Notre Dame's Future QB
Notre Dame Lands Four-Star 2028 Quarterback Trey Tagliaferri, Boosting Recruiting Momentum
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Key Points
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Tagliaferri becomes Notre Dame’s third quarterback from Bergen Catholic to land at ND since the 2000 season, highlighting the program’s ongoing Bergen Catholic pipeline into South Bend.
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Tagliaferri publicly praised Marcus Freeman, calling him 'down-to-earth' and a 'player’s coach' whom he wants to play for, saying Freeman would do anything for his players.
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Angeli’s heroics in the 2025 Orange Bowl are cited as a turning point in Notre Dame’s rise, specifically noting Angeli’s late first-half performance helped spark the comeback against Penn State to reach the National Championship.
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Oklahoma still has multiple 2028 quarterback options on the board with four offers (Graham Simpson, Brady Quinn, Gavin Strang, Trey Wright) and no commits yet in that cycle.
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Analysts are speculating about Notre Dame’s next five commitments after Tagliaferri, with attention on 2027 targets like Simien and the program’s growing momentum following the pledge, including ND’s ability to beat out rivals for top targets.
Notre Dame landed 2028 quarterback Trey Tagliaferri on June 25, 2026, giving the Irish their fourth commitment in a single week. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Bergen Catholic standout chose Notre Dame over Oklahoma and Penn State after fielding more than 30 offers from programs including Alabama, Georgia, and Texas A&M, according to 247Sports.
Tagliaferri ranks as the No. 14 quarterback in the 2028 cycle per the 247Sports composite. As a sophomore, he threw for 2,238 yards and 29 touchdowns against just 3 interceptions. The commitment keeps Notre Dame's 2028 class among the nation's elite, with the Irish holding a No. 2 composite ranking trailing only Ohio State.
Bergen Catholic Sends Its Third QB to South Bend
Tagliaferri is the third quarterback from Bergen Catholic in Oradell, New Jersey, to choose Notre Dame since 2000, following Matt LoVecchio and Steve Angeli, according to Irish Sports Daily. The pipeline runs deep. Bergen Catholic head coach Vito Campanile said Tagliaferri has "probably got the most arm talent out of any guy I've ever coached."
Angeli's role in Notre Dame's 2025 Orange Bowl win adds weight to that pipeline. His late first-half performance helped spark a 27–24 comeback over Penn State, sending the Irish to the National Championship. AtoZ Sports notes analysts see that game as "proof of concept" for Marcus Freeman's program — a moment that showed elite New Jersey talent Notre Dame can deliver on the biggest stage.
Freeman's Personal Touch Sealed the Deal
Tagliaferri was not originally planning to visit Notre Dame in June. The staff urged him to come last-minute for a visit weekend on June 19–21, per Irish Sports Daily. He made the trip. Within days, he committed.
Tagliaferri pointed directly to Marcus Freeman as the reason why. "Marcus Freeman seems like a player's coach," he said, according to 247Sports. "He will do anything for his players and that is someone I want to play under." He also called Freeman "down-to-earth" and praised Notre Dame's academic reputation, citing its "degree power" as a key factor in his choice.
Oklahoma Pivots to Brady Quinn After Missing Out
Oklahoma had offered Tagliaferri in May 2026 as part of a push by offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle to stockpile 2028 quarterback options. The Sooners also hold offers for Graham Simpson, Gavin Strang, and Trey Wright but have zero 2028 QB commits, per AtoZ Sports.
After losing Tagliaferri, Arbuckle shifted full focus to Florida-based QB Brady Quinn — a name familiar to Notre Dame fans, as it echoes the Irish legend. Oklahoma-centric outlet SoonerScoop framed the loss as a "blessing in disguise," arguing Quinn fits Arbuckle's dual-threat system better than the pro-style Tagliaferri.
Notre Dame's Week of Momentum Could Get Even Bigger
Tagliaferri's pledge came on the heels of wide receiver Julius Jones Jr. and defensive lineman Segun Alexander also committing to Notre Dame within the same week, per Blue & Gold. The Irish entered June 26 with eyes on a fifth major pledge — five-star 2027 interior lineman Albert Simien, with analysts predicting a Notre Dame announcement.
National writer Ryan Roberts called Tagliaferri a "linchpin" for the 2028 class, per AtoZ Sports. Locking in a quarterback this early creates a "halo effect" — elite receivers and linemen want to join a class with a confirmed signal-caller. Tagliaferri is only the second top-20 QB in the 2028 cycle to commit anywhere, per Rivals, meaning Notre Dame is moving well ahead of rivals like Georgia and Alabama.
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