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Notre Dame’s top ‘27 flip candidate, 5-star LB, on campus this weekend
- Story by
- Notre Dame’s top ‘27 flip candidate, 5-star LB, on campus this weekend
Notre Dame football has one of the best 2027 recruiting classes in the country , and while there are currently 23 verbal commitments, there is still room for a few more.
One of those potential recruit is linebacker Kaden Henderson, but the 6-foot, 2-inch and 220-pounder is currently committed to Texas A&M . Before picking the Aggies, it very much looked like the Irish would win out, but that wasn't the case.
Notre Dame's Nolan James Jr. outruns Navy's Giuseppe Sessi to score a 52-yard touchdown during a game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Notre Dame's Nolan James Jr. celebrates with Ian Premer (No. 24) after scoring a 52-yard touchdown during a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
A Notre Dame fan cheers during a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
Notre Dame's CJ Carr warms up before a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman smiles before a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
Notre Dame's Cam Williams leaps up to make a catch during a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
Notre Dame's Nolan James Jr. celebrates after scoring a 52-yard touchdown during a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman leads the team on the field, along with Tionne Gray (No. 0), before a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
Notre Dame's Micah Gilbert celebrates with Sullivan Ashber after catching an 11-yard touchdown pass during a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
FOXBOROUGH, MA - OCTOBER 31: CJ Carr #13 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates a touchdown against the Navy Midshipmen during the first half at Gillette Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
(Winslow Townson, Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA - OCTOBER 31: Nolan James Jr. #2 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs past the Navy bench on his way to a touchdown during the first half of their game at Gillette Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
(Winslow Townson, Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA - OCTOBER 31: Quarterback CJ Carr #13 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates a touchdown run by Nolan James Jr. #2 during the first half against the Navy Midshipmen at Gillette Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
(Winslow Townson, Getty Images)
Oct 31, 2026; Foxborough, MA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Nolan James Jr. (2) celebrates a touchdown against the Navy Midshipmen with teammates during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
(Eric Canha, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Notre Dame's Nolan James Jr. outruns Navy's Giuseppe Sessi to score a 52-yard touchdown during a game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
Navy's Jackson Gutierrez sneaks in for a 2-yard touchdown during a game vs. Notre Dame at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
Navy's Jackson Gutierrez drops back to make a pass during a game vs. Notre Dame at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
The Notre Dame football team played a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
The Notre Dame football team played a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
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See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
Notre Dame's Nolan James Jr. outruns Navy's Giuseppe Sessi to score a 52-yard touchdown during a game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
1
/18
See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
Notre Dame's Nolan James Jr. outruns Navy's Giuseppe Sessi to score a 52-yard touchdown during a game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
2
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See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
Notre Dame's Nolan James Jr. celebrates with Ian Premer (No. 24) after scoring a 52-yard touchdown during a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
3
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See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
A Notre Dame fan cheers during a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
4
/18
See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
Notre Dame's CJ Carr warms up before a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
5
/18
See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman smiles before a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
6
/18
See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
Notre Dame's Cam Williams leaps up to make a catch during a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
7
/18
See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
Notre Dame's Nolan James Jr. celebrates after scoring a 52-yard touchdown during a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
8
/18
See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman leads the team on the field, along with Tionne Gray (No. 0), before a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
9
/18
See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
Notre Dame's Micah Gilbert celebrates with Sullivan Ashber after catching an 11-yard touchdown pass during a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
10
/18
See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
FOXBOROUGH, MA - OCTOBER 31: CJ Carr #13 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates a touchdown against the Navy Midshipmen during the first half at Gillette Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
(Winslow Townson, Getty Images)
11
/18
See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
FOXBOROUGH, MA - OCTOBER 31: Nolan James Jr. #2 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs past the Navy bench on his way to a touchdown during the first half of their game at Gillette Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
(Winslow Townson, Getty Images)
12
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See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
FOXBOROUGH, MA - OCTOBER 31: Quarterback CJ Carr #13 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates a touchdown run by Nolan James Jr. #2 during the first half against the Navy Midshipmen at Gillette Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
(Winslow Townson, Getty Images)
13
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These are Notre Dame's five stars at Navy
Oct 31, 2026; Foxborough, MA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Nolan James Jr. (2) celebrates a touchdown against the Navy Midshipmen with teammates during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
(Eric Canha, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
14
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See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
Notre Dame's Nolan James Jr. outruns Navy's Giuseppe Sessi to score a 52-yard touchdown during a game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
15
/18
See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
Navy's Jackson Gutierrez sneaks in for a 2-yard touchdown during a game vs. Notre Dame at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
16
/18
See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
Navy's Jackson Gutierrez drops back to make a pass during a game vs. Notre Dame at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
17
/18
See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
The Notre Dame football team played a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
18
/18
See the best photos from Notre Dame's 35-13 win over Navy
The Notre Dame football team played a game vs. Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
(Jason Snow / USA Today Network)
However, Notre Dame has not given up in their pursuit of the nation's No. 24 overall player in the 247Sports composite , as Mike Singer reported on Tuesday that Henderson is expected to be in South Bend this weekend, as the Irish host the Miami Hurricanes .
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It's the biggest game of the year, for multiple reasons, and now Notre Dame has another one to add to the list. Expect the Irish coaching staff to put the full-court press on Henderson, as they look to flip their top remaining 2027 target.
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This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Notre Dame's top '27 flip candidate, 5-star LB, on campus this weekend
