Behind the Viral Jersey: Charles Du’s Tireless Journey to Notre Dame Football
Three days after the Notre Dame Fighting Irish’s first round playoff victory over the Indiana Hoosiers, the team, once again, came into the spotlight. A photo of walk-on cornerback Charles Du, with his Chinese name stitched in the school’s signature metallic gold colors, went viral. For some, it was a moment to admire the details and uniqueness of the jersey. For others, it was a moment of appreciation and recognition for Du — one of the few Chinese-born college football players — and his story.
Charles Du warms up before the College Football Playoff game between Notre Dame and Indiana, displaying his Chinese name “杜亦然” in metallic gold at Notre Dame Stadium on Dec. 20, 2024. / Randall Xiao
Du’s improbable journey to the sideline of Notre Dame Stadium is one of curiosity, ambition, and hard work. It begins not in the United States, but in China’s capital, Beijing. In his childhood, Du created a special bond with his father and grandfather through professional American basketball games. They were thrilled watching Yao Ming and the Rockets, LeBron James and the Lakers, and others. With every roar of the crowd, he quickly picked up on the fervor and spirit behind American sports culture.
“It all seemed so unique,” Du said, “I hadn’t ever seen anything like it.”
In a middle school track meet in Beijing, a young Charles Du (front) races ahead of his classmates. / Linda Jiang
This interest in American sports came to define Du. When playing badminton, he combined the values his parents instilled with the passion he saw on TV. Picking up the racket was a reminder of the resilience and strong work ethic it took to compete with the best, and when given the opportunity to study abroad for high school, he chose the United States over other opportunities. The summer before his first year at Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, California, Du received a list of fall sports, but only one caught his attention: football. Despite not knowing anything about the sport or ever playing a snap, Du followed his heart.
A young Charles Du competes in a badminton tournament in Beijing. / Linda Jiang
Du watched videos during his flight to the States, determined to learn the rules and the fundamentals. With the assistance of his host family’s father — the assistant coach for Stevenson’s junior varsity football team — Du earned his spot as a running back. Despite not being as big or athletic as his teammates, Du learned as he played, making the most of every opportunity, whether it was being substituted in late or running practice drills. He worked his way up the depth chart, eventually becoming the second string running back on the varsity team.
Charles Du (14) powers through a tackle during his senior year at Stevenson School in 2021. / Joel Fricker
Despite Du’s success, his decision to play football was met with resistance from his mother, Linda, who did not want her son playing such a physical sport.
“Against my wishes, he persisted and held strong to his choice, even knowing the risk,” Linda said, “I thought he showed immense bravery for that.”
She felt every hit he took as a blow to her own heart, and yet never failed to cheer the loudest from the stands as he played. However, as Du spent more and more time training — hoping to take his game to the collegiate level — the disagreements increased. During the pandemic, Linda did not want Du to continue practicing. On his 18th birthday, she woke up early to surprise him, only to find the car gone. Against his mother's wishes Du went out to practice, resulting in a heated argument when he returned.
“She obviously wanted to protect me, but at the same time, I knew that this is what I wanted to do, and only I could control my future,” Du said.
Linda Jiang pulls Charles Du’s ear tenderly at a Chinese restaurant in South Bend on Dec. 20, 2024. / Randall Xiao
Linda was hesitant, but her attitude shifted into acceptance. She understood the work he put in and was touched by his perseverance and enthusiasm: “I could see his spirit and passion on and off the field, which infected me as well. He kept that determination as he pushed through pain and fatigue, while maintaining his grades.” She saw him cross cultural barriers and thrive in America. Linda, too, has found a community far away from her homeland in the form of supportive football parents.
Linda captures every moment of the game between Notre Dame and Indiana while bundled up against the cold at Notre Dame Stadium on Dec. 20, 2024. / Randall Xiao
When it was time to make a decision during the fall of his senior year, Du chose Notre Dame over other schools, despite having no guarantee of a spot on the team as a walk-on. He was not selected on his first tryout. Du was undeterred. Every time it got tough and the temptation to quit arose, he reminded himself of Rudy’s story, the iconic film about a determined underdog who earned a spot on the Notre Dame football team. He trained rigorously for next season’s walk-on tryouts — which involved sneaking into the athletic facilities with a borrowed ID card during winter nights — and in March 2024, he was one of only two players selected.
Charles Du, once sneaking into this very facility, now walks in confidently as a proud Notre Dame football player training on its field on Dec. 20, 2024. / Randall Xiao
A player like Du may not get the privilege of playing any significant snaps, but he has invaluable roles behind the scenes. Few people know just how much work he puts in. One of his primary responsibilities is to run the scout defense; this is how the starters prepare for their upcoming opponents. In this position, he is often outmatched physically, but to him it makes no difference: “All I can do is focus on myself.”
Today, Du keeps the same mentality he had growing up: never lose your competitive spirit, be resilient, and always be willing to do the necessary work and more.
If their opponents play lots of man coverage, he will work on pressing at the line of scrimmage. If they play zone, he will focus on eye discipline and breaking. When going up against more athletic teammates, it’s all about perspective. If he gets burned, he gets burned; he takes it as a learning experience to improve his technique.
“On and off the field, I strive to be the greatest version of myself and achieve my full potential,” Du said, “I won’t settle for anything less than what I believe I can achieve.”
Charles Du participates in a warmup drill with teammate Tae Tae before the College Football Playoff game between Notre Dame and Indiana at Notre Dame Stadium on Dec. 20, 2024. / Randall Xiao
Du has seen it all this season. He shares a strong bond with head coach Marcus Freeman, who is half-Korean. Freeman always makes sure to check on him between reps, giving him advice and words of encouragement. He felt his teammate’s agony after the loss to Northern Illinois University and their revitalized grit by Freeman’s message of learning from setbacks. Notre Dame would win their next ten regular season games, including wins over Louisville, Army, Navy, and archrival Southern California, earning them a home game in the new 12 Team College Football Playoffs.
Head coach Marcus Freeman rallies his players before the College Football Playoff game between Notre Dame and Indiana at Notre Dame Stadium on Dec. 20, 2024. / Randall Xiao
“‘Choose Hard’ is Notre Dame’s football’s philosophy, and I’ve really resonated with it.” Du said, “ Whenever my mind is weak, I tell myself to choose hard.”
When asked about the significance of his Chinese heritage, Du stated: “People always doubted me because of my face, my skin color, and the fact that I didn’t play pee wee football. But who gives a fuck what other people think? I’ve always gone against the odds.”
Charles Du claps chalk-covered hands in the Notre Dame weight room on Dec. 20, 2024. / Randall Xiao
And so, it all came full circle. There was Du, watching his teammates seal the deal against the Hoosiers.
As the clock ticked down in the 4th quarter, Du hugged his teammates, taking in the roaring crowd and smiles he saw all around him. There was still work to be done: in less than three weeks, they would face the second ranked SEC champions, Georgia, and Du would once again be tasked with preparing his teammates for the game.
Charles Du scans the cheering crowd for his mother during Notre Dame’s famed pre-game walk, moments before stepping into the Notre Dame stadium on Dec. 20, 2024. / Randall Xiao
Just over half a decade ago, the kid from Beijing never imagined he would be here. When he stands on the sideline in the Caesars Superdome, he will be the first Chinese-born player to appear in a Bowl game. But for now, amidst the snow in South Bend, only one thing mattered: celebrating the work he and his teammates had put in.
