There is a 2027 Notre Dame recruiting target to keep a close eye on. The Fighting Irish are now locked in a Midwestern battle for him.
Notre Dame football has made it a routine to put together elite defensive back classes under head coach Marcus Freeman . Even with Mike Mickens leaving for the NFL this offseason, new secondary coach Aaron Henry is looking to continue that recruiting momentum. The 2027 class is really good so far, holding commitments from Xavier Hasan , Ace Alston , John Gay III , and Zayden Gamble .
It does appear that the Fighting Irish aren't done quite yet and are pushing for 2027 Cincinnati (Ohio) Princeton cornerback Monsanna Torbert Jr. , who was previously committed to the Indiana Hoosiers. Torbert backed off that commitment this week, giving some of the top Midwestern powers a second chance to land the talented cover man. That includes Notre Dame.
Torbert isn't a stranger to the Fighting Irish, having already visited South Bend for an unofficial visit on April 8 of this offseason. He has quickly set up an official visit to return to Notre Dame. That return to campus will be on June 19-21.
Notre Dame isn't the only Midwestern power that is also set to push for Torbert. He will also be taking official visits to Ohio State and Michigan, as well. Based on a conversation I've had with an industry source, the Buckeyes are the team many have circled to become the team to beat.
If Notre Dame is able to land Torbert in the end, it would be a tremendous addition for an already stellar class. He's an extremely quick cover man with elite speed. Due to Torbert's size, the nickel position might be firmly in his future, but he could become an impact player working in the slot.
Torbert is considered to be a four-star player by each of the major recruiting platforms. On the 247 Sports Composite ranking, Torbert sits as the No. 139 overall player, the No. 16 cornerback, and the No. 6 player from the state of Ohio for the 2027 recruiting class right now.
There have been some impressive programs that have continued to push for Torbert, even after he committed to Indiana this past January. Some of the teams that have offered the Ohio native include the Fighting Irish, the Hoosiers, Ohio State, Alabama, Texas, Michigan, Oklahoma, Florida State, Missouri, Auburn, Iowa, Kentucky, Virginia Tech, Pitt, Maryland, Louisville, Wisconsin, Cincinnati, and Purdue, among several others.
As a junior in 2025, Torbert put together a tremendous season for Princeton. In ten games, the 5-10, 158-pound cover man managed to record 40 total tackles, three interceptions, and three more pass breakups. He is also a dual-threat quarterback who threw for 1,791 yards and 26 touchdowns, while also rushing for 450 yards and four more scores. Although he is small, Torbert is a tremendous overall athlete who can do a lot of things for a team.
