Notre Dame football is predicted to land a 5-star recruiting target ahead of a couple of very important dates to know
Notre Dame football has been predicted to land a 5-star defender. It would be a huge win for the Fighting Irish staff against some elite suitors.
Notre Dame football just put together a tremendous official visitor weekend. That included five uncommitted targets that were in South Bend, and it appears that head coach Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish could have a lot of good news coming on the horizon. That also includes some from a recruit who wasn’t even on campus, as well.
There was a lot of buzz around elite 2027 Tampa Bay (Fla.) Jesuit linebacker Kaden Henderson during the weekend, a dynamic player who will be taking his official visit to Notre Dame beginning on June 19. The Irish look primed to close the deal with Henderson, and have seen a lot of great feedback come out recently. That includes a pick from Rivals national recruiting analyst Chad Simmons, who logged an expert prediction for Henderson to land with the Fighting Irish.
If Simmons is correct, this would be a massive addition for Freeman, linebacker coach Brian Jean-Mary, and the Irish staff. Texas A&M has long been considered the favorite, but that hasn’t stopped Notre Dame from pushing incredibly hard. Henderson has a commitment date scheduled for July 1, but there is an expectation that a decision could be made at any time.
With a successful upcoming official visit, the Irish have a chance to close the deal. The program is also trending for Chicago (Ill.) Mount Carmel star Roman Igwebuike after his return trip, and that duo would be an outstanding ending to Jean-Mary’s first linebacker class with the Irish. It’s been a great couple of days on the recruiting trail, and things aren’t slowing down anytime soon.
Kaden Henderson’s recruiting background
Henderson is currently considered a four-star player by each of the major recruiting platforms. On the 247 Sports Composite ranking, Henderson is rated as a five-star, the No. 22 overall player, the No. 1 linebacker, and the No. 3 player from the state of Florida for the 2027 recruiting class right now. He has been one of the biggest risers in the class over the offseason.
While his recruiting rankings are elite, Henderson’s offer list might be even better. With over 40 offers already, Henderson has a long list of impressive options. Some of his top offers include the Fighting Irish, Ohio State, Alabama, Oregon, Michigan, Texas, Oklahoma, LSU, Tennessee, Florida, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, USC, Clemson, Miami, Auburn, Florida State, Missouri, South Carolina, Nebraska, Vanderbilt, West Virginia, SMU, Wisconsin, Pitt, Louisville, Georgia Tech, Minnesota, Baylor, UNC, Syracuse, UCF, Duke, and Kansas, among others.
Despite missing some time as a junior, Henderson was able to make his impact known on the Jesuit defense. In 10 games, the 6-1.5, 218-pound defender managed to collect 49 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and nine sacks. Henderson added another 20 quarterback hurries, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and a blocked punt.