Notre Dame football is set for its second straight massive official visit weekend. Several key targets in the 2027 recruiting class are set to make the trip to South Bend. Head coach Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish will need to impress. 

Perhaps the most important visitor is elite Tampa Bay (Fla.) Jesuit linebacker Kaden Henderson, who has long been a priority for the Irish staff. There has been a ton of buzz around the Henderson recruitment recently. The majority of it has been very positive for Notre Dame’s chances. 

Here is the latest on Henderson heading into a pivotal official visit to South Bend. There’s a lot on the line this weekend. 

The latest on Notre Dame’s push for Kaden Henderson 

Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that Notre Dame has been surging for Henderson over the last week or so. This was a three-horse race not too long ago between the Fighting Irish, Texas A&M, and Miami. The Hurricanes opted to remove themselves recently, understanding that they were running a distant third. 

That leaves a battle between Notre Dame and the Aggies, and there are folks around South Bend who are very positive about its chances. A part of that comes down to the timing of this official visit. There is some belief that if the weekend goes well, the Irish can finish this one off with an exclamation point. 

With how well Texas A&M is recruiting under head coach Mike Elko, and all that they can offer a player like Henderson, Notre Dame isn’t out of the woods yet. They will need to keep this momentum heading toward his decision date. While it’s scheduled for July 1st, there is a chance that Henderson also decides to pull the trigger before that. 

Long-time Notre Dame linebacker commit Amarri Irvin recently left the class after taking a couple of official visits. He has since landed with the Virginia Tech Hokies. Linebacker coach Brian Jean-Mary is now trying to make an elite answer for linebacker recruiting, and the formula would ideally include Henderson and Chicago native Roman Igwebuike. 

Kaden Henderson’s recruiting background 

Henderson is currently considered a four-star player by each of the major recruiting platforms. On the 247 Sports Composite ranking, Henderson is rated as a five-star, the No. 22 overall player, the No. 1 linebacker, and the No. 3 player from the state of Florida for the 2027 recruiting class right now. He has been one of the biggest risers in the class over the offseason. 

While his recruiting rankings are elite, Henderson’s offer list might be even better. With over 40 offers, Henderson has a long list of impressive options. Some of his top offers include the Fighting Irish, Ohio State, Alabama, Oregon, Michigan, Texas, Oklahoma, LSU, Tennessee, Florida, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, USC, Clemson, Miami, Auburn, Florida State, Missouri, South Carolina, Nebraska, Vanderbilt, West Virginia, SMU, Wisconsin, Pitt, Louisville, Georgia Tech, Minnesota, Baylor, UNC, Syracuse, UCF, Duke, and Kansas, among others. 

Despite missing some time as a junior, Henderson was able to make his impact known on the Jesuit defense. In 10 games, the 6-1.5, 218-pound defender managed to collect 49 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and nine sacks. Henderson added another 20 quarterback hurries, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and a blocked punt.