Notre Dame's 2027 LB Boost
Notre Dame Secures Highly-Rated Four-Star Linebacker Roman Igwebuike for 2027 Class
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Key Points
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247Sports lists Roman Igwebuike as No.164 overall in the 2027 class, No.12 at linebacker, and No.8 in Illinois, with a composite ranking around No.123.
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Igwebuike resides in Crown Point, Indiana—about an hour from Notre Dame’s campus—illustrating the regional draw for the Irish in the Chicago–Indiana corridor.
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Igwebuike became Notre Dame’s first linebacker commitment in the 2027 class, a buildup that accelerated after linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary joined the Irish staff and began pursuing him.
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ND had two decommitments from other 2027 linebacker targets earlier in the cycle (Ellis McGaskin and Amarri Irvin) before Igwebuike’s pledge, reflecting a volatile LB recruit landscape this cycle.
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Igwebuike piled up substantial junior-year production at Mount Carmel, posting 115 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, 17 pressures, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, two interceptions, and three passes defended.
Notre Dame has landed four-star linebacker Roman Igwebuike from Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, securing its first linebacker commitment in the 2027 recruiting class. 247Sports lists the 6-foot-3, 220-pound prospect as the No. 164 overall player and No. 12 linebacker in the country, with a composite ranking of No. 123 nationally.
Igwebuike chose Notre Dame over Clemson, Tennessee, Missouri, and Indiana, according to Fighting Irish Wire. He said the decision "just felt right," capping a late-stage push by the Irish that pulled him away from several high-profile programs.
A Chicago Prospect With Elite On-Field Production
Igwebuike put together a remarkable junior season at Mount Carmel. He recorded 115 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, 17 pressures, three forced fumbles, two interceptions, and three passes defended, per 247Sports. Those numbers place him among the most productive high school linebackers in the 2027 class.
He lives in Crown Point, Indiana — roughly an hour from Notre Dame's campus. That geographic pull gave the Irish a natural edge. Notre Dame has built a strong pipeline in the Chicago–Indiana corridor, and Igwebuike fits that regional recruiting pattern well.
Brian Jean-Mary's Arrival Sparked the Late Surge
Notre Dame's pursuit of Igwebuike picked up speed after linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary joined the Irish staff. Jean-Mary made Igwebuike a priority target almost immediately. Strong campus visits followed, and the Irish built enough momentum to leapfrog several established finalists late in the process.
Ca.sports.yahoo.com noted that Notre Dame beat out defending champion Indiana, which had been considered a strong contender. Clemson and Tennessee were also in the mix until the final stages. The Irish converted a late visit into a commitment — a pattern that has become a hallmark of their recent recruiting cycles.
Two Decommitments Made This Pledge Even More Critical
Notre Dame's 2027 linebacker board had already taken two hits before Igwebuike committed. Targets Ellis McGaskin and Amarri Irvin both decommitted from the Irish earlier in the cycle, per Sports Yahoo. That made securing a high-level linebacker a pressing need for the program.
Igwebuike's pledge steadies the room. The Irish are also monitoring the futures of current linebackers Drayk Bowen and Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, both of whom could leave for the NFL. Adding a prospect of Igwebuike's caliber now gives Notre Dame a foundation to build depth at the position well into the next recruiting cycle.
Notre Dame's 2027 Class Gets a Significant Rankings Boost
The New York Times reported that Igwebuike is the lone linebacker in Notre Dame's No. 2-ranked 2027 class. His arrival strengthens a group that had a clear positional gap. A composite ranking of No. 123 overall — with some outlets placing him inside the top 10 at his position — signals genuine upside.
Notre Dame's ability to close on a four-star prospect over Clemson and Tennessee shows the program's growing pull in late-stage recruitments. Igwebuike gives the Irish a high-ceiling defender who could start within his first two seasons if development goes as projected.
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