Notre Dame landed Florida defensive back John Gay this week. Who are the next top 2027 targets that the Irish could land?
Notre Dame football added an intriguing 2027 recruit on Wednesday when they landed Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna defensive back John Gay III . The fast-rising defender opted for head coach Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish over Florida and Ole Miss, among others, with a ton of credit that should also be given to assistant coach Shaun Shivers and their past relationship.
Now that Gay is committed, there is expected to be a bit of a recruiting avalanche on the horizon. To have a little bit of fun, like usual, let’s project the next five commitments for the Irish in the 2027 recruiting class. If I am right, it promises to be an extremely impressive next few weeks.
Here are some top 2027 targets to keep a close eye on.
QB Wonderful “Champ” Monds – Vero Beach (Fla.) High School
Let’s not mince words here. Notre Dame is now the team to beat for Monds, and if he makes a decision anytime soon, it will be for the Irish. The 6-2, 225-pound pocket passer is one of the most talented signal callers in the entire 2027 class. Originally a member of the 2028 class before reclassifying, it is highly likely that Monds’ rankings trend upward down the stretch. Monds would be a tremendous grab for the Irish offensive staff.
S Zayden Gamble – Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas
Notre Dame is battling Ohio State for Gamble, one of the more talented safeties in the 2026 class. Based on conversations that I have had recently, I do believe that the Irish are in the top spot for the four-star defender. While Gamble likes the Buckeyes, the Notre Dame staff has been able to make a very direct pitch. There is no questioning that he is a priority player for the folks in South Bend.
WR Julius Jones Jr. – Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas
The Irish legacy is teammates with Gamble, and that relationship absolutely matters. Jones is a dynamic athlete with impressive speed and quickness. With his relationships with the Notre Dame staff and his raw talent, this is very much a “can’t miss prospect”. Notre Dame is battling Oregon, and I like where the Irish stand right now, going down the stretch.
OT Cameron Wagner – St. Joseph (Ill.) Ogden
As I have said in the past, it is a matter of when, not if, when it comes to Wagner. The 6-6, 300-pound offensive tackle has a great relationship with Notre Dame, and they are absolutely his leader right now. It would be a massive upset to see any team somehow beat the Irish for the talented offensive lineman.
DT Brayden Parks – Oak Lawn (Ill.) Brother Rice
Of all the interior defensive linemen on the board, Notre Dame has the best chance with Parks right now. The 6-3, 305-pound defensive tackle has been a priority for the staff since the beginning, and Parks knows that. While he will have to beat out the likes of Oregon to land the Chicagoland native, I like Notre Dame’s chances. It’s closing time.
