Notre Dame football recruiting at the tight end position has long been a program hallmark, and the 2028 class represents a critical opportunity for head coach Marcus Freeman and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock to restock the pipeline.

The Fighting Irish have recruited and developed tight ends about as well as anyone in college football, fueling the program’s argument as “Tight End U” by consistently putting top talent into the NFL. That tradition now meets urgency after the 2027 recruiting class did not end quite like the staff envisioned at the position.

Notre Dame landed Titus Hawk in the 2027 group but missed out on several top tight end targets. The staff even considered taking a second tight end at one point, but the board did not fall in their favor. That makes the 2028 class extremely important for Notre Dame to solidify at least two talented tight ends.

So far, the early returns are promising. The Irish appear to be in a great spot with several top talents at the position.

Here are the top tight end names to know, where things stand, and why it matters for Notre Dame to have a successful 2028 tight end recruiting cycle.

Grant Bowen – Elmhurst (Ill.) Immaculate Conception

Perhaps my favorite overall player on this board for Notre Dame is Elmhurst (Ill.) Immaculate Conception athlete Grant Bowen. The 6-4, 220-pound athlete has the ability to play linebacker, defensive end, or tight end at the college level. Notre Dame sees him on the offensive side of the football.

Bowen’s father, Matt Bowen, was a former Iowa Hawkeye and NFL player, so the Iowa program will be in this conversation alongside a flurry of top programs across the country. Notre Dame has positioned itself in a good spot early, though. If they push the right buttons, they should have a chance to land Bowen in the end. Only time will tell how successful the recruitment will be.

Jack McNamara – Oak Lawn (Ill.) Brother Rice

Sticking in the state of Illinois, there is another talented tight end worth knowing in Jack McNamara out of Oak Lawn (Ill.) Brother Rice. The 6-5, 235-pound tight end is more of a traditional inline option, and Notre Dame has positioned itself in a great spot with McNamara early.

To build a diverse room, I imagine Notre Dame will want a true inline tight end and a flex option who can work detached from the line of scrimmage and in the slot at times. McNamara fits the former. More than 30 teams have already offered the talented tight end, but I like Notre Dame’s chances as things stand early.

Theo Schott – Zionsville (Ind.) High School

Heading into the state of Indiana, Notre Dame is also recruiting Theo Schott out of Zionsville (Ind.) High School. The 6-4, 210-pounder might sound familiar because his older brother, Brock, went through the recruiting process a couple of years ago. Notre Dame recruited him for a stretch but never officially offered.

Schott is a talented movement-based tight end, and the Irish have done a good job with him early on. He deserves to be kept a close eye on.

Tre Oiler – Hartland (Wisc.) Arrowhead

One of the more interesting overall players on the board is Tre Oiler out of Hartland (Wis.) Arrowhead. The 6-6, 220-pound athlete camped at Notre Dame earlier this offseason and impressed with his combination of length and athleticism. This looks to be one of the higher priorities on the board for Notre Dame, so it will be worth watching how the staff manages the position considering they are in a good spot with several talented players.

JC Wessel – Jacksonville (Fla.) Bolles School

JC Wessel is out of Jacksonville (Fla.) Bolles School. Notre Dame is pursuing several Bolles School players this recruiting cycle, and Wessel is an intriguing one at 6-6, 225 pounds. The Irish are keeping consistent communication with him and pushing the right buttons, but I wouldn’t say they are as high on his board as they are with some of the others so far.

Braxton Rein, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Baylor School

The last remaining offered tight end on the board is Braxton Rein out of Chattanooga (Tenn.) Baylor School. I’m uncertain where things stand with Rein right now, but he is yet another talented tight end on the board for Notre Dame.

The Fighting Irish have the pieces in front of them to put together a strong 2028 tight end haul. With Freeman and Denbrock prioritizing the position and early momentum building with multiple targets, Notre Dame has a real chance to address the 2027 shortcomings and continue the program’s proud tradition at tight end.