Notre Dame football is already making an early push for the next elite running back recruit that every program wants
Notre Dame football already has their eyes set on an elite running back recruit of the future.
Even with star running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price off to the NFL this offseason, the position is in great hands for Notre Dame football heading into the future. Running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider has a deep and talented room even without those two, including the likes of Aneyas Williams, Kedren Young, Nolan James Jr., Javian Osborne, and Jonaz Walton. That is an embarrassment of riches for any position group.
While Seider, head coach Marcus Freeman, and the Fighting Irish staff are eyeing several talented running backs in the 2027 recruiting class, Notre Dame also has its eyes set on several big-time future targets. The Irish program doesn’t typically offer high school freshmen, but they did just that this week with star 2029 Victorville (Calif.) Victor Valley running back Makai Buchanan. Early indication is that Buchanan will end up being an elite player in the 2029 class.
With three years until the California standout signs with a college program, who knows just what Buchanan will become. If the freshman film is any indicator, Buchanan has all the upside in the world to become a five-star player down the road. His combination of explosiveness, speed, and playmaking potential is quite a sight to see, especially for his age.
It is a good strategy for Notre Dame to get in early with Buchanan. Decisions won’t be made until way into the future, but he’s the type of talent that will have a huge demand for his services. The Irish staff won’t want to be late to the table for a player like Buchanan. This gives them a solid early start to this recruitment.
Makai Buchanan’s recruiting background
Considering that Buchanan just finished up his freshman year at Victor Valley, he isn’t going to be ranked for a while. Judging by his offer list, which is north of 30 schools already, those rankings will be very high. Some of his top early offers include the Fighting Irish, Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Penn State, Texas A&M, USC, SMU, Louisville, Arizona State, Arizona, Arkansas, Syracuse, Oregon State, UCLA, UNC, Colorado, Cal, and Purdue, among several others.
As a freshman in 2025, Buchanan showcased his big-play ability despite sharing the backfield with a couple of other talented players. In 11 games, the 5-11, 180-pound athlete managed to rush for 698 yards and eight touchdowns on just 95 carries, an average of 7.3 yards per carry. Buchanan also hauled in 15 receptions for 232 yards and another score through the air.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish News
Notre Dame football extends a fascinating offer to a five-star playmaker who is currently committed elsewhere
Notre Dame could be making a push for arguably the top player in the 2027 recruiting class.
