Notre Dame set to host an SEC commit for a crucial visit – Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish have a chance at another dynamic RB
Notre Dame set to host a talented 2027 running back recruit who is committed elsewhere.
Notre Dame football is fresh off a stellar recruiting weekend where the Fighting Irish staff hosted several of their key targets in the 2027 and 2028 recruiting classes. The vibes coming out of the event are extremely high for head coach Marcus Freeman and the program. There’s expected to be some immediate payback for their efforts.
Among the talented group of visitors was a trio of dynamic running backs – David Segarra, Lathan Whisenton, and Isaiah Rogers. Running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider will have another talented target on campus this upcoming weekend when Montgomery (Texas) High School star Keldrid Ben comes for a visit, which was first reported by Blue and Gold recruiting insider Kyle Kelly.
Ben is currently committed to the Oklahoma Sooners, which creates some major intrigue for this visit. It’s uncertain just where things stand between the Texas native and Notre Dame, but there is clearly some intrigue. Things will become a lot clearer after Ben makes the trip to South Bend in a couple of days.
Keldrid Ben’s recruiting background
Ben is considered to be a consensus four-star recruit by each of the major platforms right now. On the 247 Sports Composite ranking, Ben currently sits as a four-star, the No. 142 overall player, the No. 6 running back, and the No. 16 player from the state of Texas for the 2027 recruiting class. It feels likely that Ben will continue to trend upward in terms of rankings, topping out at No. 86 overall on the Rivals ranking. Those rankings have ballooned this offseason so far.
Despite committing to the Sooners in December of last year, some premier programs have continued to push hard for the Texas native. Some of his best offers currently include the Fighting Irish, the Sooners, Texas, Oregon, Florida State, and Wisconsin, among others. The battle for Ben isn’t over quite yet, it would appear. Notre Dame is making a strong push – clearly.
As a junior in 2025, Ben put together an outstanding season for Montgomery High School. In 11 games, the 5-10, 208-pound playmaker managed to rush for 1,560 yards and 15 touchdowns, while averaging an absurd 10.3 yards per carry. Ben also hauled in 16 receptions for 299 yards and three more scores. He had five games where he rushed for over 150 yards, and two were Ben eclipsed 250 yards rushing on the ground.
There’s a big reason why Ben has continued to see his recruiting rankings climb this offseason. He is an extremely impressive blend of physicality and explosiveness. Imagining him in a tremendous group of Fighting Irish running backs is an incredibly intriguing thought.