Notre Dame football is set to return this week with fall camp kicking off, and the 2026 college football season will soon dominate the conversation among Fighting Irish fans.

There is still plenty to discuss in the recruiting world during this slight break in the action. Notre Dame has mostly concluded the 2027 class as the staff continues to eye a potential linebacker and a couple other options to fill out the group. Head coach Marcus Freeman and his staff have also turned their attention to the 2028 recruiting class, which has a chance to be another elite group.

The Fighting Irish received huge news recently when they earned a commitment from 2028 Bolingbrook (Ill.) High School EDGE Darieon Prescott. Prescott is rated on the 247 Sports Composite ranking as a five-star player, the No. 17 overall player, the No. 4 edge, and the No. 1 player from the state of Illinois for the 2028 class. He is the first five-star addition to the 2028 group, continuing what became a more regular occurrence in the 2027 cycle.

For a long time, Notre Dame fans wondered how the program would bridge the gap and sign more five-star-level talents. Freeman and his staff knocked that door down in the 2027 class, and the early conversation around 2028 should center on which potential five-star players the Irish could eventually land.

Here are some early favorites where Notre Dame is in a good spot early in the process, players who are bordering on or have already secured five-star status.

WR Jaylen Addai – Pearland (Texas) Shadow Creek

Ranked No. 7 on the 247 Sports Composite, Addai is the son of former LSU and Indianapolis Colts first-round running back Joseph Addai, which means the Tigers will be a tough team to beat. Despite that, Notre Dame has made a huge impact early. The 5-11, 165-pound pass catcher is a dynamic player after the catch and an incredible overall athlete. Notre Dame has done a good job attracting the sons of former NFL players and has bet on genetics and traits routinely in the past. Addai is a bet on upside and also one of the higher-floor wide receivers in the 2028 class. The Irish are in a pretty good spot early, but they need to be ready for a massive battle for an elite playmaker.

CB Keaton Fields – Chandler (Ariz.) Hamilton

Ranked No. 15 on the 247 Sports Composite, Fields’ profile and physical stature remind me a lot of current Notre Dame All-American cornerback Leonard Moore. At 6-3 and 185 pounds, Fields is incredibly quick and loose for a bigger corner, with the ability to drop his level and change direction in a blink. He has ball skills, length, and reactionary quickness that all mirror Moore. Notre Dame has done a good job early in this recruitment, but they need to be ready for a fight against other elite programs. Having a player like Moore as a recruiting pitch in the back pocket is potentially huge for the Notre Dame program.

S James Foster III – Lancaster (Texas) High School

Ranked No. 20 on the 247 Sports Composite, Foster is a big priority for the Irish in the 2028 class. Notre Dame has done a good job early, but getting him out of the state of Texas will be difficult. The Longhorns will be hard to beat. The 6-1, 195-pound safety is someone the staff has made well aware is a huge priority. Notre Dame could have a puncher’s chance, although a lot will need to go right for them to win out.

LB Tahj Gray – Montvale (NJ) St. Joseph Regional

Ranked No. 24 on the 247 Sports Composite, the 6-3.5, 233-pound linebacker is close personal friends with 2027 Notre Dame defensive end commit Jackson Vaughn. Gray is a versatile second-level defender who can rush the passer, play on the second level, and make plays all over the field. Ohio State and other programs will be in the hunt, but Notre Dame has a chance if they continue their momentum in the state of New Jersey.

EDGE Kameon McGee – Chicago (Ill.) Brother Rice

Ranked No. 25 on the 247 Sports Composite, the 6-4, 245-pounder is rated as the No. 1 overall player in the class according to the 247 Sports individual ranking. Notre Dame is in good early contention for McGee, although there is significant attention on him so far. Perhaps the early addition of Prescott could serve as a nice recruiting chip to work on the talented edge rusher.

WR Lorenzo McMullen Jr. – Cincinnati (Ohio) Princeton

Ranked No. 28 on the 247 Sports Composite, the 6-1, 170-pound pass catcher is an incredibly smooth and elusive wide receiver who could play on the outside or in the slot. His combination of length, ball skills, and ability to elevate in the air is tremendous. Notre Dame is in a good early spot with McMullen as things currently stand.

CB Logan Thompson – Belleville (Ill.) Althoff Catholic

Ranked No. 43 on the 247 Sports Composite, the 6-0, 175-pound cornerback is one of the more versatile covermen in the country, capable of playing inside and out. Notre Dame is trying to keep as many great talents from the state of Illinois in the 2028 class at home, and Thompson fits that billing. He is an incredibly instinctive football player and a player the Irish are high on. It’s early in his recruitment, so only time will tell if Notre Dame can outlast the competition and keep him home, but he is a priority in the class.

RB Zaiden Jernigan – Louisville (Miss.) High School

Ranked No. 50 on the 247 Sports Composite, the 5-10.5, 195-pound running back visited Notre Dame this offseason and is expected back for a game this season. Notre Dame has made a huge impact on Jernigan, a lightning-fast back with incredible home run speed. His ability to create instant acceleration and provide chunk plays is tremendous. The Irish are in a great early spot, and I would even call them the leader as of today for Jernigan.

TE/ATH Grant Bowen – Elmhurst (Ill.) Immaculate Conception

Ranked No. 51 on the 247 Sports Composite, the 6-4, 220-pounder has been recruited by some programs as a defensive end and others as a linebacker, but Notre Dame sees him as a tight end at the next level. He had over 700 yards while averaging over 20 yards per catch as a sophomore. His father, Matt Bowen, played safety for the Iowa Hawkeyes in the late 1990s and spent several years at the position in the NFL, making Iowa a team in contention. Notre Dame has made a nice impact early. Bowen is another player who profiles as eventually becoming a five-star prospect if he has the type of junior and senior seasons many believe he can. He is a dynamic athlete with tremendous upside.