Notre Dame football landed a massive commitment on Tuesday evening from 2027 Oradell (NJ) Bergen Catholic 4-star pass rusher Jackson Vaughn. The talented defender, who was previously a member of the 2028 recruiting class, opted for the Fighting Irish over LSU, Miami, Auburn, and South Carolina. Head coach Marcus Freeman and his staff continue their push for another elite class.

With Vaughn now in the class, let’s take a look at who the next five commitments could be for the 2027 Notre Dame class. This is already a borderline elite group in 2027. If Freeman and Co. can close on the next five, that will be solidified, or at least very close.

WR Julius Jones Jr. – Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas 

As a legacy recruit for Notre Dame, Jones is a very important 2027 target overall. Beyond his familiar name, Jones also possesses tremendous upside as a wide receiver, including home-run speed and the ability to make big plays after the catch. Notre Dame continues to battle Oregon for the talented pass catcher, but they are very much the leader right now. 

EDGE Abraham Sesay – Exton (Pa.) Downingtown East  

At 6-5 and 225 pounds, Sesay is a dynamic pass rusher with all the upside in the world. Rated among the top 100 players by multiple recruiting platforms, Sesay would be a tremendous addition to the 2027 Notre Dame class. They are currently battling Penn State for the talented defensive end, so this one isn’t over yet. I do, however, like where the Irish stand.

DT Brayden Parks – Chicago (Ill.) Brother Rice

The recruitment for Parks has been a wild ride so far. Oregon has made things difficult multiple times, but the latest feedback is strong in favor of the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame will have to finish strong, but they clearly value the 6-3, 305-pound defensive tackle at a high level. Freeman and Co. are hard to win against do

wn the stretch. I am not betting against them if Parks gets back on campus for an official visit.

TE Jack McNamara (2028) – Chicago (Ill.) Brother Rice

While Notre Dame has had some mixed results in Chicago recently, McNamara has quickly become a player that they want in the 2028 class. At 6-5 and 235 pounds, he is a really talented athlete at the tight end position with all the upside in the world. There hasn’t been a firm timeline given from McNamara yet, but with the 2027 recruiting class slowly winding down, don’t be surprised if the Irish staff makes a strong push for several members of the 2028 class.

S Karnell “Greedy” James – Manvel (Texas) High School 

There’s been a lot of buzz building around James recently, and for good reason. Despite being committed to the Longhorns since December, James has kept his options open, including visiting South Bend earlier this offseason. Notre Dame should have a solid chance to make a flip happen, especially if they can get him back for an official visit. James is a player they want, especially with California standout Gavin Williams now off the board.