If you thought college football rivalries were just for the gridiron, think again. Picture this: Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame’s head coach and a relentless recruiter, opens his front door—and it’s Michigan. Not Sherrone Moore, not even Jim Harbaugh, but Michigan wrestling head coach Sean Bormet, standing there, ready to talk business about the class of 2026 prospect. And the business? Recruiting Freeman’s son to Ann Arbor. Oh, the irony.

On February 3rd, Vinny Freeman, a dual-sport athlete out of Penn High School, dropped a snapshot on X, showcasing Michigan Wolverines wrestling head coach Sean Bormet’s home visit with the caption: “Great home visit with Coach @Sean_Bormet. Thanks for stopping by @umichwrestling.” Just like that, the recruiting buzz around the younger Freeman went nuclear.

Vinny, currently ranked No. 7 in the 175-pound weight class, has been tearing up the mats with an 85-16 career record. He’s already garnered interest from top programs across the country, but this? This just hits different. A Michigan coach in the home of an Ohio State alum who now runs Notre Dame? Midwest wrestling, college football, and recruiting drama all in one—this is a movie.

The Big Ten has long been a wrestling powerhouse, and Michigan sits right in the thick of it. Currently ranked No. 19 in the NWCA Coaches Poll, the Wolverines have produced 24 individual national champions and snagged a Big Ten Tournament title in 2022—their first since 1973. And now they’re targeting the son of one of college football’s rising coaching stars.

Vinny Freeman, with his 21-2 record this season, has a decision to make. While wrestling seems to be the frontrunner, don’t sleep on his football skills. He’s not just another grappler—Vinny is a Division I prospect as DB. Last fall, he was the lone returning starter for Penn High School’s defense, racking up 36+ tackles as a sophomore. His highlight moment? Snatching a pick against South Bend St. Joseph in the 2nd quarter, helping his squad to a dominant 27-0 shutout. This Freeman isn’t just making waves—he’s making tsunamis in both sports.

Could Vinny pull a Ben Kueter—a two-sport monster currently thriving at Iowa State in both football and wrestling? It’s possible, but rare. The demands of playing D1 football and wrestling at an elite level are brutal. If he chooses wrestling, Michigan’s got a strong case. If football remains in the mix, Notre Dame might not be out of the picture just yet. Either way, a recruiting battle is brewing right in Marcus Freeman’s kitchen.

Marcus Freeman keeps losing key pieces for Notre Dame football

While Vinny Freeman weighs his future, his dad is dealing with some serious attrition at Notre Dame. The Irish finally broke through in 2024, reaching the National Championship for the first time in over a decade—only to lose to Ohio State. But success doesn’t exist in a vacuum, and now Freeman is watching his coaching staff get poached left and right.

The latest departure? Assistant wide receivers coach Michael Bearden, who just joined former Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees on the Cleveland Browns staff. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Freeman has already lost defensive coordinator Al Golden to the Cincinnati Bengals, key recruiter Chad Bowden to USC, and several other staffers to various programs. The NFL and major college programs have taken notice of what Freeman built in South Bend, and they’re circling like sharks.

Freeman, to his credit, has kept a steady hand despite the losses. But there’s no sugarcoating it—losing staff at this rate is a problem. The continuity that helped Notre Dame reach the pinnacle last season is in jeopardy, and replacing top-tier assistants is no easy task. Can Notre Dame make another natty run?

Don’t think so; with X amounts of talents and linemen dipping into other programs and the NFL, it’s somewhat too early to say. But the challenge is clear—Freeman isn’t just competing with Georgia, Alabama, and Ohio State on the field. He’s battling the NFL and powerhouse programs for his own staff.

And now, with Michigan creeping into his own household for his son, the recruiting game just got even more personal. Whether Vinny Freeman ends up in Ann Arbor playing in mat sport, South Bend, or somewhere else, one thing is certain—the Freeman name is going to be making headlines for years to come.