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Notre Dame

This story will appear in the 2026 Notre Dame football recruiting issue of Blue & Gold Illustrated. Click here to preorder by Feb. 16, 2026, and

Kobe Clapper

Blue and Gold Football Recruiting

Blue and Gold

Notre Dame LB Ja’Kobe Clapper follows in Rocky Boiman’s footsteps

After failing to land a top-10 recruiting class — per the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings — in each of the last two cycles, Notre Dame is

Marcus Freeman AFI

Rivals Football Recruiting

Rivals

Notre Dame Football Recruiting: Fighting Irish have loaded 2026 class

No. 10 Notre Dame has a home College Football Playoff game in its sights. A victory over Navy on Saturday night gets the Irish another step closer.

Marcus Freeman ND

Notre Dame looks to build on Top 5 class this weekend, also hosts elite 2027s for Navy game

Notre Dame football’s recruiting efforts under Marcus Freeman are expected to reach another high point this weekend.  When the Irish host USC on

David Jacobs Jr.

Visitor preview: Notre Dame to host six 5-star caliber defenders for USC game

No. 13 Notre Dame will have elite recruits on campus for Saturday’s rivalry game against No. 20 USC in primetime.  Most of a 2026 Irish class that

Marcus Freeman

Intel heading into a five-star recruiting weekend at Notre Dame for USC game

The high school football season continued in Ohio last week, as many of the top programs in the Great Lakes State were in action. Plenty of

Moeller Crusaders Matt Ponatoski (7) looks to throw in the first half of a second-round Division I OHSAA high school football game against the St. Xavier Bombers, Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, at St. Xavier High School s RDI Field in Cincinnati. | © Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

High School Football

High School

Ohio High School Football Rankings: Top 25 Teams - Sept. 22

CINCINNATI — Kobe Clapper was adamant there were no excuses.  Despite a resilient effort from the Notre Dame-bound linebacker, Clapper and Cincinnati

How Notre Dame LB commit Kobe Clapper showed accountability in rivalry loss

Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman and the eighth-ranked Irish open the home portion of the schedule on Saturday night against No. 16 Texas A&M.

marcus freeman afi

Notre Dame aiming to stack top five recruiting classes, big weekend on tap in South Bend

Ohio State recruiting is full of intrigue and ever-changing philosophies as to the right thing to do, how to do it and when. There are a lot of

Ja'Dyn-Williams-by-Mick-Walker

Lettermen Row Recruiting Question of the Day

Lettermen Row

Next evaluation season could open door to Ohio State for in-state 2026 prospects

As the 2025 Ohio high school football season approaches, programs across the Buckeye State are preparing for what promises to be an intense and

liberty

Way-Too-Early Ohio High School Football Top 25 Rankings

Cincinnati St. Xavier's Kobe Clapper, the No. 384 overall player and No. 30 linebacker nationally per the 2026 On3 Industry Ranking, announced his

Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman (left) and 2026 LB Kobe Clapper (right) during a visit on April 19, 2024 - Credit: @Clapper2026

What the experts are saying about Notre Dame LB commit Kobe Clapper

In the past couple of weeks, Notre Dame has gone on a run landing new commitments, adding Winter Park (Fla.) High defensive back Ayden Pouncey,

Ayden Pouncey 1 copy 1

Tim Hyde reacts to four new Notre Dame football commitments

Kobe Clapper’s football instincts finally worked in the Notre Dame football program’s favor.  On Friday, the four-star linebacker from Cincinnati St.

Exclusive: Four-star LB Kobe Clapper details decision to commit to Notre Dame football

On Friday, the Notre Dame football program bolstered its 2026 recruiting class by securing a verbal commitment from Cincinnati St. Xavier four-star

2026 LB Kobe Clapper

Five thoughts on four-star LB Kobe Clapper's Notre Dame football commitment

Notre Dame is on a heater when it comes to landing new verbals in the 2026 class. The latest recruit to commit to the Fighting Irish is Cincinnati

Four-star LB Kobe Clapper commits to Notre Dame football

The recruiting calendar enters an important month of visits as recruits across the country are meeting with coaches on campus for spring practices

WW 407

Wiltfong Whiparound: Notre Dame gaining momentum, Ohio State stays hot & more recruiting intel

Cincinnati St. Xavier class of 2026 linebacker Kobe Clapper is visiting Notre Dame this week, sources tell Blue & Gold's Kyle Kelly and Mike

Key Fighting Irish linebacker target Kobe Clapper visiting Notre Dame this week

On Monday and Tuesday we released our first target list articles for the class of 2026. Monday’s article contained a list of who USC’s seriously

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WeAreSC Football Recruiting

WeAreSC

THE LATEST: Top 2026 USC Linebacker Targets

While a lot of the chatter around Ohio State has been focused on their coaching staff search, the Buckeyes are still busy trying to build an elite

Tyler atkinson 2 copy 1

Lettermen Row Football Recruiting

Ohio State 2026 recruiting stock report: defense

News, notes and buzz from the recruiting trail.  Latest on five-star offensive tackle Ty Haywood  Denton (Texas) Ryan 2025 five-star offensive tackle

Wiltfong-Whiparound- (14)

Wiltfong Whiparound: Latest on top 2025 prospects, junior day buzz and new predictions

It was a huge recruiting weekend at Notre Dame as head coach Marcus Freeman and the Irish hosted several commits and top targets.  On3 has the latest

Marcus Freeman explains how he will use Michigan vs. Ohio State to prepare for National Championship

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman. (Photo by Brett Davis-Imagn Images)

Notre Dame's junior day on Saturday will net big returns

On Thursday, Blue & Gold learned that one of Notre Dame football's top defensive recruiting targets will return to campus for an unofficial

Max Bullough and Chad Bowden

Key Notre Dame recruiting target returning to campus for Saturday's junior day

COLUMBUS - Ohio State and Notre Dame will face on Jan. 20 in the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship. The Buckeyes and Fighting Irish

Ohio State HC Ryan Day, Notre Dame HC Marcus Freeman

Breaking down seven key recruiting battles between Ohio State, Notre Dame in the 2026 class

COLUMBUS - A new NCAA recruiting contact period open on Monday, Jan. 6 and several members of the Ohio State recruiting staff have hit the road. The

Parker Wereb by Mick Walker -- Lettermen Row --

Lettermen Row Recruiting Notebook: Buckeyes visit with top in-state targets on Wednesday

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