A top Notre Dame target just became an even bigger priority following some unfortunate recent recruiting news
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Notre Dame received some unfortunate news concerning elite 2027 LB Kaden Henderson. That has made another target even more important.
Notre Dame football appeared to be in a great place with elite 2027 Tampa Bay (Fla.) Jesuit linebacker Kaden Henderson heading into his commitment date on Thursday, but things have shifted over the last couple of days. The latest feedback is that the Texas A&M Aggies are expected to be the selection, barring something changing down the stretch. It would be a difficult loss for head coach Marcus Freeman, linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary, and the Fighting Irish.
If Henderson does opt for the Aggies over Notre Dame and LSU, I would anticipate the Irish staff continuing to push for him, and potentially up until National Signing Day. Whether he eventually lands with the Irish or not, this current situation has made the program’s push for Chicago (Ill.) Mount Carmel linebacker Roman Igwebuike all the more important. Already viewed as a priority for the Irish, Igwebuike is a must-get with the linebacker board beginning to shrink and most likely missing on Henderson.
Coming off his official visit to South Bend this past weekend, things are in a great place with Igwebuike. The Irish are battling against Tennessee, Indiana, and Clemson for the Chicago native, but things are trending well for Notre Dame. Jean-Mary and the Irish staff need to close accordingly. Otherwise, there might need to be a big adjustment to their target board.
Roman Igwebuike’s recruiting background
Igwebuike is considered a four-star player and a Top-200 recruit by multiple major recruiting platforms right now. On the 247 Sports Composite ranking, the talented linebacker currently ranks as the No. 137 overall player, the No. 9 linebacker, and the No. 8 player from the state of Illinois for the 2027 recruiting class. Keeping top talent “at home” should always be a top priority for the Irish staff.
A long list of impressive programs has been pursuing him, over 40 of them to be exact. Some of the top offers for the Chicago native include the Fighting Irish, Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Miami, USC, Florida, Auburn, Florida State, Nebraska, Arizona State, Arkansas, Louisville, Iowa State, Kentucky, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, NC State, Mississippi State, Maryland, Illinois, Kansas State, Syracuse, Boston College, Vanderbilt, Wisconsin, Washington, West Virginia, Baylor, Kansas, and Purdue, among others.
Leading one of the top programs in high school football, Mount Carmel is loaded with next-level talent. The 6-3, 220-pound linebacker is one of the team’s top overall talents, which is saying something. He has the combination of size, explosiveness, and physicality to become a stellar inside linebacker on the next level. The versatility that Igwebuike brings is extraordinary.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: A top Notre Dame target just became an even bigger priority following some unfortunate recent recruiting news
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