2027 Master List

IrishInOntario

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Part of the issue with WR recruiting is that they took 5 WRs in the 2026 class, then added 2 more WRs with multiple years of eligibility remaining via the transfer portal. As a result, the ND WR room is quite crowded with underclassmen for the foreseeable future. Therefore, they're likely to only take 2-3 guys in this class, so they're pushing for the top end of the board, rather than volume.... Those same guys are being heavily pursued and highly paid by everyone else, so it's going to take a while for those top targets to trim their lists.

I'm confident that by the end of the cycle ND will end up getting at least 2 high end players at the position.
 

Jiggafini19Deux

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I just don’t get Oklahoma as a concept. It’s just such a bland football factory. What is unique about it?
Fracking earthquakes in the last 15 years? Honestly, I have no idea now that I think about it.

This is a great question. They are pretty "meh" at the moment and really just sort of floating in college football purgatory in a way.

They have a head coach going into Year Five. Are they still in a rebuild? They're in the SEC, but so what? Anything they've ever done was in The Big 8 or Big 12. I guess maybe they have NIL money to throw around maybe?
 

NDQuebec

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On the ISD podcast, Mike Frank showed a certain level of concern with WR recruiting for 2027. I agree with the poster above that stated that Mike Brown better improve his recruiting.
 

Dale

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What percent of the recruiting budget are we devoting to WRs?

We are not in a recruiting world anymore where Coach _____ just needs to text recruits more and do better. I find it impossible to criticize position coaches about recruiting anymore. It’s entirely missing the scope. There’s a reason DL recruiting has picked up, and it ain’t Washington transformed overnight last year or the Partridge hire.

We also have 7 WRs with 4 years of eligibility on the team.
 

NDFAN2008

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You only lose Faison after this year, Greathouse could be back but I bet he finds somewhere else to play his 5th year. I'm guessing if Williams or Gilbert don't play much this year they might bounce as well. You still got the two Ohio State transfers, Burress, Saldate, Finley, Fitz, and the rest of the Freshman. Remember when we had like 5 WR's on scholarship that were healthy to play?
 

zelezo vlk

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You only lose Faison after this year, Greathouse could be back but I bet he finds somewhere else to play his 5th year. I'm guessing if Williams or Gilbert don't play much this year they might bounce as well. You still got the two Ohio State transfers, Burress, Saldate, Finley, Fitz, and the rest of the Freshman. Remember when we had like 5 WR's on scholarship that were healthy to play?
Yes I remember the Fiesta Bowl vs Okie State
 

Jiggafini19Deux

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What percent of the recruiting budget are we devoting to WRs?

We are not in a recruiting world anymore where Coach _____ just needs to text recruits more and do better. I find it impossible to criticize position coaches about recruiting anymore. It’s entirely missing the scope. There’s a reason DL recruiting has picked up, and it ain’t Washington transformed overnight last year or the Partridge hire.

We also have 7 WRs with 4 years of eligibility on the team.
Great point.

I think one could argue that WR isn't even a top five position in the NFL any longer in terms of importance. QB, Edge, Left Tackle, Corner and DT are where positional value trends are at right now. NFL WR salaries also skyrocketed in recent years.
 

zelezo vlk

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Great point.

I think one could argue that WR isn't even a top five position in the NFL any longer in terms of importance. QB, Edge, Left Tackle, Corner and DT are where positional value trends are at right now. NFL WR salaries also skyrocketed in recent years.
I understand where you're coming from, but the NFL says otherwise in terms of contracts. There are 2 corners in 2025 that made 30MM, Sauce Gardner and Derek Stingley. There were 8 NFL receivers making 30MM+ in 2025. The drop off from 30MM to 25MM for corners adds only 1 more guy but dropping to 24MM gives you 5 total CBs. Conversely there are 17 WRs making 24MM or more.
 

IrishInOntario

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On the ISD podcast, Mike Frank showed a certain level of concern with WR recruiting for 2027. I agree with the poster above that stated that Mike Brown better improve his recruiting.
Mike Frank was concerned about something...? Not Mike...

Mike Frank could win $100 million usd in a lottery and he'd immediately be concerned that he didn't win $105 million. He lives his life in a perpetual state of anxiety lol.
 
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NDQuebec

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Mike Frank was concerned about something...? Not Mike...

Mike Frank could win $100 million usd in a lottery and he'd immediately be concerned that he didn't win $105 million. He lives his life in perpetual state of anxiety lol.
Hey Ontario, don't snow on my Quebec parade. Mike Frank has the same initials as Marcus Freeman. Both are great ND men. Now that that's out of the way, the WR board keeps changing, and not for the better. Monshun Sales has sailed away, and others at the top of the board are fading away. As of today, WR recruiting is meh, eh?
 

IrishInOntario

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Hey Ontario, don't snow on my Quebec parade. Mike Frank has the same initials as Marcus Freeman. Both are great ND men. Now that that's out of the way, the WR board keeps changing, and not for the better. Monshun Sales has sailed away, and others at the top of the board are fading away. As of today, WR recruiting is meh, eh?
Monshun Sales never had ND at the top of his board. Many thought that because he lives in Indiana that ND would have the inside track, but Sales never confirmed that. Most in the "know" have always thought he was most likely to go elsewhere, similar to Jamier Brown.

In terms of a realistic targets, the top of ND's board is Julius Jones Jr, Easton Royal, Osani Gayles and Xavier Sabb... The next tier is the likes of Julian Caldwell, Cade Cooper, Trenton Yancey, Tyler Fryerman, etc.

I think you'll see ND grab a couple guys off those lists. By the end of the spring the board will take better shape and 2-3 other names might appear as options as well.
 
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NDMatt91

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Monshun Sales never had ND at the top of his board. Many thought that because he lives in Indiana that ND would have the inside track, but Sales never confirmed that. Most in the "know" have always thought he was most likely to go elsewhere, similar to Jamier Brown.

In terms of a realistic targets, the top of ND's board is Julius Jones Jr, Easton Royal, Osani Gayles and Xavier Sabb... The next tier is the likes of Julian Caldwell, Cade Cooper, Trenton Yancey, Cade Cooper, Tyler Fryerman, etc.

I think you'll see ND grab a couple guys off those lists. By the end of the spring the board will take better shape and 2-3 other names might appear as options as well.
What about Burrell from Chicago?
 

IrishInOntario

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What about Burrell from Chicago?
Burrell is in the "next" tier as well. He's not a top of the board guy for ND at this stage of the recruiting cycle, but he's a guy that they will continue to stay in contact with. Quite a few of the regional and national powers have backed off on him. Solid prospect, but nothing earth shattering. IMO, a touch overrated like many of the WRs to come out of Chicago (and surrounding area) over the last decade whose names have been connected to Notre Dame during their respective recruiting cycles.
 

Jiggafini19Deux

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I understand where you're coming from, but the NFL says otherwise in terms of contracts. There are 2 corners in 2025 that made 30MM, Sauce Gardner and Derek Stingley. There were 8 NFL receivers making 30MM+ in 2025. The drop off from 30MM to 25MM for corners adds only 1 more guy but dropping to 24MM gives you 5 total CBs. Conversely there are 17 WRs making 24MM or more.
More than fair points. I think over the course of the next few years this will start to catch up, perhaps?

I do think, and the point was made earlier by Ontario, they have WR on the roster that probably puts them in a position this cycle where they are not going to be in a sense of urgency and can be selective at the position this time around. I also question why Seneca Driver verbally committing to OU in March suddenly puts Mike Brown on some kind of hot seat to recruit better for his job.

To Dale's point, recruiting has changed. New era, new parameters.
 

zelezo vlk

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More than fair points. I think over the course of the next few years this will start to catch up, perhaps?

I do think, and the point was made earlier by Ontario, they have WR on the roster that probably puts them in a position this cycle where they are not going to be in a sense of urgency and can be selective at the position this time around. I also question why Seneca Driver verbally committing to OU in March suddenly puts Mike Brown on some kind of hot seat to recruit better for his job.

To Dale's point, recruiting has changed. New era, new parameters.
I don't expect CBs to catch up, but mainly because I read it from Offense > Defense in terms of importance for NFL team building, but elite CB contracts will always be near the top of the WR market. The pay discrepancy might also be caused by the volatility of CB play year to year.

100% correct about new era, new parameters.
 

Jiggafini19Deux

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I don't expect CBs to catch up, but mainly because I read it from Offense > Defense in terms of importance for NFL team building, but elite CB contracts will always be near the top of the WR market. The pay discrepancy might also be caused by the volatility of CB play year to year.

100% correct about new era, new parameters.
Agreed.

Getting back to Mike Brown, I think we are also seeing in this era that a lot of admin staff are handling good portions of recruiting. Jevaughn Codlin, for example.
 

NDQuebec

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Agreed.

Getting back to Mike Brown, I think we are also seeing in this era that a lot of admin staff are handling good portions of recruiting. Jevaughn Codlin, for example.
That's good to hear. The question regarding Mike Brown is: How do elite WR prospects view him and do they want to play for him? Last year, he recruited the 22nd, 42nd and 45fth WR in the class. Not bad but not exactly elite.
 

Jiggafini19Deux

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That's good to hear. The question regarding Mike Brown is: How do elite WR prospects view him and do they want to play for him? Last year, he recruited the 22nd, 42nd and 45fth WR in the class. Not bad but not exactly elite.
They might view him fine and may want to play for him. They may also want certain things the program is not willing to offer, so they go elsewhere to programs that not only offer those things but will provide them.
 

IrishInOntario

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Just for the fun of it, ahead of spring I wanted to make a "best guess" at the eventual 2027 ND recruiting class. Obviously, I'm not expecting to get this perfect given the dynamic and ever-changing nature of recruiting at this time of year, but here goes!

QB: Jake Nawrot or Kamden Lopati
RB: David Segarra
RB: Lathan Whisenton or Isaiah Rogers
WR: Julius Jones Jr
WR: Xavier Sabb
WR: Cade Cooper
TE: Jaxon Dollar
OL: James Halter
OL: Layton Von Brandt
OL: Cameron Wagner
OL: Luke Starcevic
OL/DL: Richie Flanigan
DE: Abraham Sesay
DE: Mekai Brown
DE: Aidan O'Neil or Ifeanyi Emedobi
DT: Brayden Parks
DT: David Folorunsho
LB: Amarri Irvin
LB: Kaden Henderson
CB: Xavier Hasan
CB: Ace Alston
CB/S: Tavares Harrington or Jailen Hill
S: Gavin Williams
S: Khalil Terry
LS: Sean Kraft

At least from 247's "Class Calculator" perspective, that would be the highest rated class of either Kelly's or Freeman's tenures.
 
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allenm5333

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Just for the fun of it, ahead of spring I wanted to make a "best guess" at the eventual 2027 ND recruiting class. Obviously, I'm not expecting to get this perfect given the dynamic and ever-changing nature of recruiting at this time of year, but here goes!

QB: Jake Nawrot or Kamden Lopati
RB: David Segarra
RB: Lathan Whisenton
WR: Julius Jones Jr
WR: Xavier Sabb
WR: Cade Cooper
TE: Jaxon Dollar
OL: James Halter
OL: Layton Von Brandt
OL: Cameron Wagner
OL: Luke Starcevic
OL/DL: Richie Flanigan
DE: Abraham Sesay
DE: Mekai Brown
DE: Aidan O'Neil or Ifeanyi Emedobi
DT: Brayden Parks
DT: David Folorunsho
LB: Amarri Irvin
LB: Kaden Henderson
CB: Xavier Hasan
CB: Ace Alston
CB/S: Tavares Harrington or Jailen Hill
S: Gavin Williams
S: Khalil Terry
LS: Sean Kraft

At least from 247's "Class Calculator" perspective, that would be the highest rated class of either Kelly's or Freeman's tenures.
Agree with a lot of this. Not sure we land sabb or henderson. I think we land the cali dt
 

IrishInOntario

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Agree with a lot of this. Not sure we land sabb or henderson. I think we land the cali dt
If they take Toilolo it better be as the 3rd DT in the class. That's an acceptable take, IMO. It's not if he's one of the two they take... Unless you're referring to Marcus Fakatou? He's an obvious take and if ND can somehow land Folorunsho, Fakatou and Parks in the same class that would be DL haul I can ever remember them having. Ultimately, I think they get two of the three.

Sabb and Henderson are among my realistic reaches and I would agree that ND's chances with them are much lower than they are with some other players on the list.

If you miss on Henderson, however, you better hit on one of... Joakim Gouda, Toa Satele, Roman Igwebuike or Brayton Feister as a backup option. Guys like Noah Glover and Mekahi Allen are not sufficient replacements to be #1 LBs in a class of this quality, IMO. Especially in a two man class.

Similarly with Sabb, if you miss the replacement has to be adequate. I'm talking Easton Royal, Osani Gayles, Julian Caldwell, or at worst, Khalil Taylor. The likes of Quenten Burrell or Tyler Fryman aren't going to cut it in what projects to be a three man class.
 

allenm5333

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If they take Toilolo it better be as the 3rd DT in the class. That's an acceptable take, IMO. It's not if he's one of the two they take... Unless you're referring to Marcus Fakatou? He's an obvious take and if ND can somehow land Folorunsho, Fakatou and Parks in the same class that would be DL haul I can ever remember them having. Ultimately, I think they get two of the three.

Sabb and Henderson are among my realistic reaches and I would agree that ND's chances with them are much lower than they are with some other players on the list.

If you miss on Henderson, however, you better hit on one of... Joakim Gouda, Toa Satele, Roman Igwebuike or Brayton Feister as a backup option. Guys like Noah Glover and Mekahi Allen are not sufficient replacements to be #1 LBs in a class of this quality, IMO. Especially in a two man class.

Similarly with Sabb, if you miss the replacement has to be adequate. I'm talking Easton Royal, Osani Gayles, Julian Caldwell, or at worst, Khalil Taylor. The likes of Quenten Burrell or Tyler Fryman aren't going to cut it in what projects to be a three man class.
You know ball. I was referring to Fakatou. Sabb I feel we have a shot at and like our chances more if we get Jones. I am higher on Cooper than most. Couldnt find film on Gayles but him. Royals you find one booster with a blank check. Burrell is someone i am not a huge fan of.

Noah Roberts seems like another player we are working on. Realistic reach. Definitely need to see an improvement on lb recruiting. I am betting on Davis panning out and like Irvin. The kid who decommitted wasnt a huge loss imo.

Qb is interesting. I think Monds is the best but probably not likely.
 
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