A top Notre Dame recruiting target just earned 5-star status, and he's been a priority for the Fighting Irish well before that bump

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There is an early Notre Dame priority target to know in the 2028 recruiting class. He continues to rise up the recruiting rankings.

Notre Dame is busy trying to solidify an elite 2027 recruiting class right now. The Fighting Irish staff is, however, also already preparing for another stellar group in the 2028 class. That includes getting top targets on campus and building early relationships. 

There might not be a more important early target than 2028 Louisville (Ky.) Christian Academy defensive lineman Kellan Hall, who made an unofficial visit to South Bend earlier this offseason. The early feedback is very positive about Notre Dame’s chances. Head coach Marcus Freeman and defensive line coach Charlie Partridge are one heck of a recruiting duo, and we are already seeing that impact in the 2027 class.

When you look at Hall, we are talking about an elite player in his class. In the recent rankings update by Rivals, Hall came in rated as a five-star player and the No. 4 overall player in the 2028 recruiting class. He has enough talent to eventually contend for that top spot.

There is no such thing as “can’t miss recruits” this early, but Hall is quickly becoming a very important target for the Fighting Irish staff. Getting him on campus early was a great early sign, and now it is about continuing to push all the right buttons. The Kentucky native is a great test for this Notre Dame coaching and recruiting staff to see how far the defensive tackle has come over the last several years.

Kellan Hall’s recruiting background 

Hall is considered to be an elite recruit by both On3 and 247 Sports. On the 247 Sports Composite ranking, Hall currently ranks as a five-star, the No. 17 overall player, the No. 2 defensive lineman, and the No. 1 player from the state of Kentucky for the 2028 recruiting class. There’s an outside shot that Hall could eventually become the top overall player in the class. 

It should be no surprise that a long list of impressive programs has already pursued the Kentucky native. Some of his top offers include the Fighting Irish, Georgia, Ohio State, Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Vanderbilt, Louisville, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Arkansas, SMU, and Maryland, among others. 

As a sophomore in 2025, Hall put together a tremendous season for Christian Academy of Louisville. The 6-4, 285-pound defender managed to collect 53 total tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks. Hall is a versatile defensive lineman who can cause a lot of havoc.

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