Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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42 NOV. 14, 2026 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY KYLE KELLY O n June 6, 2025, Jackson Vaughn put on one of the most impressive dis- plays reporters had seen from a Notre Dame football edge rusher recruit at the Irish Invasion prospect camp. Vaughn, only a rising sophomore from Oradell (N.J.) Bergen Catholic at the time, was an unequivocal top performer. He repeatedly beat offensive linemen in one-on-one drills with his unmatched combination of speed, finesse, bend and athleticism. No one who crossed his path stood much of a chance. Though it was just one camp, Vaughn was so dominant in his outing that he seemingly left little doubt about his spot on Notre Dame's recruiting board and his status as a five-star-caliber prospect. That day, Vaughn announced himself as one of the top players in the country. And 16 months later, he did it again. On Oct. 9, Vaughn returned to In- diana and put on a show at New Pal- estine High School. After reclassifying to the 2027 class, committing to Notre Dame and transferring to Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy in one offseason, he helped lead IMG to a 49-7 road win in his seventh game. He intercepted a pass, broke up another and recorded 6 stops, a tackle for loss and a sack against the No. 14 team in Indiana. The 6-foot-3, 220 pounder is still a four-star prospect and the No. 15 edge rusher and No. 133 overall player na- tionally, according to the Rivals Indus- try Ranking. In his eyes, that does not align with what he has accomplished at the high school level or what he is ca- pable of doing in college. The disagree- ment with his ranking has inspired an incredible effort this season, including his performance against New Palestine. "My ranking," Vaughn said when asked what has motivated him this sea- son. "I feel like I'm the best player in the country. And every week, I'm just trying to prove that." Through eight games, he has recorded 36 tackles (27 solo), 19 stops for loss, 7 sacks, 6 quarterback hurries, 2 inter- ceptions, 3 pass breakups and 1 forced fumble. He leads IMG Academy, ranked No. 1 nationally in the Rivals High School Football Composite, in three of those categories: tackles for loss, sacks and quarterback hurries. The impact Vaughn makes on the stat sheet every week hasn't surprised head coach Greg Studrawa, the former LSU offensive coordinator and Ohio State offensive line coach who now works in the high school ranks. Studrawa said he appreciates Vaughn's evolution into a complete player. "What surprises me is his develop- ment so quickly into a well-rounded player," Studrawa said. "Everybody knows he can rush the passer, or he's quick. He's now taking run blocks on. He's taking linemen that are bigger than him on, holding his gap and making plays in the run game. That's growth in becoming a total player, and that's what you're seeing him do now." Vaughn's teammates have come to expect that kind of impact on a weekly basis. Four-star linebacker DJ Alexan- der, Rivals' No. 2 linebacker recruit in the 2028 class and a Notre Dame target, has had the best view of Vaughn wreak- ing havoc every week. "He's made a big difference," Alex- ander said. "He's a playmaker. I'm very blessed and very glad he's on our de- fense. … His technique is there, and his speed is just different from everybody else's. And he's a dog. Those are the big three traits that Jackson has that sepa- rate him from everybody." Opposing teams have felt Vaughn's presence the most. That includes four- star recruit Sam Hirschy, who plays both offensive and defensive line for New Palestine and faced Vaughn first- hand. Hirschy, the No. 28 defensive lineman and No. 274 overall player in the 2028 class in the Rivals Industry Ranking, knew Vaughn would auto- matically give him trouble because he was a Notre Dame commit. And he gave Hirschy trouble in more ways than one. With how dominant Vaughn has been week in and week out for IMG, there is not much more he can do to demon- strate that he's a five-star recruit. That hasn't kept others from making his case. "He's definitely a five-star," Alexan- der said. "First of all, he's my teammate. Then it's the big three traits he has: dog, speed, technique. It's all there. He's definitely going to be making noise at the college level. I can't wait to see him in the uniform." Even his opponent, Hirschy, agreed. "Honestly, five stars," he said. "He's by far the best player I've gone against in my football career." Where Vaughn ends up in the rankings won't matter once he arrives in South Bend in January. He'll be on a level play- ing field with the other incoming fresh- men. But if Vaughn keeps showing out as he did at Irish Invasion and against New Palestine, don't count Studrawa among those who will be surprised. "I think he's going to be outstand- ing," Studrawa said. "And I'm sure Coach [Marcus] Freeman will put him in a scheme where he can make plays. He can rush — you saw him today. He can drop, and he can be effective in a lot of ways, in blitz situations, in non- blitz situations. His ability to do all those things allows him to make plays for you." ✦ Commit Jackson Vaughn Is Excelling On The Field F O O T B A L L RECRUITING Vaughn, who is ranked as the No. 15 edge rusher in the nation, recorded 36 stops, 19 tackles for loss and 7 sacks through his first eight games at Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy this season. PHOTO BY KYLE KELLY