Former Notre Dame recruiting target is now back on the market following the Penn State Nittany Lions firing HC James Franklin
A former Notre Dame recruiting target just found himself back on the market after a decommitment from Penn State.
One of the more interesting recruitments for Notre Dame in the 2026 class was Roanoke (Va.) North Cross School star cornerback Jaziel Hart. The Fighting Irish had seemingly put themselves in a strong position with Hart leading up to his decision back in May, but the Penn State Nittany Lions were the pick at that time.
With the recent news of head coach James Franklin being fired by Penn State, Hart opted to make the decision to reopen his recruitment. That puts a very talented cover man back on the market. Naturally, some parts of the Notre Dame fan base will wonder if this means that head coach Marcus Freeman and his staff will make another run at the Virginia native.
The easy answer to that question is no. While Notre Dame had put itself in a strong position once upon a time, the Irish staff also chose to cool on Hart with bigger targets still remaining on the board. With the program now holding commitments from defensive backs Khary Adams, Chaston Smith, Ayden Pouncey, Joey O’Brien, and Nick Reddish, the secondary class is set, and it is an elite one.
Two things can be true when discussing Hart. Yes, he is a very talented cornerback, but no, he isn’t as good as the class Notre Dame has put together. The Virginia defender has a chance to be a really good player on the college level. It just won’t be with the Fighting Irish.
Jaziel Hart recruiting background
Hart is considered a three-star recruit by almost every major recruiting platform, the exception being for Rivals. The Virginia native currently sits as a three-star, the No. 557 overall player, the No. 43 cornerback, and the No. 16 player in the state of Virginia in the 2026 recruiting class according to the 247 Sports Composite ranking. Hart is rated as high as the No. 34 cornerback in the class on that aforementioned Rivals ranking.
Despite those lower ratings, a long list of impressive programs had continued to pursue Hart. Some of his top offers include the Fighting Irish, Michigan, Tennessee, Penn State, South Carolina, Missouri, West Virginia, Louisville, Indiana, UNC, NC State, Maryland, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Cincinnati, Duke, and Stanford among others.
As a junior in 2024, Hart put together a strong season for North Cross School. In 10 games, he managed to collect 23 total tackles and four interceptions. The 5-11, 170-pound athlete also managed to haul in 24 receptions for 521 yards and six touchdowns on the offensive side of the football as well. North Cross School is off to a 6-1 start in 2025 so far, and Hart is a big reason why.
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