Notre Dame football is predicted to land a developmental 2028 recruiting target with some massive overall upside
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Notre Dame is predicted to land an intriguing 2028 recruiting target. His background is eerily similar to some past Irish victories.
Notre Dame football and head coach Marcus Freeman are nearing the finish line with the 2027 recruiting class, and the 2028 cycle is already coming into focus.
The state of Illinois figures to be a significant pipeline for the Fighting Irish in that next class, and one name to know is Aurora (Ill.) Waubonsie Valley offensive tackle Kajus Muralis. Rivals national recruiting analyst Allen Trieu recently put out early predictions for several 2028 prospects, projecting Notre Dame as the landing spot for the 6-7, 255-pound offensive lineman.
Here is what Trieu wrote about Muralis and Notre Dame’s push.
OT KAJUS MURALIS – Notre Dame
After getting a Notre Dame offer in June, Muralis listed all the virtues of an Irish offer, finishing by saying they are one of his top schools. At this point, we think they are the team to beat. Joe Rudolph’s ability to develop players with similar frames in the past is another part of this pick.
Muralis won’t blow anyone away with raw recruiting rankings at this stage. Only Rivals has ranked him so far, slotting him as a three-star, the No. 44 offensive tackle, and the No. 14 player from Illinois in the 2028 class. His offer list reflects that early-stage evaluation. His top offers to date include Notre Dame, Illinois, Wisconsin, UCLA, Oklahoma State, Purdue, Toledo, Akron, and Florida Atlantic.
Why Notre Dame’s interest makes sense
That collection of offers is not what you typically expect for a program that has established itself as one of the top producers of offensive line talent in college football. Notre Dame pushing hard for a prospect at this ranking tier might raise eyebrows on the surface, but there is real context worth understanding.
Muralis is a toolsy offensive tackle with plenty of length and a frame built to add a ton of mass. The projection here is what matters. Offensive line coach Joe Rudolph has built a strong track record of identifying developmental prospects early, getting ahead of the curve before the rest of the recruiting world catches up.
Think of players like Anthonie Knapp, Will Black, Grayson McKeogh, and Charlie Tom. All four were underrated and under-ranked when Rudolph decided to offer them. By the end of their respective recruiting cycles, they turned into massive risers, especially Black and McKeogh. Muralis fits that same profile of a long, projectable tackle whom Rudolph sees something in before the rankings reflect it.
Where the 2028 class stands for Notre Dame
As things currently stand, Notre Dame holds two commitments in the 2028 class following the decommitment of four-star New Jersey quarterback Trey Tagliaferri a little over a week ago. Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas safety Andre Jones is the top-ranked recruit in the group, sitting as a three-star and the No. 37 safety in the 2028 class. The Irish also hold a commitment from Owen Davies, a kicker out of Brentwood Academy in Tennessee.
The full pivot to the 2028 cycle should come soon. Once there is clarity on 2027 targets linebacker Roman Igwebuike and defensive tackle Brayden Parks, the staff’s attention will shift entirely to building out the next class. Freeman and his coaching staff have recruited at an extremely high level over the last several cycles, and there is no reason to believe the 2028 class won’t represent another step forward.
If Rudolph’s track record with developmental offensive linemen holds, the early Muralis projection could look like a shrewd call by the time signing day arrives.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: Notre Dame football is predicted to land a developmental 2028 recruiting target with some massive overall upside
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