BREAKING: Notre Dame Lands Commitment From C/O 2027 4-Star LB Ellis McGaskin

Liam Gaudet
Jun 30
3 min read

Notre Dame has already put together one of the most impressive recruiting classes in recent memory this cycle, but now they've got a jump on 2027 by securing the commitment of 4-star LB Ellis McGaskin from Mobile, Alabama.

Art by The Irish Tribune

As we mentioned last week, the Irish played host to some of the county's elite talent at their annual Irish Invasion camp earlier this month, and McGaskin was one of those players in attendance. The Irish Invasion camp gives the staff a unique opportunity to scout and build relationships with underclass high school players and potentially hand out some offers if they like what they see.

The staff clearly made quite the impression on McGaskin, as he would choose the Fighting Irish over a plethora of other schools, which include LSU, Ohio State, Texas A&M, and Michigan, among others. McGaskin's versatile skillset as a linebacker, and his willingness as a tackler stand out the most on film. As a sophomore, McGaskin compiled 130 total tackles, with a staggering 21 TFL in just ten games. Even as a freshman, McGaskin produced similar numbers, cementing himself as a true difference maker in the front seven. McGaskin also doubled as a running back for Williamson High School, where he averaged nearly six yards per carry this past season.

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As The Irish Tribune's Head of Scouting Max Uretsky puts it:

"McGaskin is a tackling machine who has compiled 273 total tackles and 5 sacks over his first two years of high school. He plays from both the "Sam" and "Mike" linebacker positions and has been very successful from each spot. He is very proficient at shooting gaps quickly vs the run, beating linemen to their spots to blow up plays in the backfield. He can hold the point of attack vs tight ends with relative ease, and does a good job of being explosive through his lower body to knock blockers off balance. He has very good eye discipline when it comes to reading counters and misdirections. He is a hit stick waiting to happen, punishing ball carriers and forcing fumbles in the process. McGaskin has excellent timing off the edge as a blitzer, and the top-end speed and closing burst to make QBs uncomfortable. He has some good awareness when asked to drop in Zone Coverage, and has the foot speed to carry tight ends up the seam and disrupt passing lanes. McGaskin possesses enough athletic ability to get out and cover the flats from his MLB position, limiting YAC on dump-off passes. On top of what he brings to the table as a linebacker, McGaskin has all the makings of a special teams ace. His speed, ability to beat blocks, and his prowess for making huge hits could make him the star of the coverage units. If there are any questions about just how athletically gifted McGaskin is, he also averaged almost 6 yards a carry, doubling as a running back."

Marcus Freeman and the recruiting staff continue to make building relationships early in the cycle a priority, and it's paying dividends on the trail. McGaskin joins Long Snapper Sean Kraft as the second commit in the class of 2027, as Notre Dame looks to keep the recruiting momentum rolling.