‘I don't think they're too late' – Notre Dame seems to have new competition for a top 2027 Fighting Irish recruiting target
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Notre Dame continues to pursue one of the more talented tight ends in the 2027 recruiting class. What is the latest for the Fighting Irish?
Notre Dame football received a commitment from 2027 Choctaw (Okla.) High School tight end Titus Hawk a couple of weeks ago. It was a good addition for head coach Marcus Freeman, offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, and the Fighting Irish staff. If developed properly, Hawk has the chance to become an impressive inline option for an offense.
With Hawk in the class, Notre Dame still wants to bring in a second tight end if possible, but more of a flex option with more pass catching upside. There is no question who that top target on the board is right now. The Irish have continued to pursue 2027 Oak Ridge (Tenn.) High School standout Malik Howard heavily.
The Irish staff is battling against Alabama and Tennessee for Howard currently. Over the last weekend, the Tennessee native took a visit to Eugene to check out the Oregon Ducks. Heading into that trip, Howard called it a make-or-break chance for Oregon, and it appears that the latter happened.
In an interview with Rivals recruiting analyst Chad Simmons, Howard spoke the praises of the Ducks and his trip out West. He did not shy away from his excitement, and it appears that Oregon is now a legitimate threat for the talented tight end.
“They’re making me feel like a priority target right now,” Howard told Simmons. “This visit definitely boosted them up for me. I am still getting everything figured out, but they will almost certainly get an official visit on June 19.
“If they keep recruiting me the way they are right now, I don’t think they’re too late,” he added.
With Oregon locking up an official visit with Howard, clearly, things are moving in a strong direction for the Ducks. Due to the recent situation surrounding the top 2027 defensive tackle target Brayden Parks and Oregon, this news is bound to make a lot of folks nervous. Notre Dame is not the favorite for the talented tight end right now, but they appear ready to battle until the very end, and they will have a chance to land Howard in the end.
Malik Howard’s recruiting background
Howard is considered to be a four-star player by each of the major recruiting platforms outside of rivals. On the 247 Sports Composite ranking, Howard is currently rated as the No. 216 overall player, the No. 11 tight end, and the No. 9 player from the state of Tennessee for the 2027 recruiting class. ESPN is the highest on Howard, pegged as the No. 157 overall player.
If Howard’s recruiting rankings don’t excite you, his offer list probably will. Some of his top offers include the Fighting Irish, Alabama, Michigan, Oklahoma, LSU, Florida, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Miami, Florida State, Auburn, Indiana, Nebraska, Missouri, Kentucky, South Carolina, Arkansas, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Mississippi State, Maryland, Colorado, UNC, Vanderbilt, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Syracuse, West Virginia, Duke, and Purdue, among others.
As a junior in 2025, Howard put together a tremendous season for Oak Ridge. The 6-3.5, 231-pound pass catcher managed to haul in 53 receptions for 778 yards and 11 touchdowns in 11 games. That is an average of 14.7 yards per reception, a healthy number for a tight end.
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