Notre Dame football is up to its old tricks as they try to pry an LSU Tiger legacy away from Baton Rouge
Notre Dame football is once again pushing for the son of a former NFL player. This recruitment could get very interesting.
Notre Dame has made a habit of pursuing the sons of former NFL players during Marcus Freeman’s tenure in South Bend. The Fighting Irish are continuing that trend with an offer to one of the more intriguing young athletes in the 2029 recruiting class.
On Thursday, Notre Dame extended a scholarship offer to 2029 Pearland (Texas) Shadow Creek athlete BJ LaFell, who announced the news on social media.
LaFell is the son of former LSU standout and NFL wide receiver Brandon LaFell. That connection makes this recruitment particularly interesting, especially considering the younger LaFell already has a relationship with the LSU program and has received an offer from his father’s alma mater.
Notre Dame is now another major program looking to get involved with a prospect who has plenty of football in his blood.
Notre Dame has an eye for NFL legacies
This isn’t the first time Freeman and his staff have pursued a player whose father made a name for himself in the NFL.
Notre Dame has increasingly targeted players with those family connections, adding several sons of former professional football players to its recruiting classes and roster.
The current Irish roster has featured players such as Jerome Bettis Jr., James Flanigan, Bryce Young, Devin Fitzgerald and Elijah Burress. Their fathers include some recognizable names to football fans, including Jerome Bettis, Jim Flanigan, Bryant Young, Larry Fitzgerald and Plaxico Burress.
There is an obvious attraction to recruiting players who grew up around the game. These prospects have had opportunities to learn from their fathers, understand the demands of playing at a high level, and develop an appreciation for what it takes to reach the NFL.
That doesn’t automatically make someone a great college football player, but the background can certainly be appealing.
Notre Dame has also pursued other prominent football legacies, including 2028 Shadow Creek wide receiver Jaylen Addai, the son of former LSU and Indianapolis Colts running back Joseph Addai.
Now, the Irish are looking to build a relationship with another talented Shadow Creek prospect who comes from an NFL family.
BJ LaFell has an impressive football background
LaFell is a 2029 athlete at Shadow Creek High School in Pearland, Texas. He has experience playing multiple positions, including quarterback, wide receiver, and safety.
Listed around 5-foot-11 and 155 pounds, LaFell is an intriguing athlete whose versatility gives college programs several different ways to evaluate his potential.
He made an immediate impact as a freshman during the 2025 season. According to MaxPreps, LaFell completed five of nine passing attempts for 72 yards, rushed 10 times for 151 yards and four touchdowns, and added four receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown.
That’s a productive introduction to varsity football for a young player who was already being asked to contribute in multiple ways.
LaFell has also been a standout multi-sport athlete, competing in basketball and track at Shadow Creek.
His recruitment has moved quickly. He has accumulated offers from a lengthy list of major programs, including Ohio State, Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, Oregon, LSU, Ole Miss, and Notre Dame.
Rivals has also identified him as a highly regarded prospect in the 2029 class, with his ranking placing him among the nation’s top athletes.
His father is an LSU football legend
The most recognizable part of LaFell’s recruiting background is undoubtedly his father.
Brandon LaFell was one of the most productive wide receivers in LSU history before going on to enjoy a nine-year NFL career.
He played for the Tigers from 2006 through 2009, establishing himself as one of the premier receivers in the SEC. During his time in Baton Rouge, LaFell helped LSU win the 2007 BCS National Championship.
His production at LSU remains impressive. He finished his college career with 175 receptions for 2,517 yards and 25 touchdowns. Those numbers rank him fourth in program history in receptions, sixth in receiving yards and second in receiving touchdowns.
LaFell was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft with the 78th overall pick.
He went on to play for the Panthers, New England Patriots, and Cincinnati Bengals, finishing his NFL career with 406 receptions, 5,398 receiving yards, and 31 touchdowns.
One of the highlights came during the 2014 season, when LaFell helped the New England Patriots win Super Bowl XLIX.
For BJ, having a father who experienced success at both the college and professional levels provides a unique perspective as he begins navigating his own recruitment. Yahoo Sports +1
The LSU connection is particularly meaningful to the younger LaFell.
When LSU offered him earlier in 2026, he discussed how special it was to be recruited by his father’s former program. He described LSU as feeling like home because of his family’s history with the school.
That relationship gives the Tigers a natural connection that other programs will have to work to establish.
LSU was also among the programs to recognize LaFell early in his recruitment, extending an offer in January. The fact that Notre Dame is now involved gives him another opportunity to consider a program with a strong history of developing NFL talent.
Notre Dame is building relationships for the future
There is still a long way to go before the 2029 recruiting class comes together, but LaFell is an interesting name for Notre Dame to get involved with this early.
The Irish have shown a willingness to recruit athletes with unique backgrounds, particularly those who grew up around high-level football. LaFell checks that box while also bringing legitimate multi-sport athleticism and early varsity production to the table.
His father’s LSU legacy will undoubtedly remain an important part of the conversation as his recruitment develops. The Tigers have an obvious advantage when it comes to family history, but Notre Dame has its own appeal as one of the country’s premier programs.
For Freeman and his staff, the goal right now is simple: establish a relationship, get LaFell to campus, and make sure the Irish remain a serious option as he works through his high school career.
Notre Dame has found success pursuing the sons of former NFL players. BJ LaFell is the latest opportunity to continue that trend.
