Notre Dame football is eagerly awaiting a decision from 2027 four-star linebacker Roman Igwebuike on Saturday, but the Fighting Irish aren’t stopping there.

Even if head coach Marcus Freeman and the staff land Igwebuike, there is still a strong chance Notre Dame pursues a second linebacker for the 2027 recruiting class. One name worth watching is 2027 Iowa City (Iowa) Regina linebacker Tate Wallace, a Minnesota commit who brings a unique skill set and tremendous upside to the table.

From everything I have gathered, Notre Dame has been doing a lot of recruiting behind the scenes for linebackers currently committed to other programs. Wallace is a player the Irish staff liked quite a bit before he made his commitment back in May. The timing simply didn’t work in Notre Dame’s favor, which gave Minnesota the upper hand.

That doesn’t mean the door is closed.

Why Tate Wallace fits Notre Dame’s 2027 class

Wallace is a fantastic athlete at 6-3 and 230 pounds who projects as a do-it-all weapon. As a junior in 2025, he collected 50 total tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. He was equally impressive on the offensive side of the football, hauling in 40 receptions for 611 yards and 10 receiving touchdowns. That kind of two-way production at the high school level speaks to the type of versatile player he is.

When you pop on the film, Wallace can rush the passer, play on the second level, and make plays all over the field. That versatility is exactly what drew the Irish staff to him in the first place. Of the linebackers currently on the board who represent somewhat realistic flip targets, I believe Wallace brings the most unique skill set and highest upside outside of Kaden Henderson, who is now committed to Texas A&M.

Tate Wallace’s recruiting background

Wallace is considered a four-star player and ranks as the No. 368 overall player and the No. 29 linebacker in the 2027 class according to the 247 Sports Composite ranking. Before his commitment to Minnesota, his offer list was expanding drastically and was beginning to border on impressive.

Some of the top programs that had offered him included Notre Dame, Tennessee, Minnesota, Arizona State, Kansas State, Nebraska, Arizona, Purdue, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, among others.

How Wallace would complement Igwebuike

If Notre Dame lands Igwebuike on Saturday, which they certainly are the favorite for right now, the pairing with Wallace would be intriguing. Igwebuike profiles as more of a movable chess piece who can do a lot of different things on the defensive side. Wallace can do some of those versatile things as well, but he also brings a bigger frame that projects favorably as a middle linebacker at the next level. The two would complement each other well in the 2027 class.

What comes next for Notre Dame at linebacker

If Notre Dame isn’t able to land a second linebacker before the season begins, I expect Freeman and linebacker coach Brian Jean-Mary to utilize the evaluation period to identify potential risers and new fits for the 2027 class. That said, Wallace being committed to Minnesota rather than an SEC powerhouse gives me the thought that Notre Dame can make some magic happen if they push all the right buttons heading down the stretch.

This is an extremely talented football player whose best football is certainly ahead of him. If I were Notre Dame, Wallace would be right near the top of my board for players to add following a potential Igwebuike commitment on Saturday.