Notre Dame football put together a tremendous 2026 wide receiver class last cycle, landing Kaydon Finley, Devin Fitzgerald, Brayden Robinson, Bubba Frazier, and Dylan Faison. Wide receivers coach Mike Brown managed to quiet some of the doubters during that class. 

Head coach Marcus Freeman, Brown, and Co. now have the chance to put together an even better group in the 2027 recruiting class. The Fighting Irish are in a strong spot for several talented pass catchers right now. After speaking with several sources, both on the Notre Dame side and unbiased folks, there is optimism that they can get it done. 

Here are the top wide receiver targets to know, the remaining hurdles, and what the class could look like at the end. 

Top wide receiver targets 

As of today, Notre Dame is in a good place for several talented wide receivers. The target I feel best about when talking to folks in the know is Malvern (Pa.) Prep athlete Cade Cooper, who is a really talented pass catcher at 6-3 and 192 pounds. While Cooper is a bit raw as a wide receiver, the Irish staff is fascinated with the physical gifts and upside that he brings to the table.

Cooper has continued to see his offer list expand, with Ole Miss being another team to watch. As of today, this is Notre Dame’s recruitment to lose. If the Irish missed on Cooper, it would be a pretty substantial upset. I expect them to get this done.

Notre Dame is also in a very good place with Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas star Julius Jones Jr., whose father was a star for the program in the early 2000s. The Irish are battling against Oregon for Jones, but sources I have spoken with still like the chances for Notre Dame. The next couple of months will be critical for getting this one done.

It wasn’t that long ago that Notre Dame also felt like the team to beat for Chicago (Ill.) Mount Carmel wide receiver Quentin Burrell. While the Irish are still very much in the running, I am not nearly as confident as I once was. This recruitment could end up going down to the wire. Burrell is an easy fit at Notre Dame. They will have a chance in the end, but need to close strong.

The other top target to know is Argyle (Texas) High School standout Julian Caldwell. Like Jones, Notre Dame is battling against Oregon for Caldwell. It feels like there is a lot of confidence on the Irish side right now, which is a testament to their effort here. Notre Dame has gone from a dark horse to a leader pretty quickly, although I would still predict Caldwell to end up elsewhere.

The well-liked but unlikely 

There are a couple of wide receivers to know, including Glassboro (NJ) High School athlete Xavier Sabb. Notre Dame has continued to stay firm in the top group, but both of his brothers ending up with Alabama has given me pause. Oregon is also still heavily involved. I don’t expect the Irish to go away quietly, but that fit feels unlikely right now.

The Irish staff has also maintained contact with elite Sunbury (Ohio) Big Walnut wide receiver Jamier Brown, who is committed to Ohio State. I just don’t see Brown ending up anywhere other than with the Buckeyes. Notre Dame has done an admirable job in this recruitment.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish News

Sources detail the latest with Notre Dame 2027 defensive line recruiting and a potential statement for Charlie Partridge

Where do things stand with Notre Dame and 2027 defensive line recruiting? That includes the top targets and the latest in their recruitments.

Ryan Roberts 3 hours ago