Notre Dame’s latest recruiting victory makes the next move for the Fighting Irish’s 2027 class very obvious
With Notre Dame landing a talented tight end in Titus Hawk recently, will the Fighting Irish push for a second tight end in the 2027 class?
Notre Dame football had a very busy Monday morning on the recruiting trail. Head coach Marcus Freeman and the Fighting were able to land 2027 Choctaw (Okla.) High School tight end Titus Hawk, on top of Littleton (Co.) Valor Christian wide receiver Jackson Coleman. The Hawk commitment was especially interesting.
When it comes to recruiting and developing the tight end position, there aren’t many better than Notre Dame. Hawk is an intriguing addition, bringing an appealing blend of size and developmental upside. When you look at Hawk, it is also apparent that he needs to add a substantial amount of weight to his frame, making his long-term impact higher than the short-term payback.
On top of that developmental runway, and the fact that Hawk may also explore playing baseball on the college level, there appears to be an intention to bring in a second tight end in the 2027 class. That makes it very important for Notre Dame to solidify a two-man class. The next move for the Irish is very obvious.
With Jaxon Dollar, Seneca Driver, and Cooper Terwilliger all off the board, there is no question who the top tight end target is for Notre Dame. All eyes are now on Oak Ridge (Tenn.) High School standout Malik Howard, a talented athlete who has the higher upside of the two. Expect the Irish to make a strong push for Howard down the stretch of the 2027 class.
Titus Hawk’s recruiting background
Hawk is considered to be a three-star or a four-star player, depending on what major recruiting platform you look at. On the 247 Sports Composite ranking, Hawk currently sits as a four-star, the No. 391 overall player, the No. 20 tight end, and the No. 8 player from the state of Oklahoma for the 2027 recruiting class. ESPN is the highest on Hawk, ranking as the No. 14 tight end in the class.
While his recruiting rankings are a bit all over the place, Hawk has been recruited by some of the top programs in all of college football. Some of his top offers include the Fighting Irish, Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Miami, Missouri, TCU, Nebraska, Kansas State, Arkansas, Texas Tech, Arizona, Oklahoma State, Boston College, Kansas, and Purdue, among others.
As a junior in 2025, Hawk put together a tremendous season for Choctaw. The 6-7, 210-pound tight end managed to haul in 31 receptions for 644 yards and eight touchdowns, an impressive average of 20.8 yards per reception. Hawk also carried the football twice for 37 yards and another score on the ground. If Hawk is able to add a substantial amount of weight, he has some of the highest upside of any tight end in the 2026 recruiting class.