The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are continuing to make major splashes on the recruiting trail. Their latest signing comes from four-star linebacker Jakobe Clapper, who is already the 13th commitment for head coach Marcus Freeman’s 2026 recruiting class.
4-Star LB Jakobe Clapper Commits to Notre Dame
According to the Irish Tribune on social media, Clapper is the 29th-ranked linebacker in the country. This is another key addition for the second-ranked recruiting class in the nation for 2026.
𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: 4🌟 LB Jakobe Clapper (398 Natl. 29 Pos.) has 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐃 to the University of Notre Dame –@Clapper2026 is now the 13th commitment for Notre Dame’s 2026 recruiting class and their second linebacker. The 6’1, 215-pound prospect from Cincinnati, OH, is a… pic.twitter.com/5xJJPgdyRA
— The Irish Tribune (@TheIrishTribune) May 2, 2025
The Cincinnati native stands at 6’1″ and weighs 215 pounds. A star at St. Xavier High School, Clapper finished his junior season with 105 total tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and two pass deflections.
He has the look of a player who can make a great impact when it comes to either rushing the passer, diagnosing where the ball is going, or simply being a leader.
Marcus Freeman should have the right to feel jacked up about this commitment.
Notre Dame Continues to Build
Ever since Freeman was hired as the head coach after the 2021 season, the program has been on an upward trajectory. After starting off rocky in 2022, the team won nine games, including the Gator Bowl at the end of the year.
In 2023, the Irish won 10 games for the seventh time in nine years. Of course, all true college football fans know that the team from South Bend had something special last season.
They won 14 games and made it all the way to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, where they fell to Ohio State.
Despite coming up just a bit short last season, this team is moving in the right direction, especially as it pertains to the recruiting trail.
The present and future are both very bright.
However, Freeman and Co. will have an interesting schedule coming up this season. They will face teams such as Miami, Texas A&M, Boise State, NC State, and USC.
KEEP READING: 2025 Way-Too-Early College Football Top 25 Power Rankings
If they can find a way to get to double-digit wins once again, the College Football Playoff could be well within their grasp, as could another shot at a potential national title game appearance.
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