Very early on in the 2027 recruiting class, Malvern (Pa.) Prep wide receiver Cade Cooper was a player that Notre Dame football gravitated towards. For several months, head coach Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish felt like the clear team to beat. They were early on Cooper compared to many other bigger programs, which gave them a sizeable lead.

For whatever reason, Cooper was just never ready to make the decision. He wanted to let the process play out, take visits, and gather as much information as possible, which was his right to do so. While Notre Dame waited, they explored some other options at wide receiver, including earning a commitment from Littleton (Co.) Valor Christian standout Jackson Coleman.

The latest with Cade Cooper

Once the Irish landed Coleman, the formula at wide receiver changed a bit. The team had every intention to push for Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas star Julius Jones Jr., who has been a priority target for the program since very early on. There will always be a spot for Jones in this class, and I still love where Notre Dame stands going down the stretch of his recruitment.

With Coleman in the class, there just wasn’t as big a push for Cooper, even if he was a player they still liked. It appears that the Pennsylvania native could come off the board pretty soon, having received an expert prediction from Rivals recruiting analyst Steve Wiltfong to land with the Ole Miss Rebels. It would be a nice addition for head coach Pete Golding.

If Notre Dame can land Jones, expect them to still target some bigger fish like Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy star Osani Gayles and Seven (Md.) Archbishop Spalding pass catcher Myles McAfee. It still has a chance to be a good wide receiver class for assistant coach Mike Brown, but the margin for error has gotten quite a bit smaller recently, although still a very talented list.

Cade Cooper’s recruiting background 

Depending on which of the major recruiting platforms you look at, Cooper is rated between a three-star and four-star player, but mostly the former. On the 247 Sports Composite ranking, the Pennsylvania native is currently pegged as a four-star, the No. 297 overall player, the No. 37 wide receiver, and the No. 10 player from the state of Pennsylvania for the 2027 recruiting class. 

Despite those somewhat underwhelming rankings, Cooper’s offer list has continued to expand quickly over the last couple of months. Some of his top offers now include the Fighting Irish, Georgia, Ohio State, LSU, Penn State, Ole Miss, Auburn, Nebraska, Kentucky, Pitt, Georgia Tech, Boston College, Illinois, Cincinnati, Virginia, Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, Virginia Tech, Northwestern, Duke, Wake Forest, West Virginia, and Syracuse, among several others. 

As a junior, Cooper turned in a good season for Malvern Prep. The 6-3, 192-pound pass catcher managed to haul in 44 receptions for 644 yards and six touchdowns, an average of 14.6 yards per reception. Cooper’s combination of size, twitch, and physicality brings an intriguing skill set for the next level.