While things seem slow for Notre Dame football as we all await spring practice to finally get here, there is a lot of recruiting work going on behind the scenes right now. Head coach Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish are busy trying to put together another outstanding group in the 2027 recruiting class. They are off to a solid start, but there are a ton of very important targets that are out there right now.

At this point, most fans know who some of the bigger targets are on the table. Rivals national recruiting analyst Greg Smith went in-depth on a few key 2027 recruits that the Irish are in the lead for right now. Smith listed three players that the fanbase should keep a close eye on.

That includes Chicago (Ill.) Brother Rice defensive tackle Brayden Parks, a player who has been a key target for Notre Dame for quite some time now. Here is what Smith wrote about Parks’ recruitment right now.

4-star DL Brayden Parks

The Chicago (Ill.) Brother Rice four-star defensive lineman is well-aware of everything Notre Dame has to offer on and off the field. He’s got family ties to the program and has visited many times, more than any other contender on his list. Notre Dame is still in the driver’s seat in this recruitment as we head into spring practice visits and eventually official visits. 

Notre Dame is certainly on his list of schools to visit once spring practices open up. The only caveat to add is that the longer this one goes, the more coach Marcus Freeman and company should worry. 

Sticking in the trenches, Smith also highlighted Kindred (ND) High School star Luke Starcevic. While he is listed by the Rivals platform as a defensive lineman, Notre Dame is currently pursuing him on the offensive side of the football. Here is the latest on Starcevic, according to Smith.

4-star DL Luke Starcevic

The North Dakota native has had a relatively quiet recruitment for a four-star prospect. But some big-time schools have taken notice of his game. One of the more interesting situations that has emerged is Notre Dame’s interest in him. He’s ranked as a four-star defensive line prospect but the Irish see him as an offensive line prospect. Coach Joe Rudolph visited him in January which carried a lot of weight as he told Blue and Gold.

“He made a good impression on me, my family and all the coaches, doing his due diligence to get to know everything,” Starcevic said.

“He did a good job. Nobody else really sat down in-home and had a long talk with us and all that stuff. We definitely had coaches stop by the school, but I think Coach Rudolph did the best with everything he did.”

Starcevic plans to return to Notre Dame in the spring.

I will raise you two talented trench players, and raise you another. The final player that Smith wrote about was St. Joseph (Ill.) Ogden offensive tackle Cameron Wagner. He is a player who has been considered to be a top target for the Fighting Irish for some time now. Here is the latest on Wagner.

4-star OL Cameron Wagner

Wagner (6-6-, 305) is a well-traveled recruit who has seen all of his top schools multiple times. His recruitment was shaken up by all the coaching changes around the country. That shakeup allowed Auburn to rise quickly in his process. But the team that continues to be a mainstay in his recruitment is Notre Dame. The Irish coaches and commits have all made him feel like he’s already part of the class. He’s looking for a big picture fit with his college choice.

“The obvious answer to people I would say is just a coach relationship,” Wagner said. And for me what’s big is NFL development and being able to help me outside of football. 

“If I have a really good offensive line career in the NFL, I’m playing until I’m, what, 32 or 33? Then say I live to 100, I have like almost 70 years of life left.”

Wagner already has a return trip to South Bend scheduled for March 21.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish News

Notre Dame predicted to land five-star recruit, and arguably the top 2027 priority target for the Fighting Irish

Notre Dame is continuing to gain steam with one of the very best players in the 2027 recruiting class.

Ryan Roberts