Even though it may seem impossible now, history has always made room for the few athletes who can balance two sports at the highest level. From Deion Sanders playing in both the NFL and MLB in the same season to Bo Jackson smashing baseballs and tackling defenders, the multisport star has always had a unique charm. These athletes have a way of capturing the interest of coaches, fans, and rivals alike, even at the college level.

In a recent post on X, Irish Sports Daily wrote, “Some schools are recruiting 2027 ATH Tyler Fryman (@fryman_tyler) as a WR. Some schools are recruiting him as a DB. Some are recruiting him as a baseball player. And some schools – like Notre Dame – are recruiting him for both sports.” For Tyler Fryman, who excels both on the football field and the baseball diamond, the challenge of balancing two sports at the college level is real. Sometimes you get a kid who doesn’t want to be confined, but most high school recruits are busy just figuring out one path. 

Notre Dame has seen it all. Whether it’s juggling two sports or dividing their time between the field and the court, South Bend has seen many athletes perform double duty. Brandon Logan, a baseball commit from Vanderbilt who is currently exploring as a two-sport freshman, was flipped just last cycle. Fryman has been keeping a close eye on things. “He’s one of my friends,” Fryman said. “I’ve been talking to him about it, and he said that’s the best place to go for two sports.”

All eyes are now on Tyler Fryman of Kentucky, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound wide receiver who excels in both shortstop and outfield. Despite being committed to Louisville baseball since the eighth grade, programs like Miami-Ohio, Toledo, and Notre Dame have continued to put forth a lot of effort. Following his trip to South Bend, Fryman was unable to conceal the impact the atmosphere had on him. “Honestly, that was my first time ever experiencing college football,” he said. “For that being the first time, it was really cool. The atmosphere, the culture, all the fans… it was special.”He added, “I got to say what’s up to Coach Freeman, that was sick. Just as people, they’re down-to-earth, amazing people. They’re just normal dudes to talk to.”

Notre Dame’s multi-sport legacy becomes key in ACC battle

Notre Dame’s solid pitch to athletes like Tyler Fryman is more than just words; it is based on a track record. The Irish have demonstrated that they can make it work if a player truly wants to pursue two sports. The most recent example is Brandon Logan. He seized the opportunity to play baseball and football in South Bend after dropping out of Vanderbilt baseball. “They were just real with me,” Logan said at the time. “They gave me the opportunity to do what I’ve always dreamed of, and that meant everything.”

Logan isn’t the only one. Jordan Faison has been juggling to balance both lacrosse and football. He can be found catching touchdowns one day and scoring goals the next day. “At first, I didn’t think I could,” Faison admitted. “After football season, I was like, ‘Dang, this is going to be hard.’ But going through the spring, I definitely think so now.” It is unusual to find that kind of balance, but Notre Dame has relied on encouraging coaching staffs in all sports to make it happen.

Drayk Bowen, a linebacker, has also embraced the grind. A two-sport athlete himself, splitting time with the baseball team, Bowen knows how demanding it gets. “It helps to have time management working with both coaches,” he said. “They’re pretty understanding when I need to take a break.”Football is his top priority, but the Irish’s willingness to let him continue to play baseball shows how adaptable they are with new players. For players like Fryman, who are too passionate about both sports to choose just one, that versatility could be the difference.