Notre Dame football takes a massive step toward pulling an upset for a top recruit that every major program wants

Can Notre Dame pull a major upset in the 2027 recruiting class?

Ryan Roberts — National College Football Writer
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Wide receivers coach Mike Brown during a Notre Dame football practice at Irish Athletic Center on Friday, March 20, 2026, in South Bend.
Wide receivers coach Mike Brown during a Notre Dame football practice at Irish Athletic Center on Friday, March 20, 2026, in South Bend.

Notre Dame football recruiting is off to a strong start in the 2027 class, gaining commitments from star running backs Lathan Whisenton and Isaiah Rogers over the last week. Head coach Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish are expecting to hear some more good news over the next several while they continue to push for their top prospects on the board.

One top wide receiver target to know in the 2027 class is Argyle (Texas) High School star Julian Caldwell. After leaning toward Oregon early on, the Fighting Irish have been among a couple teams that have closed the gap. That is especially true after a recent visit to South Bend, where the Texas native left with an even higher opinion of Notre Dame.

Freeman took another good step with Caldwell this week, earning a spot in his top five schools list. The Fighting Irish were joined by Texas, Oregon, Texas Tech, and SMU. It is a strong group and there is a battle ahead for the Irish staff.

The longer this recruitment goes on, the more optimistic I get with Notre Dame’s chances. If wide receivers coach Mike Brown and the Irish are going to win out, the next several weeks are extremely important. The Ducks are still the slight favorite for the talented wide receiver, but Notre Dame is lurking and pushing hard.

Julian Caldwell’s recruiting background

Caldwell is considered to be a consensus four-star player by each of the major recruiting platforms. On the 247 Sports Composite ranking, Caldwell currently rates as the No. 89 overall player, the No. 15 wide receiver, and the No. 11 player from the state of Texas for the 2027 class. The Texas native is extremely high on Caldwell right now, sitting as the No. 81 player in the country. 

Like the rankings, Caldwell also boasts an extremely impressive offer list. Some of his other top offers include the Fighting Irish, Georgia, Ohio State, Texas, Oregon, Oklahoma, LSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Penn State, Florida, Miami, Florida State, USC, Auburn, Nebraska, Utah, Washington, Missouri, Kentucky, Kansas State, Arizona State, Colorado, SMU, BYU, Illinois, Baylor, Pitt, Syracuse, Oklahoma State, Arizona, Kansas, and Duke, among many others.

The 6-0, 185-pound wideout was tremendous for Argyle as a junior this past season. In 14 games, Caldwell managed to haul in 94 receptions for 1,737 yards and 20 touchdowns, averaging a stellar 18.5 yards per reception. His combination of quickness and explosiveness offers a ton of upside for a college offense.

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