Where do things stand with Notre Dame offensive recruiting in the 2027 class? The Fighting Irish are trying to solidify an elite group.
Notre Dame football is putting together an elite 2027 recruiting class. Head coach Marcus Freeman already holds commitments from several outstanding recruits, especially on the offensive side of the football. There are only a few players for Freeman and Co. to close on to solidify the group.
Here are the top remaining 2027 offensive recruiting targets that remain on the board for the Notre Dame staff. To gain a bit more context, I have added where things currently stand with each. It is a smaller offensive board right now, but the finish will be extremely important.
There might not be a more important 2027 recruit on the board for Notre Dame than Jones. A legacy recruit, the Irish staff has been pushing for the 5-10, 175-pound pass catcher for a long time. Jones brings a ton of explosiveness and big-play ability, making a ton of plays for one of the best programs in high school football. With a commitment date set for June 27, there is no question that Notre Dame is the strong leader for Jones. Oregon and Miami will attempt to pull an upset down the stretch, but I would be surprised if the Irish staff didn't finish this one out.
Notre Dame has quietly been doing a tremendous job with Gayles over the last several months. As of today, I would predict the 5-11.5, 185-pound pass catcher to land elsewhere, but the Irish staff isn't going away. Freeman and Co. will have the final official visit on June 19-21, which will conclude less than a week before Gayles makes his college decision. Gayles is considered to be a top-50 overall player in the 2027 class, and Notre Dame is trying to pull an upset against the likes of Alabama and Tennessee .
McAfee has become a bit of a wildcard for the 2027 Notre Dame class, but I am watching him closely. I have the feeling that how strong the push for McAfee will be depends on where things are with Gayles. If they aren't confident in their standing, expect the Maryland native to become a larger priority. The Irish are battling against Ohio State , Virginia Tech , and Maryland for McAfee. The next few weeks will be vitally important in this recruitment.
With the Irish holding a commitment from tight end Titus Hawk , they would like to find a second tight end in the class, and ideally, they would be more of a flex option. There is no question that Howard is their top option right now, and it isn't particularly close. As of today, Notre Dame is fighting it out with Tennessee for the 6-3.5, 231-pound pass catcher. It is my opinion that the Volunteers do hold a slight lead going into official visitor season. Freeman and Co. are capable of closing the gap and vaulting up the leader board, assuming they get him back to South Bend.
Notre Dame is on the cusp of solidifying an elite 2027 offensive line class. Five-star offensive tackle Oluwasemilore Olubobola was a massive get for the Fighting Irish. Combining him with James Halter , Richie Flanigan , and Jackson Hill is an incredible baseline for a tremendous 2027 group. After missing out on Layton von Brandt , who committed to Auburn after an odd ending to his recruitment, all eyes are set on Simien. Despite the 5-star being from Louisiana , I think he ends up with either the Fighting Irish or Texas A&M . Official visits will be important.
