Early intel from massive Notre Dame recruiting weekend that featured multiple 5-stars and key targets for the 2027 class
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It should be no shock to anyone that Notre Dame football just completed another tremendous recruiting weekend. Under head coach Marcus Freeman, the Fighting Irish program has continued to up its game on the recruiting trail. One of the most important elements is impressing players and parents on these visitor weekends/events.
When we look back at it, this weekend could end up being a monumental event for helping to solidify another stellar group in 2027, while also laying the groundwork for the 2028 recruiting class. The vibes are incredibly high after visiting and checking out spring practice, and now Freeman and Co. will need to ride the momentum over the next few months.
Here’s the early feedback from yet another successful recruiting weekend in South Bend. Various sources have verified that the event was a massive success.
Early recruiting weekend feedback
One unfortunate note is that I was told elite 2027 Fort Worth (Texas) North Crowley cornerback John Meredith III didn’t end up making the trip. Since Aaron Henry took over as the secondary coach when Mike Mickens departed, the Irish have been making a strong push for the elite cover man. There is a plan to reschedule for another date, but I’m uncertain when that will happen, as of now.
There was a very talented trio of 2027 running backs on campus this past weekend. That included David “Tre” Segarraout of Duncan (S.C.) Byrnes, Isaiah Rogers out of Springfield (Mass.) Central, and Lathan Whisenton out of Waco (Texas) Midway. Each player is rated inside the top 300 overall players on the 247 Sports Composite ranking.
Following the visit, I think Notre Dame improved their standing with both Segarra and Whisenton. My optimism is especially high for the latter, with the Irish staff making a strong push with Whisenton in recent weeks. If Notre Dame continues their push, I think it could be the team to beat for Whisenton.
Heading into the trip, Notre Dame was in the mix for Segarra, but according to a couple of sources, it appeared that teams like Tennessee and South Carolina had slight leads. I think the Irish leveled the player field here, but now it’ll be up to just how well they continue their momentum going into the summer. The key will be to keep that recruitment open and get him back for an official visit.
Perhaps my favorite player on campus was 2027 Denver (N.C.) East Lincoln tight end Jaxon Dollar, who is considered to be a five-star player on the Consensus ranking. There is a long list of elite programs that continue pushing hard for the 6-5, 222-pound pass catcher. In the end, I believe this one comes down to Georgia or the Fighting Irish. I like Notre Dame in this recruitment right now, especially after the impact they made this weekend.
Notre Dame also hosted 2027 Pierre (S.D.) T.F. Riggs tight end Cooper Terwilliger during the visit. The Irish staff seems to have gained some momentum heading into the trip, and Harris Bivin deserves a lot of credit for that. The Irish remain a very real contender in this recruitment, but I’d still give the lead to Penn State. The longer that Terwilliger keeps this recruitment open, the more I like the Irish to potentially pull it out in the end.
2027 St. Joseph (Ill.) Ogden offensive tackle Cameron Wagner made his return to South Bend this weekend. My opinion on the Wagner recruitment hasn’t changed. Notre Dame continues to lead, and if they keep pushing, it’s a matter of when, not if, he joins the 2027 Irish class.
I feel similarly about 2027 Chicago (Ill.) Brother Rice defensive tackle Brayden Parks, who has long been a priority for Notre Dame. Oregon has made a strong push in recent weeks, so the finish for the Irish has become increasingly more important. There continues to be good energy around this recruitment. I do still believe that Freeman and Co. get this one done in the end. The 6-3, 305-pound behemoth is very important for their overall class.
Elite Lake Charles (La.) Sam Houston offensive lineman Albert Simien also made the trip to campus. This is a recruitment that I am having trouble getting a gauge on. Simien clearly has some interest in Notre Dame, which is a credit to offensive line coach Joe Rudolph, and the Irish are just kind of staying around. I don’t think that the Louisiana native ends up with the Irish, but the staff just hasn’t gone away yet.
Three more 2027 defensive recruits to keep a close eye on include Haymarket (Va.) Battlefield linebacker Noah Glover, elite Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy pass rusher Zyron Forstall and Ramsey (N.J.) Don Bosco Prep defensive end Aidan O’Neil. When it comes to Forstall and O’Neil, I think Notre Dame has more than just a puncher’s chance with both, and my optimism continues to trend upward after the visit.
Out of the linebackers on the board right now, I think the Irish have the best shot with Glover. Both sides are clearly highly interested. The vibes are good coming out of the weekend.
There was a long list of impressive 2028 recruiting targets in South Bend this past weekend, but to be honest, I spent most of my time prioritizing info for the 2027 group. The 2028 class was represented by Chicago (Ill.) Brother Rice defensive end Kameron McGee, Oradell (N.J.) Bergen Catholic pass rusher Jackson Vaughn, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy cornerback Phoenix Evans, Chicago (Ill.) Brother Rice tight end Jack McNamara, and Plantation (Fla.) American Heritage quarterback Neimann Lawrence.
As of today, I love the early standing that Notre Dame has with McGee and Vaughn. Evans, who was originally from the state of New Jersey, has continued to keep consistent contact with the Irish staff. Lawrence clearly has some interest in Notre Dame, as well, but time will tell just how much. For now, it’s a good start to the 2028 recruiting class. It is all about setting the table.
This story was originally published by A to Z Sports on Mar 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add A to Z Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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