Notre Dame football trying to steal away a talented recruit who is currently committed to an SEC power
Notre Dame football now has their eyes on a current SEC commit.
Notre Dame football is still at the beginning of a very important offseason. As is typically the case across college football, change is inevitable in this NIL and transfer portal world. That includes on the coaching staff, where head coach Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish had to replace three different positions coaches on the defensive side of the football.
Former Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry takes over the secondary from the departed Mike Mickens, who left for the Baltimore Ravens this offseason. Following a coach like Mickens won’t be easy, but Henry has developed a strong reputation as a defensive back coach and developer over the years. It appears Henry is also trying to establish his identity on the recruiting trail recently, adding several talented targets to the board.
On Wednesday, the Irish expected an offer to 2027 Manvel (Texas) High School cornerback Karnell James Jr., one of the more intriguing defensive backs in the country. That isn’t just because James has some interesting physical gifts, but because he is currently committed to head coach Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns. Going down into SEC country for an in-state kid like James would be quite the statement, if Henry were able to make it happen.
At this point, who knows if there will be substantial movement with James. The first key is going to be to try and get him on campus. If he does make the trip to South Bend this offseason, then we can start having a deeper conversation about this potential fit.
James’ recruiting background
From a recruiting rankings perspective, James isn’t going to blow anyone away. He is currently considered to be a three-star player by each of the major recruiting platforms. On the 247 Sports Composite ranking, James is currently pegged as the No. 628 overall player, the No. 60 cornerback, and the No. 82 overall player from the state of Texas for the 2027 recruiting class. When you consider his offer list and overall talent, the ranking for James does leave some pretty puzzled.
James has seen his offer list continue to expand this offer list, even after committed to the Longhorns on December 3 of last year. Some of his top offers included the Fighting Irish, Texas, Florida, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Utah, Vanderbilt, Kenucky, Minnesota, Missouri, TCU, Arizona State, Iowa, Oklahoma State, Houston, Baylor, Cal, SMU, Wisconson, Oregon State, and Washington State, among others.
As a junior, James put together a tremendous season for Manvel. In 12 games, the 6-0, 170-pound cover man managed to collect 53 total tackles, two interceptions, and six pass breakups. James also recovered a fumble, while also returning two punts for touchdowns. This is a fast and fluid athlete who possesses a ton of upside.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish News
Notre Dame football has a critical chance on the horizon at a priority target from a very important recruiting area
An important recruiting visit is on the horizon for Notre Dame football.
