Notre Dame took care of business on the field against Miami, but the Fighting Irish also made significant progress on the recruiting trail during one of the biggest weekends of Marcus Freeman’s tenure.

The Irish knocked off previously undefeated Miami, and the atmosphere in South Bend provided the coaching staff with an opportunity to make a lasting impression on a talented group of recruits from across the country. That work has already produced three commitments in the 2028 class, while several other highly regarded prospects left campus with Notre Dame in a strong position.

There are some legitimate recruiting battles still ahead, but Notre Dame appears to have gained ground with several important targets. Some could eventually become part of a recruiting class that has the potential to be special, while others will require continued work from Freeman and his staff.

Here is a look at 16 recruits Notre Dame is trending for following the Miami weekend, including the three players who made their commitments to the Irish.

The three commitments

1. EDGE Asa Burch – Warren (Ohio) Warren G. Harding

Notre Dame landed one of its biggest defensive recruiting targets of the 2028 cycle when Burch announced his commitment during the Miami weekend.

The 6-5.5, 225-pound edge defender chose the Irish over a number of major programs, including Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State. His recruitment was particularly interesting because his father played at Michigan, but Notre Dame was able to overcome that connection.

Burch has the length, athleticism and physical tools that Notre Dame looks for in its defensive front. He is ranked among the top 100 prospects nationally in the Rivals Industry Ranking and is the No. 13 edge defender in the country.

Notre Dame had been building momentum with Burch for months, and his return to campus for the Miami game gave the staff another opportunity to close. The Irish got it done, adding an important piece to their 2028 defensive class.

2. RB Zaiden Jernigan – Louisville (Miss.) Louisville

Notre Dame didn’t have to wait long to add another significant commitment. Jernigan also announced his decision to join the Irish ahead of the Miami game.

The 5-foot-11, 195-pound running back is one of the more productive players in the country. He chose Notre Dame over programs such as Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, Florida, Indiana and Ohio State.

Jernigan entered the weekend ranked No. 76 nationally and No. 2 among running backs in the 2028 Rivals Industry Ranking. He has been incredibly productive at Louisville, rushing for 1,487 yards and 24 touchdowns in 11 games this season. He has also accumulated more than 4,500 career rushing yards.

The Irish have been looking to add another high-end running back to their future roster, and Jernigan brings both production and a strong recruiting profile. His commitment also represents an important recruiting win in Mississippi, a state where Notre Dame has historically had to work especially hard to establish a presence.

3. LB Julian Bruno – Sacramento (Calif.) Grant Union

The third commitment came Sunday, when Bruno announced his decision to join Notre Dame. Unlike Burch and Jernigan, this was his first trip to South Bend.

The 6-foot-1, 225-pound linebacker had spent several months developing relationships with Notre Dame’s coaching staff. His conversations with Marcus Freeman, linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary, and recruiting director Carter Auman played a significant role in his decision.

Bruno was extremely productive during his high school career. He recorded 101 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks as a sophomore. Through seven games this season, he had already accumulated 83 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles.

He was ranked No. 32 among linebackers in the 2028 Rivals Industry Ranking at the time of his commitment.

Landing a linebacker from California on his first visit is a significant recruiting win. Notre Dame has now added another talented defender to a class that is beginning to take shape.

Notre Dame is trending in the right direction with these uncommitted targets

4. LB Kaden Henderson – Tampa (Fla.) Jesuit | Class of 2027

Henderson might be the most important uncommitted recruit on this list from an immediate roster-building perspective.

The five-star linebacker is currently committed to Texas A&M, but Notre Dame has never stopped pursuing him. The Irish were heavily involved before he chose the Aggies in June, and Freeman’s staff has continued working to get him back on campus.

Henderson made an official visit to South Bend for the Miami game, giving Notre Dame another opportunity to make its case. At 6-foot-2 and approximately 220 pounds, he is an extremely talented linebacker and one of the highest-rated players in the 2027 class.

Notre Dame has a legitimate opportunity to make this a late recruiting battle. The next thing to watch is whether Henderson returns to College Station this coming weekend. Texas A&M remains his commitment, so the Irish still have work to do, but I like Notre Dame currently.

5. WR Jaylen Addai – Pearland (Texas) Shadow Creek | Class of 2028

Notre Dame continues to be in a very good position with one of the more intriguing wide receiver prospects in the 2028 class.

Addai is the son of former Notre Dame running back and NFL standout Joseph Addai, giving this recruitment an obvious connection to the program. However, the younger Addai has plenty of talent of his own.

The 6-foot, 167-pound receiver is a highly regarded national prospect, ranking among the top 25 players nationally in the Rivals Industry Ranking. He has the speed and playmaking ability to become an impact player at the next level.

Notre Dame has been recruiting him aggressively, and the Irish have a real opportunity to capitalize on the family connection. LSU is another program that has been involved, but I like where Notre Dame stands. I would be surprised if Addai ultimately ended up in Baton Rouge.

6. TE Tre Oiler – Hartland (Wis.) Arrowhead | Class of 2028

Oiler has become a massive priority for Notre Dame as the coaching staff continues to work through a loaded tight end recruiting cycle.

The 6-foot-6, 230-pound prospect has the frame and physical tools to develop into an outstanding college tight end. He is a nationally ranked four-star prospect and has collected offers from programs such as Florida, Oregon, Texas A&M, Wisconsin, and Notre Dame.

Notre Dame has made a strong impression throughout his recruitment, and I believe the Irish currently hold the lead. The Miami weekend was another opportunity to strengthen that position.

With several talented tight ends on the board, Oiler is one of the names I would pay particularly close attention to moving forward.

7. DL Isaac Kalubi Lukuni – Rabun Gap (Ga.) Rabun Gap-Nacoochee | Class of 2028

Notre Dame has plenty of reasons to feel good about its chances with Kalubi Lukuni coming out of the weekend.

The defensive lineman is a teammate of 2028 Notre Dame target Segun Alexander, which gives the Irish another potential opportunity to build relationships within the same program.

Kalubi Lukuni is a 6-foot-3, 280-pound defensive lineman with impressive physical tools. He is ranked among the top 125 prospects nationally in the Rivals Industry Ranking and is one of the more intriguing defensive line recruits in the class.

Notre Dame has continued to invest in this recruitment, and there is growing optimism surrounding the Irish’s chances. Defensive line recruiting remains a major priority for Freeman, and adding another talented interior defender would be a significant development.

8. DL Zylen Little – Tampa (Fla.) Carrollwood Day | Class of 2028

Little is one of the biggest defensive recruiting priorities for Notre Dame in the 2028 class.

The 6-foot-2, approximately 290-pound defensive lineman has the size to develop into an impactful interior presence. He is a four-star prospect who holds offers from more than 30 programs, including Florida, Florida State, Miami, Auburn, USC, and Notre Dame.

The Irish have been working hard to establish a stronger presence in Florida, and Little represents exactly the type of player they need to pursue aggressively.

Notre Dame’s defensive line performance against Miami was an important part of the weekend. Showing a highly regarded defensive lineman what the position can look like in South Bend certainly didn’t hurt.

Little is a player the Irish need to continue prioritizing. There is still work to do, but Notre Dame has positioned itself well.

9. ATH Kamieon Compton-Nero – Owasso (Okla.) Rejoice Christian | Class of 2028

Notre Dame made a significant move with Compton-Nero during the Miami weekend, putting itself firmly in the conversation ahead of his upcoming commitment.

The 6-foot-3, 187-pound athlete is one of the highest-rated prospects in Oklahoma’s 2028 class. He is a dual-sport athlete who also plays basketball and has accumulated more than 30 Division I offers.

Notre Dame is competing against Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Alabama, and SMU for his commitment. His recruitment has attracted significant national attention, and he is ranked among the top athletes in the country.

The Irish appear to have made up ground at an important time. However, despite the positive momentum, I still have some reservations about Notre Dame’s chances of actually landing him. Oklahoma and Ole Miss remain serious competition.

With his commitment scheduled for Friday, November 13, this is one of the most important recruitments to watch coming out of the weekend.

10. CB Logan Thompson – Belleville (Ill.) Althoff Catholic | Class of 2028

Thompson is another local prospect Notre Dame has made a priority, and the Irish continue to be in a good position.

The 5-foot-11, 163-pound cornerback is a highly regarded four-star recruit with offers from programs across the country. Missouri, LSU, Miami, Illinois, Indiana, and Notre Dame are among the schools involved.

Thompson is ranked among the top 100 players nationally in the Rivals Industry Ranking, making him one of the more talented defensive backs on Notre Dame’s recruiting board.

The Irish have a geographic advantage with Thompson, but they cannot afford to take their foot off the gas. There is no clear commitment timeline at this point, so continuing to get him on campus and build the relationship will be important.

Notre Dame has put itself in a good spot. Now it needs to capitalize on that momentum.

11. WR Maddox Weil – Fort Wayne (Ind.) Northrop | Class of 2028

Weil is a prospect I expect to eventually end up in Notre Dame’s 2028 recruiting class.

He might not have the size of some of the other receivers on the board, standing around 5-foot-10 and 160 pounds, but he brings a different skill set. He is an incredibly quick receiver who can create separation and make plays in space.

Notre Dame wide receivers coach Mike Brown has been particularly high on Weil and what he brings to the position. The relationship between the two sides has been strong for quite some time.

Weil has previously discussed feeling like a priority for Notre Dame, and the Irish were among the first programs to contact him when the recruiting window opened for his class.

With Brown continuing to show interest, I think this is a recruitment that could eventually end with another commitment for the Irish.

12. ATH Camden Noe – Portage (Mich.) Portage Central | Class of 2028

Noe is another prospect who has become very familiar with Notre Dame.

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound athlete has visited South Bend multiple times and continues to be a player the Irish coaching staff likes. He has the versatility to play running back or linebacker, but Notre Dame appears to have a specific vision for him defensively.

Noe is a highly regarded four-star prospect who has offers from several major programs, including Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Notre Dame.

His athleticism is what makes him particularly intriguing. He has the physical tools to develop into a versatile defensive player, and Notre Dame has made it clear that it sees an opportunity for him on that side of the ball.

The Irish have a strong opportunity to keep him close to home, and this is another recruitment worth following as the 2028 class develops.

13. LB Austin Phillips – Kendallville (Ind.) East Noble | Class of 2029

Notre Dame is in a strong early position with Phillips, who is quickly emerging as one of the top linebacker prospects in the 2029 class.

The Indiana native is an extremely athletic linebacker with the type of movement skills that make him an intriguing long-term target.

There is still plenty of time before his recruitment reaches its most important stages, but Notre Dame has an opportunity to establish itself early.

The proximity to South Bend is obviously helpful, and the Irish need to continue getting Phillips on campus as often as possible. He is a player whose recruitment could become much more competitive as additional programs get involved.

Getting an early relationship established could pay significant dividends down the road.

14. QB Ryder Flugence – Boerne (Texas) Boerne Champion | Class of 2029

Notre Dame made an important impression on one of the most highly regarded quarterbacks in the 2029 class.

Flugence arrived in South Bend for his first Notre Dame visit and left with an offer from the Irish. The 6-foot-6, 210-pound quarterback is considered by many to be one of the top overall players in his recruiting class.

Rivals recently moved him to the No. 1 quarterback spot in its 2029 rankings after he transitioned into playing quarterback full-time. He previously had experience playing multiple positions, including wide receiver and defense.

His recruitment will be difficult. His father, Lawrence Flugence, was an outstanding linebacker at Texas Tech, and the family has strong ties to that program. Texas Tech is expected to be a major factor, while other national programs have also been pursuing him.

Notre Dame wasn’t even among his offers before the weekend. Now the Irish have an opportunity to build a relationship with an elite quarterback prospect.

This was a very good weekend for the Irish, even if landing him will be a difficult challenge.

15. WR Jayce Halasz – Graham (Wash.) Graham-Kapowsin | Class of 2028

Halasz made a particularly strong impression during his trip to South Bend.

The Washington receiver had been looking forward to the Miami game for quite some time, and Notre Dame delivered the type of atmosphere he wanted to experience.

The 6-foot-2 receiver has offers from several major programs, including Alabama, Oregon, USC, Washington and Notre Dame. He had previously spoken about wanting to experience the campus environment and get a better feel for the coaching staff before narrowing down his recruitment.

Coming out of the weekend, Notre Dame appears to have accomplished exactly what it wanted.

His family enjoyed the trip, and the energy around campus made a strong impression. Halasz should be viewed as a legitimate contender for the Irish moving forward, particularly if Notre Dame can continue building the relationship.

This is one of the more interesting developments from the weekend because the Irish are competing nationally for a receiver who has plenty of options closer to home.

16. RB Xander Edwards – Jacksonville (Fla.) The Bolles School | Class of 2028

Edwards is an interesting recruit because of his family ties to Notre Dame.

His father, Marc Edwards, was a standout fullback for the Irish in the late 1990s before going on to play in the NFL. That connection has made Notre Dame a familiar place for the younger Edwards, who has visited South Bend multiple times.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound running back had a good overall experience during the Miami weekend. He had conversations with Marcus Freeman, running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider, and other members of the coaching staff.

Notre Dame has continued working to strengthen the relationship, and the legacy connection makes this an obvious recruitment for Irish fans to follow.

However, despite the positive weekend, I still don’t believe Edwards ultimately ends up at Notre Dame. The Irish have done a good job keeping themselves involved, but I would be cautious about reading too much into his latest visit.

He is a talented running back, and Notre Dame would certainly welcome another legacy player into the program.

The bigger picture

Notre Dame couldn’t have asked for a much better recruiting weekend. Three commitments in the 2028 class, a significant push with several high-end defensive prospects, and positive developments with multiple offensive targets give Freeman and his staff plenty to build on.

The names I would watch most closely moving forward are:

• Kaden Henderson: The potential 2027 flip would be a major addition.
• Jaylen Addai: Notre Dame appears to have a legitimate opportunity to land a nationally elite receiver.
• Tre Oiler: The Irish appear to have the advantage in an important tight end recruitment.
• Isaac Kalubi Lukuni: There is growing optimism about Notre Dame’s chances.
• Zylen Little: A major defensive line priority who could help strengthen Notre Dame’s Florida recruiting pipeline.
• Kamieon Compton-Nero: Notre Dame made a late push, although I remain skeptical about its chances.

The three commitments are obviously the immediate headline, but the bigger story might be what Notre Dame accomplished with the players who haven’t made their decisions yet.

Freeman has consistently emphasized the importance of winning big games and creating an atmosphere that recruits want to experience. The Miami weekend was a pretty good example of why that approach works.

Notre Dame won a major game on the field and gave itself a chance to win several more battles on the recruiting trail.