Notre Dame could soon be coming after a key Ohio State football commitment that they picked up this summer
It’s been an interesting summer for the Ohio State Buckeyes on the recruiting trail. A few clues show that another major college football program, Notre Dame, could soon be after one of the Buckeyes’ summer additions.
The Ohio State Buckeyes 2027 recruiting class has added two cornerback commitments this summer, but the Buckeyes may need to fend off Notre Dame for one of them.
Jayden Carey, a 3-star cornerback from St. Thomas Aquinas in Florida, committed to Ohio State on June 17, and there’s a clear path for the Fighting Irish to enter the picture for the talented defensive back.
Ohio State’s cornerback haul started with Deontay Malone out of Massillon, Ohio, before the Buckeyes followed up with Carey’s commitment just days later. Adding Carey was significant because it reopened the St. Thomas Aquinas pipeline the Buckeyes have maintained for years, dating back to the Bosa brothers spending time in Columbus.
Notre Dame connection worth monitoring
Notre Dame cornerback commitment Zayden Gamble posted on social media over the weekend that he believes the Fighting Irish need one more defensive back in the class of 2027 and that he has a player in mind. A to Z Sports’ Ryan Roberts pointed out that Gamble’s target could be Carey, who plays on the same high school team as Gamble at St. Thomas Aquinas.
“The first name worth watching is Jaden Carey, a cornerback at the same high school as Gamble,” Roberts wrote. “Carey committed to Ohio State this offseason but does hold an offer from the Fighting Irish. There was never much chatter connecting Notre Dame and Carey earlier in the process, but with the additions of Gamble and wide receiver Julius Jones Jr. to the 2027 class, the St. Thomas Aquinas pipeline could be growing.”
The connection makes a lot of sense for Notre Dame if the program wants to pursue another cornerback. Carey holds an offer from the Fighting Irish, and he brings inside-outside flexibility that coaches value at the position. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound cornerback is ranked the 577th player and No. 60 cornerback in the 2027 class per the 247Sports composite rankings.
Why holding onto Carey matters for Ohio State
Keeping Carey’s commitment is important for the Buckeyes. Ohio State hoped to land three cornerback commitments this summer, but that plan took a hit when 4-star cornerback Monsanna Torbert Jr. committed to Michigan over Ohio State. Losing Torbert stung because he’s an in-state prospect. Torbert was previously committed to Indiana, and Ohio State was heavily involved when his recruitment reopened, but Michigan landed the talented defensive back.
With that loss already on the board, the Buckeyes have real reason to protect Carey’s commitment. Carey fills a real need, and his ties to the St. Thomas Aquinas pipeline give Ohio State a recruiting foothold in one of the most talent-rich high school programs in the country.
No recruitment is finalized until the ink dries on signing day, and Carey will be a player to watch from South Florida over the coming months. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Notre Dame turns up the pressure in its pursuit of Carey. At this point, there is no intel suggesting the Fighting Irish are actively pursuing the Ohio State cornerback commitment, but it’s certainly a situation to monitor as the 2027 cycle moves forward.