Notre Dame football recruiting need at defensive back remains, and a committed recruit may have hinted at a potential flip
Notre Dame is in pursuit of another talented 2027 defensive back. Who are the Fighting Irish targeting for that spot?
Notre Dame football and head coach Marcus Freeman may not be done with the 2027 recruiting class just yet.
Despite the recent addition of four-star Chicagoland defensive tackle Brayden Parks, the Fighting Irish still have needs at a couple of positions. One of the more underrated remaining areas of focus is at defensive back, where secondary coach Aaron Henry appears intent on adding a fifth commitment to the 2027 class.
Notre Dame currently holds four commitments in the secondary: cornerbacks Xavier Hasan and Ace Alston, along with safeties Zayden Gamble and John Gay III. The desire for a fifth defensive back explains why the Irish had been pushing for Greedy James, who eventually flipped his commitment from Texas to LSU this offseason.
While Notre Dame missed out on James, the staff continues to keep its eyes open for several targets.
Gamble’s social media post sparks speculation
Gamble took to social media over the weekend and made his pitch known, posting that he feels the class needs one more defensive back on board and that he has one in mind. The “I got one in mind” phrasing sparked immediate speculation about who Gamble could be referring to.
As of now, there is no intel on the mystery defensive back Gamble is talking about. However, there are a couple of players who hold Notre Dame offers and are committed elsewhere who could make some sense. There is some speculation involved here, but these are a few names to keep a close eye on.
CB Jaden Carey – Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas
The first name worth watching is Jaden Carey, a cornerback at the same high school as Gamble. Carey committed to Ohio State this offseason but does hold an offer from the Fighting Irish. There was never much chatter connecting Notre Dame and Carey earlier in the process, but with the additions of Gamble and wide receiver Julius Jones Jr. to the 2027 class, the St. Thomas Aquinas pipeline could be growing.
At 5-foot-11, 175 pounds, Carey is a fleet-footed cornerback with the ability to play both inside and outside at the next level. He could be an intriguing fit for a Notre Dame defense looking for flexibility at the position, particularly in the slot.
S Andre Hyppolite – Miami (Fla.) North Miami Beach
Another name to watch is Andre Hyppolite, a safety out of North Miami Beach who committed to Miami this offseason. At one point, Hyppolite had an official visit scheduled to Notre Dame, but that visit was canceled right before he made his commitment to the Hurricanes.
The backstory on the 6-foot-1, 180-pound defensive back is that the Miami program pushed hard and gave him something of an ultimatum, forcing him to act quickly and cancel his trip to South Bend. Notre Dame was very high on Hyppolite, and it would not be surprising if the staff continued to push for him behind the scenes.
DB Jaylyn Jones – Hollywood (Fla.) MacArthur High School
The last player to keep tabs on is Jaylyn Jones, who is also committed to Miami. The 5-foot-11, 182-pound defensive back out of Hollywood, Florida, is a very athletic player with the ability to line up at multiple positions in the secondary. There have been some rumblings about interest Jones has had in Notre Dame, even while maintaining his commitment to the Hurricanes. The Irish staff has been high on Jones for several months, and it would not be a shock if they continued working toward a potential flip behind the scenes.
What comes next for Notre Dame
One thing is very clear: Notre Dame is not finished building the defensive back room in the 2027 class. The staff’s pursuit of James earlier in the cycle showed the intention to add a fifth piece, and Gamble’s post over the weekend only reinforces that there is continued momentum in that direction. Whether it is Carey, Hyppolite, Jones, or another target entirely, the Fighting Irish are keeping their options open. It will be worth monitoring each of these recruitments closely to see if Gamble turns out to be a man of his word.