Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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68 PRESEASON 2025 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY MIKE SINGER Notre Dame entered the Deep South to land a 2027 linebacker on June 30. Mobile (Ala.) Williamson's Ellis McGaskin held offers from big-time SEC programs, but after just one visit to Notre Dame, he had seen enough. He picked the Fighting Irish. "When I visited Notre Dame, it felt like home," he told Blue & Gold Illustrated. "The coaching staff expressed how they would love to use me, and how I will fit in the system. The prestige of this program and the ability to compete in a national championship during my three to five years here — I know I can develop as a player and a person at Notre Dame." McGaskin, who is the No. 18 linebacker and No. 280 overall player in America per Rivals, participated in Notre Dame's Irish Invasion camp June 6, which also marked his first time in South Bend. He had a strong day working with linebackers coach Max Bullough and even head coach Marcus Freeman. Those two coaches, in particular, were fired up to get the call that McGaskin wanted to end his recruit- ment early and commit to their program. "They were super excited," McGaskin said. "I don't think they were expect- ing me to commit this early, but they welcomed me into the family. Coach Freeman was really fired up. After talk- ing with him again, I was reassured that my decision was the right one. "Everybody on their staff made me feel like I'm home when I was up there. Coach Max Bullough is the coach that I'm always talking with; he's the man. I'm super excited about working with him." McGaskin holds offers from more than 20 Power Four programs, including Au- burn, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Michi- gan, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas A&M. Mc- Gaskin could've gone through the process and looked closely at other schools, but he decided to end his recruitment early. "I did a lot of talking with my fam- ily and coaches, and when I told them that Notre Dame made me feel like I was most at home, they asked me what I was waiting for," the 5-11, 210-pounder said. "I've been to several college campuses, but I knew Notre Dame was home when I got there." With all that being said, signing day for the 2027 class is still a year and a half away. His commitment is only a verbal one; nothing is official until he puts pen to paper next December, and programs closer to home will probably make a run at trying to flip him. McGaskin isn't ruling out visiting other programs, but he feels confident that his mind won't change. "I'm fired up about getting to Notre Dame as soon as possible," he added. "I'm sure I will visit some more schools, but Notre Dame is home." McGaskin received his scholarship offer from Notre Dame March 17. He was one of several dozen prospects in the 2027 class to earn an Irish offer for the staff's St. Patrick's Day-themed Pot of Gold Day recruiting initiative. As a sophomore, McGaskin delivered an impressive stat line, recording 130 tackles (64 solo), 21 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 9 quarterback hurries, 4 passes broken up, 3 forced fumbles and 1 fum- ble recovery in nine games. He was named to the Alabama Sports Writers Association first-team All-State in 2024. He was also Lagniappe's 2A-5A Player of the Year as just a sophomore. ✦ COMMITMENT PROFILE ELLIS McGASKIN Notre Dame Goes Into Alabama To Land Talented 2027 Linebacker FILM ANALYSIS "Ellis McGaskin diagnoses plays so fast that it allows him to play faster. He's amazing to watch. He's got a quick first step, so as soon as he sees the hole open up, it's a tackle for loss every time. There are plays where he body slams kids sometimes. "He's getting there so fast. Athletically, his quick trigger and how fast he diagnoses plays are what make him such an elite-level linebacker." — Williamson defensive coordinator Jon Mitchell "The prestige of this program and the ability to compete in a national championship during my three to five years here — I know I can develop as a player and a person at Notre Dame." McGASKIN McGaskin, Rivals' No. 18 linebacker and No. 280 overall player in the nation, picked the Irish over offers from Auburn, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas A&M. PHOTO BY KYLE KELLY