’m thinking a decision will come at the end of the season, sometime in December,” said Long. "At that point, I believe that I will have all the information I need to make a strong decision.”
Long has been active on the recruiting trail over the last few months, visiting several schools and competing at camps. That has led to a flurry of offers being extended. Some of the notable programs who have offered include Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Maryland, Pittsburgh, Boston College and Duke among several others.
As he has gotten more attention, so are the various recruiting platforms. Long now ranks as a four-star recruit by Rivals, the only platform to rank him so far, currently sitting as the No.158 overall player and the No. 16 safety in the 2025 recruiting class. He currently sits as the top player in the state of Connecticut.
The 6-2, 185-pound defensive back was a main catalyst for an extremely talented 9-1 Brunswick squad last season. Long recorded three interceptions, recovered three fumbles and didn’t allow a single reception as a sophomore. As a freshman he racked up eight interceptions and 11 pass break ups.
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