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*Updated on May 16th, 2026 The Fighting Irish are once again putting together an elite class on the defensive side of the football, with plenty of tremendous talent still on the board. Photo by The Irish Tribune Here are some names to keep an eye on going forward in the class of 2027. Please see our commitment tracker to stay up to date with Fighting Irish commits Edge Chris Whitehead (5-star) 6-4.5 230lbs out of Lloyd C. Bird High School in Chesterfield, Virginia. He is ranked by 247Sports 34th overall nationally and 4th overall at the Edge position. He holds 34 D1 offers. Abraham Sesay (4-star) 6-5 215lbs out of Downingtown East High School in Exton, Pennsylvania. He is ranked by 247Sports as 50th overall nationally and 7th overall at the Edge position. He holds 28 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on April 18th, 2026 (unofficial) Official visit set for June 19th Wyatt Smith (4-star) 6-6 235lbs out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is ranked by 247Sports as 78th overall nationally and 11th overall at the Edge position. He holds 27 D1 offers. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Defensive Line Brayden Parks (4-star) 6-3 305lbs out of Brother Rice High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247Sports as 172nd overall nationally and 19th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 40 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame for the annual Junior Day Event on the weekend of March 19th-21st, 2026 Santana Harvey (4-star) 6-5 220lbs out of Lakeland High School in Lakeland, Florida. He is ranked by 247Sports as 284th overall nationally and 35th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 34 D1 offers. Luke Starcevic (4-star) 6-5 250lbs out of Kindred High School in Kindred, North Dakota. He is ranked by 247Sports as 265th overall nationally and 14th overall as an athlete. He holds 23 D1 offers. Linebacker Kaden Henderson (5-star) 6-1.5 218lbs out of Jesuit High School in Tampa, Florida. He is ranked by 247Sports as 24th overall nationally and 1st overall at the linebacker position. He holds 47 D1 offers. Visitied Notre Dame on April 18th, 2026 (unofficial) Named Notre Dame as a member of his Top 5 schools (3/6/2026) Toa Satale (4-star) 6-3 200lbs out of Miliani High School in Miliani, Hawaii. He is ranked by 247Sports as 63rd overall nationally and 4th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 32 D1 offers. Noah Glover (4-star) 6-1 205lbs out of Battlefield High School in Haymarket, Virginia. He is ranked by 247Sports as 207th overall nationally and 18th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 29 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame for the annual Junior Day Event on the weekend of March 19th-21st, 2026 Roman Igwebuike (4-star) 6-3 220lbs out of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247Sports as 149th overall nationally and 13th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 45 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on April 18th, 2026 (unofficial) Set to visit Notre Dame on June 12th-14th Named Notre Dame as a member of his Top 5 schools (5/7/2026) Mikahi Allen (4-star) 6-1 220lbs out of Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, New Jersey. He is ranked by 247Sports as 195th overall nationally and 15th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 28 D1 offers. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Cornerback Tavares Harrington (4-star) 6-3 175lbs out of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247Sports as 124th overall nationally and 15th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 42 D1 offers. Named Notre Dame in his Top 10 (3/11/2026) Visited Notre Dame on April 18th, 2026 (unofficial) Committing on May 22nd, 2026 Athletes Xavier Sabb (5-star) 6-1 180lbs out of Glassboro High School in Glassboro, California. He is ranked by 247Sports as 31st overall nationally and 2nd overall as an athlete. He holds 24 D1 offers. Marcus Fakatou (5-star) 6-6 275lbs out of Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, California. He is ranked by 247Sports as 32nd overall nationally and 2nd overall at the defensive line position. He holds 36 D1 offers. Official Visit to Notre Dame set for June 15th Tee Walden Jr. (4-star) 6-2.5 165lbs out of Collierville High School in Collierville, Tennessee. He is ranked by 247Sports as 125th overall nationally and 6th overall at the ath position. He holds 37 D1 offers. Announced Notre Dame as a member of his Top 10 schools on (4/6/2026) Brayton Feister (4-star) 6-3 230lbs out of Archbishop Hoban High School in Akron, Ohio. He is ranked by 247 Sports 132nd overall nationally and 7th overall at the ath position. He holds 31 D1 offers. Matthew Gregory (4-star) 6-1 170lbs out of Owen J Roberts High School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 107th overall nationally and 17th overall at the ath position. He holds 26 D1 offers. Announced Notre Dame as a member of his Top 7 schools on (5/14/2026) Cade Cooper (4-star) 6-3 192lbs out of Malvern Prep High School in Malvern, Pennsylvania. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 339th overall nationally and 43rd overall at the wr/ath position. He holds 24 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on March 28th, 2026 Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Follow @bruce_straughan on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

*Updated May 16th, 2026 Notre Dame just secured two five-star commits in the same week for the first time since... last cycle. The Fighting Irish have begun to heat up on the recruiting trail and show no signs of slowing down. Here are some names to keep an eye on going forward in the class of 2027. Please see our commitment tracker to stay up to date with Fighting Irish commits. Wide Receiver Julius Jones (4-star) 5-10 175lbs out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 72nd overall nationally and 12th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 44 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on April 10th-12th, 2026 (unofficial) Official visit to Notre Dame set for June 11th-13th Osani Gayles (4-star) 5-11.5 185lbs out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 48th overall nationally and the 8th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 30 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on April 9th-10th, 2026 (unofficial) Named Notre Dame in his Top 5 on 5/6/2026 Trenton Yancey (4-star) 5-10.5 190lbs out of Duncanville High School in Duncanville, Texas. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 233rd overall nationally and 31st overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 39 D1 offers. Named Notre Dame in his Top 10 on 3/4/2026 Visited Notre Dame on April 18th, 2026 (unofficial) Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Offensive Line Layton von Brandt (4-star) 6-6.5 281lbs out of Appoquinimink High School in Middleton, Delaware. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 64th overall nationally and 5th overall at the offensive tackle position. He holds 22 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on November 8th, 2025 (unofficial) Visited Notre Dame April 10-12th, 2026 (unofficial) Albert Simien (5-star) 6-4 280lbs out of Sam Houston High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 13th overall nationally and 2nd overall at the interior offensive line position. He holds 24 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame for the annual Junior Day Event on the weekend of March 19th-21st, 2026 Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Follow @bruce_straughan on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Notre Dame bolstered its DL recruiting in a big way on Friday afternoon, when David Folorunsho announced his commitment to the Fighting Irish. Photo via David Folorunsho/IG (@david.folorunsh0) Folorunsho committed to Notre Dame over Miami, Texas Tech, Michigan, and Georgia. The consensus four-star ranks as the #37 overall recruit, #3 DL, and #1 player in Illinois, according to Rivals Industry Ranking. The 6-4, 280-pound DL was born in Nigeria, where he lived for 10 years before moving to the United States. Out of Chicago, Folorunsho attends St. Patrick High School, coached by former Notre Dame DB Tom Zbikowski. The Irish presence goes deeper at St. Patrick’s with President Dan Santucci, former Notre Dame OL and teammate of Zbikowski. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Folorunsho, following in the footsteps of Zbikowski and Santucci, feels like a natural fit as Notre Dame’s newest pledge. This past fall, the DL recorded 27 tackles, 8 TFLs, 2 sacks, and a forced fumble, while also playing OL. What pops most from Folorunsho’s film is his elite athleticism, given his size. He is twitchy, has good sideline-to-sideline speed, and is versatile enough to play off the edge if needed. This, mixed with his powerful moves, projects Folorunsho as a disruptive menace in college. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Folorunsho becomes Notre Dame's 17th commit of the 2027 class and the 3rd DL to join. This commitment also marks the Irish’s first addition out of Illinois. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Flip season has commenced, perhaps a bit earlier than expected, with the commitment of former UCLA pledge OT Jackson Hill. Photo via Jackson Hill/IG (@therealjhill50) Hill stands at a towering 6-7 and 310 pounds, ranking as a three-star and the #80 OT prospect, according to Rivals Industry Ranking. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! The newest Irish pledge hails from Los Angeles, where he attends Chaminade College Prep in West Hills. Junior Season Mix Hill possesses a great frame for a college-level OT. His background as a catcher in baseball is evident in his flexibility and mobility. The California native flashes as a great run blocker who loves to finish off his opposition. Hill is viewed as a “high upside” prospect with some footwork and strength development required to unlock the next level in his game. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Notre Dame’s 2027 class now stands at 16 commits, with Hill’s pledge marking the first from California. He also becomes the third OL to join the class, and the second this week, following Oluwasemilore Olubobola’s announcement on Tuesday. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

The tension between Notre Dame and the ACC continues to fester as it appears the two parties' relationship is nowhere close to being repaired. After a messy winter, the discussions surrounding Notre Dame and its ACC affiliation seemed to have quieted down. In the midst of those discussions, Notre Dame fans were even calling for Notre Dame to consider backing out of the deal with the ACC. Instead, Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua decided to dampen these talks, reinforcing the idea that Notre Dame and the ACC were in a good place. Although Notre Dame may still be happy with their current arrangements, it does appear that the ACC and the people inside of it may have a different perspective. On3's Brett McMurphy recently released a story regarding the ACC's feelings towards Notre Dame, which has only refueled the fire that took over the college football media cycle for a week just a few months ago. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! In that piece published by On3, a source said when talking about Notre Dame, "is the guy that walks in the house, opens the fridge, eats all the food, then (screws) the wife, kicks the dog, doesn't pay the mortgage and walks out without any skin in the game." Also featured in the article was a quote from an ACC AD that read, "there's a widespread perception that we're all getting used and we're sick of it." Looking at this from the ACC side of things, they are likely upset due to Notre Dame's deal that allows them to play five ACC teams a year, while still being able to keep their independent schedule. To many, this seems like Notre Dame is getting the best of both worlds without having to risk playing in a conference championship game or playing a full conference schedule. Many people in the ACC may also not be happy with Notre Dame calling out the conference so publicly following the CFP selection show. This most likely rubbed a lot of people in the ACC the wrong way. From the Notre Dame perspective, it seems like the ACC deal benefits the ACC as much as it has benefited Notre Dame. Firstly, Notre Dame Football may not be in the ACC, but almost every sport Notre Dame offers is a part of the ACC. That means Notre Dame has a vested interest in the ACC and its future. To add to that, Notre Dame often gives those other sports a very competitive team in the ACC, like Lacrosse and Soccer. Secondly, from a money perspective, every other ACC school benefits from playing against Notre Dame in football. Going back to Bevacqua's point from a press conference following the 2025 season, he stated that when Notre Dame has visited an ACC school since 2014, they have sold out 90% of the time. That is a 67% increase from any other ACC game during that same time. So, while Notre Dame does benefit from the ACC deal, every other ACC school benefits from it too. Notre Dame Football brings in a crowd to every school it visits, which only makes more money for that school. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle While it is more than likely that Notre Dame will sit tight in the ACC deal for the upcoming future, quotes like the ones given to On3's McMurphy only add to the tension that has grown between the two parties. Notre Dame is heading into another season where the ACC has lacked the ability to give Notre Dame quality opponents, frustrating many Irish fans. Is it time for Notre Dame to reconsider the deal, and is there any conference that would be willing to strike a similar deal? Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

In one of the more fascinating recruitments in recent Irish history, Notre Dame has secured the commitment of OT Oluwasemilore “Olu” Olubobola. Photo via Oluwasemilore Olubobola/IG (@o.olub) The 6-7, 295-pound OT chose Notre Dame over Nebraska, Texas A&M, Miami, and others, with 42 listed offers according to 247 Sports. The Irish were one of Olubobola’s latest offers, receiving the offer on March 19th, and it appears his recent Blue and Gold Game visit was enough to give Notre Dame an advantage. 247 Sports Composite lists Olubobola as a five-star prospect, ranking as the #15 overall recruit, #3 OT, and #1 player in New Jersey in the class of 2027. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Olubobola, a native of Jersey City, attends St. Peter’s Prep. He primarily played LT this past fall and participated in the 2026 Under Armour All-American Game. The St. Peter’s LT has elite length, featuring an 86-inch wingspan, and is still filling out his frame. Olubobola showcases great twitch ability and quick feet, both of which contribute to his success as a feared run-blocker. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Olubobola marks Notre Dame’s 15th commit of the 2027 class, joining James Halter as OL part of the group. Additionally, the New Jersey native’s pledge is the second out of The Garden State, joining EDGE Aidan O’Neil. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

*Updated May 9th, 2026 Notre Dame is red hot on the recruiting trail at the moment, and if things continue to trend in the right direction, the Fighting Irish might have another historic class on their hands. Here are some names to keep an eye on going forward in the class of 2027. Please see our commitment tracker to stay up to date with Fighting Irish commits. Wide Receiver Julius Jones (4-star) 5-10 175lbs out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Indiana. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 72nd overall nationally and 12th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 44 D1 offers. Unofficial visit to Notre Dame set for April 10th-12th Official visit to Notre Dame set for June 11th-13th Osani Gayles (4-star) 5-11.5 185lbs out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 48th overall nationally and the 8th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 30 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on April 9th-10th (unofficial) Named Notre Dame in his Top 5 on 5/6/2026 Trenton Yancey (4-star) 5-10.5 190lbs out of Duncanville High School in Duncanville, Texas. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 233rd overall nationally and 31st overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 39 D1 offers. Named Notre Dame in his Top 10 on 3/4/2026 Unofficially set to visit Notre Dame on April 18th Quentin Burrell (4-star) 6-3 175lbs out of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports 83rd overall nationally and 14th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 39 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame 4/1/2026-4/2/2026 Named Notre Dame in his Top 4 on April 15th Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Offensive Line Oluwasemilore Olubobola (5-star) 6-6 295lbs out of St. Peter's Prep in Jersey City, New Jersey. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 15th overall nationally and the 3rd overall at the Offensive Tackle position. he holds 42 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on April 25th for the Blue-Gold game Is currently favored to land with the Fighting Irish Layton von Brandt (4-star) 6-6.5 281lbs out of Appoquinimink High School in Middleton, Delaware. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 64th overall nationally and 5th overall at the offensive tackle position. He holds 22 D1 offers. Unofficially visited Notre Dame on November 8th, 2025 Unofficially visited Notre Dame April 10-12th, 2026 Albert Simien (5-star) 6-4 280lbs out of Sam Houston High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 13th overall nationally and 2nd overall at the interior offensive line position. He holds 24 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame for the annual Junior Day Event on the weekend of March 19th-21st Cameron Wagner (4-star) 6-6 300lbs out of St. Joseph-Ogden High School in St. Joseph, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 345th overall nationally and 36th overall at the offensive tackle position. He holds 20 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame for the annual Junior Day Event on the weekend of March 19th-21st Named Notre Dame in his Top 4 on April 15th Commitment date set for 5/11/2026 Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Follow @bruce_straughan on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

After years of less-than-stellar play at the quarterback position, Notre Dame has finally set itself up for long-term success inside the QB room. Let's take a look at how Marcus Freeman has transformed this room. Photo via Maysum Hassanali Notre Dame has been a consistently strong football team for years now, but they have always struggled to find that game-changing QB. During the Brian Kelly era, Notre Dame had some solid players at the position, but they never had a QB that elevated a good regular season team into a championship contender. Towards the end of the Kelly era, it was clear that the QB room was not up to Notre Dame's standards. This was an extremely frustrating time for Notre Dame fans. The rest of the team seemed strong at almost every other position, so why could they never have a QB good enough? The problems in the QB room were given to Freeman when he took over as head coach, presenting him with a very challenging problem to fix right away. While it took a few years of bridge QB's and recruiting classes, it may be safe to say that Notre Dame no longer has a QB problem. With a huge uptick in recruiting success and player development in the Freeman era, there seems to be more than enough talent in the QB room right now, with even more on the way in 2027 and beyond. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Obviously, the talent in the room starts with the star QB, CJ Carr. The spotlight has been on him ever since he committed to Notre Dame, and during his first season as a starter, he did not disappoint. While he was still prone to mistakes, he looked the part of a future first-rounder. It has been a long time since Notre Dame has seen a quarterback who throws a ball as well as Carr does. He is a clear step up in the talent department, which makes a world of a difference. Carr is the elevator of talent that the program has been searching for. With him, the Fighting Irish could be a real threat to win the National Championship. Carr is not the only player to get excited about when it comes to the future of the position. Behind Carr, Notre Dame has some real talent in the room that could have a chance to start or provide the team with real depth at the position in the coming years. Underclassmen Blake Hebert and Noah Grubbs had a very solid spring camp, showing many that Carr is not the only capable QB on the roster. While they both won't be able to start for Notre Dame in the future, it is good to have depth and healthy competition in the room. That has not always been the case in South Bend, a testament to Freeman's elite recruiting. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Speaking of recruiting, the long-term future at QB looks as exciting as ever. Teddy Jarrard, who reclassified into the 2026 class, looks to be the next in line to replace Carr as a potential elite-level starter. Jarrard has that wow-factor that can be hard to find. Ranked as one of the best QB's in the class, he is a precise passer with a beautiful throwing motion. Although he is not a dual-threat option, he does have decent athleticism that allows him more time to find players downfield, much like Carr. Just recently, Freeman and company landed a big-time commitment from four-star prospect Wonderful Monds IV from Vero Beach, Florida. As another reclassified player, Monds IV will now be a part of the 2027 class. As a 2028 prospect, he was considered to be one of the top QBs in the class. While his ranking dropped when he made the move to the 2027 class, it does not change the immense amount of talent he possesses. As a true dual-threat, Monds IV is going to give offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock a very different look at the position. Standing at 6'2" and 225 lbs, Monds IV is a powerful athlete who can really hurt defenses with his legs. With this, he also has a big arm that has the potential to take the top off the defense. While he does throw the ball hard, he does put excellent touch on his deep balls, showing his versatility as a passer. While it is Carr's team after he beat out Kenny Minchey last off-season, Monds IV and Jarrard could have a very similar situation in their future once Carr heads to the NFL. Notre Dame has come a long way from the days of Drew Pyne, Tyler Buchner, and Jack Coan. While those players had their moments, and some Irish fans may even hold those players in a special place in their hearts, they limited the ceiling of the offenses they were a part of. They were not players who could elevate the talent around them; instead, they were likely elevated by the talent around them. Now, Notre Dame is building a room full of talented players who give Denbrock and Freeman options. Carr is likely to head to the NFL after next season, but with the talent already in the room and with more coming in, Carr's replacement may not be very far behind. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

When a team has an in-season QB competition, the old adage is that if you have two quarterbacks, you have none, but in the world of recruiting, the opposite rings true, and it is always the more the merrier. Photo via Neimann Lawrence/IG (@ne1mannn) After landing a commitment from C/O 2027 4-star Quarterback Wonderful "Champ" Monds IV last week, Notre Dame is also squarely on the radar of 2028 recruit Neimann Lawrence. The American Heritage signal caller is currently among the top 10 at his position in his class, and his continued improvement could have him cemented as a 5-star and must-have for any big-time program in pursuit of adding talent under center. Lawrence displayed top tier efficiency as a Freshman, posting a 31 to 8 touchdown to interception ratio while adding another four scores on the ground. Ahead of his Sophomore season, he transferred to Miami Northwestern, where somehow his stat line became even more eye-popping, tossing 32 touchdowns to only one interception. Those numbers landed him on the MaxPreps Sophomore All-American team, and now his upcoming Junior season will be played at his third school in as many years, as he once again decided to transfer, this time to American Heritage. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! A big-time prospect deserves a big-time film breakdown, so let's dive into everything I saw when going through his tape. The Great: Lawrence's athleticism both inside and outside the pocket stands out right away. His ability to avoid defenders with quick feet while staying firm in the pocket is noteworthy. He has a solid frame that allows him to shake off would-be tacklers when they actually get their hands on him as well. He keeps his eyes downfield on the move and has very good accuracy with off-schedule throws. Lawrence has an effortless throwing motion, with the arm strength to push it 50+ yards downfield. He consistently hits WRs in stride when it comes to in-breaking routes. I was impressed with the way he uses his eyes to move defenders off their spot before delivering the ball, specifically on seam patterns, where he drives the ball as soon as he likes what he sees. A very underrated aspect of what I saw on film was his willingness to get down and slide in the open field as opposed to taking unnecessary hits. For young QBs with the type of athletic ability Lawrence has, it is sometimes hard to convince them not to overdo it once they break the pocket, but with Lawrence, he seems to understand his level of importance to his team and takes care of his body. The Good: Lawrence shows a good level of anticipation on throws outside the numbers, where timing is everything. At times, he showed the competitive toughness to stand tall in the pocket and deliver throws with pressure bearing down on him. He doesn't quit on plays, and until that whistle is blown, he is a threat to make a play. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Things I'll be Watching Next Season: I think all in all, CJ Carr's play last season exceeded expectations, and it is the reason he is among the pre-season Heisman favorites entering his second year as a starter. But there were two plays, one in each of the first two weeks, that looked similar with very different results. Against Miami in the opener, Carr was looking to evade pressure and kept reversing field and drifting further and further back before eventually finding Micah Gilbert standing alone in the end zone for a touchdown. In week 2 vs Texas A&M, Carr attempted a similar feat by trying to spin out of trouble while moving backwards, but lost vision on the defender and ended up throwing an interception. I use those plays as examples because I saw some similar moments from Lawrence, where instead of cutting losses and throwing the ball away, he tried to avoid pressure in a dangerous way. It did not happen to come back to bite him, but at the next level, where everything is moving faster, those types of plays more often than not end with a negative outcome. It is one of the few things I am hoping not to see from Lawrence during his Junior campaign. Lawrence's arm strength is not in question, but he does lack some lower-body torque, especially when pushing the ball vertically. With a little more hip drive, some of those deep passes won't hang in the air as much, and the WRs will be in a much better position to make a play on the ball. I am curious to see if that small element of his game shows some improvement going forward. The recruiting train inexplicably continues to gain steam, and as long as Marcus Freeman is leading the way for the Fighting Irish, they will be in contention for the type of players that help win National Championships, and Lawrence has the potential to be one of those types of players. With CJ Carr's inevitable departure by 2028, the heir apparent quite possibly might not currently be on the roster, and even if he is, iron sharpens iron. Adding a player of Lawrence's caliber to the QB room would keep things interesting for a long time to come. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

*Updated May 4th, 2026 The Fighting Irish are in the midst of yet another recruiting heater to start the month of May, as multiple high-caliber recruits have pledged their commitment to Notre Dame in the last week. Here is how the class is currently looking. Photo by The Irish Tribune Offense Wonderful "Champ" Monds IV - Quarterback Ranking: 4-Star, 264th Nationally (247Sports Composite) Height/Weight: 6'2", 225 lbs Location: Vero Beach, FL Notable Offers: Ohio State, Alabama, Michigan, Oregon, Texas A&M Stats: Freshman season: 2,234 passing yards, 23 passing TDs, 68% completion. 502 rushing yards, 9 rushing TDs in 12 games. Injured ankle during sophomore season, limited to four games (MaxPreps) Titus Hawk - Tight End Ranking: 4-Star, 391st Nationally (247Sports Composite) Height/Weight: 6'7", 210 lbs Location: Choctaw, OK Notable Offers: Alabama, Michigan, Miami, Texas A&M, Florida Stats: Junior season: 31 receptions, 644 receiving yards, 8 TDs (via Andrew Ivins) Jackson Coleman - Wide Receiver Ranking: 3-Star, 821st Nationally (247Sports Composite) Height/Weight: 6'3", 185 lbs Location: Littleton, CO Notable Offers: Michigan, Miami, Oregon, Colorado Stats: Junior season: 45 receptions, 975 yards, 9 TDs in 13 games (via Andrew Ivins) James Halter - Offensive Tackle Ranking: 4-Star, 83rd Nationally (247Sports Composite) Height/Weight: 6'6", 270 lbs Location: Pittsburgh, PA Notable Offers: Ohio State, Auburn, Indiana, Duke, North Carolina Stats: N/A Isaiah Rogers - Running Back Ranking: 4-Star, 236th Nationally (247Sports Composite) Height/Weight: 5'11", 205 lbs Location: Springfield, MA Notable Offers: Florida, Florida State, Michigan, Penn State Stats: Junior season: 986 rushing yards in 10 games (7.8 yards per carry), 15 rushing TD, 401 receiving yards, 3 receiving TDs. (via Andrew Ivins) Lathan Whisenton - Running Back Ranking: 4-Star, 299th Nationally (247Sports Composite) Height/Weight: 5'11", 194 lbs Location: Waco, TX Notable Offers: Oregon, Texas, Texas A&M, Florida, Michigan Stats: Junior season: 1,502 rushing yards in 11 games (9.1 yards per carry), 24 rushing TD, 102 receiving yards (MaxPreps) Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Defense Xavier Hasan - Cornerback Ranking: 4-Star, 38th Nationally (247Sports Composite) Height/Weight: 5'11", 195 lbs Location: Raleigh, NC Notable Offers: Michigan, Penn State, Georgia, Miami, Ohio State Stats: Junior season: 17 total tackles, 3 interceptions, and 3 kickoff return TDs. (MaxPreps) Ace Alston - Cornerback Ranking: 4-Star, 85th Nationally (247Sports Composite) Height/Weight: 5'11", 175 lbs Location: Cincinnati, OH Notable Offers: Miami, Florida, LSU, Ohio State, Oregon Stats: Junior season: 53 total tackles, 1.5 TFL, 16 PBU, 1 interception (via Andrew Ivins) Zayden Gamble - Safety Ranking: 4-Star, 177th Nationally (247Sports Composite) Height/Weight: 5'11", 190 lbs Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Notable Offers: Penn State, Ohio State, Oregon, Georgia, Texas Stats: Junior season: 65 tackles, 3 TFL, 5 PBU, 3 interceptions, 1 forced fumble (via Andrew Ivins) John Gay - Safety Ranking: 3-Star, 725th Nationally (247Sports Composite) Height/Weight: 6'1", 185 lbs Location: Hollywood, FL Notable Offers: Florida, Ole Miss, Auburn, Texas A&M Stats: Junior season: 32 tackles, 3 PBU, 1 interception (via Andrew Ivins) Aidan O'Neil - Edge Ranking: 4-Star, 141st Nationally (247Sports Composite) Height/Weight: 6'5", 240 lbs Location: Ramsey, NJ Notable Offers: Miami, Ohio State, Florida, Georgia, LSU Stats: Junior season: 54 tackles, 16 TFL, 7.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles (via Andrew Ivins) Amarri Irvin - Linebacker Ranking: 4-Star, 295th Nationally (247Sports Composite) Height/Weight: 6'0", 220 lbs Location: Bradenton, FL Notable Offers: Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Ohio State, Oregon Stats: Junior season: 3 interceptions, 4 sacks (MaxPreps) Richie Flanigan - Defensive Line Ranking: 4-Star, 384th Nationally (247Sports Composite) Height/Weight: 6'3", 265 lbs Location: Green Bay, WI Notable Offers: Michigan, Duke, Wisconsin, Stanford Stats: Sophomore season: 24 total tackles, 1 sack (MaxPreps) Special Teams Sean Kraft - Long Snapper Ranking: 3-Star, 1,411th Nationally (247Sports Composite) Height/Weight: 6'4", 215 lbs Location: Swannanoa, NC Notable Offers: North Carolina, Wake Forest Stats: N/A Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? 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Notre Dame has received a commitment from Tight End and freak athlete Titus Hawk. Photo via Titus Hawk/IG (@titushawk23) Hawk ranks as a four-star in the class of 2027, rated as the #18 TE and #8 player in Oklahoma, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking. The Sooner State native committed to Notre Dame over Florida, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, and others. The 6-7, 215-pound TE resides in Choctaw, OK, where he plays three sports at Choctaw High School. In addition to football, Hawk plays basketball and baseball. His baseball prowess has also drawn major college interest as a highly-recruited left-handed First Baseman. Hawk could follow in the footsteps of current Notre Dame Baseball and Football athlete, Brandon Logan. Notably, Hawk’s father, Shane, pitched at Oklahoma State and was a 4th Round selection in the 2003 MLB Draft. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! On the gridiron this past fall, Hawk recorded 644 yards and 8 touchdowns across 31 receptions as Choctaw ultimately came up short in the State Championship. The versatile TE also added a score on one of just his two total carries. As noted, Hawk will provide some elite athleticism to the Irish’s TE room. The Oklahoman has been publicly hailed for his strong work ethic, a result of his non-stop motor. Hawk’s size and physicality provide him with the goods to be a solid blocker. However, stretching the field as a receiver is where the quick TE is going to provide value in any offense. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Hawk’s commitment marks the 14th overall commit of Notre Dame’s 2027 class. Additionally, it marks the Irish’s first pledge from a TE and first from Oklahoma in the class. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Notre Dame is on the board once again in the 2027 cycle, this time securing a commitment at the most important position on the field. Wonderful "Champ" Monds IV announced his decision to commit to the Fighting Irish today. Art by The Irish Tribune Marcus Freeman doesn't mess around when it comes to recruiting the quarterback position, and once again, he lands his signal caller early on in the recruiting cycle. Notre Dame had initially secured a commitment from 4-Star QB Teddy Jarrard in the class of 2027; however, Jarrard reclassified to join Notre Dame's historic 2026 recruiting class, leaving the door open for another signal caller to fill the void in the class of 2027. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Wonderful "Champ" Monds IV was originally one of the top quarterbacks in the class of 2028 before electing to reclassify himself. Playing at Vero Beach, Monds compiled an impressive freshman season where he passed for over 2200 yards, 23 TDs, and just five interceptions over 12 games. In addition, Monds added over 500 yards on the ground with nine rushing TDs. Unfortunately, Monds injured his ankle during his sophomore campaign and was limited to just four games. Monds is ranked as the 254th overall player in the nation according to 247Sports Composite, and is also a top-20 quarterback in the class of 2027 despite limited tape and being a year younger than the vast majority of quarterbacks in this class. Monds holds offers from Ohio State, Florida State, Alabama, Georgia, and Miami, among others. He chose the Fighting Irish in a final three that included both the Seminoles and the Buckeyes. Standing at 6'2", 220lbs with elite speed and a strong arm, Mike Denbrock adds another high-ceiling dual-threat quarterback to his resume. Notre Dame's continued emphasis on recruiting the Sunshine State is paying dividends, as Monds joins fellow Floridians Zayden Gamble, Amarri Irvin, and John Gay in Notre Dame's 2027 recruiting class. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!