April was a great month of recruiting for the Fighting Irish, and now May is starting off with a bang. On Friday, 4-Star linebacker Jakobe Clapper gave his public commitment to Notre Dame and the 2026 recruiting class.
The 6’2” 215 pounder from St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, chose the Irish over an impressive offer list that included the Ohio State Buckeyes, Michigan Wolverines, Tennessee Volunteers, Penn State Nittany Lions, and more.
Clapper is the 13th commitment for Notre Dame’s 2026 football recruiting class and the lone representative from the state of Ohio. In fact — Clapper is the only non-offensive line commitment from a northern state. The Irish class is currently ranked #2 in the country according to the 247 Team Composite Rankings.
The Irish continue to line their pockets with incredible talent at the linebacker position and the defense as a whole. At present, there are 13 linebackers that will be eligible to play in 2026. Given the numbers, it would surprise me if the Irish weren’t done at LB for the 2026 cycle.
Notre Dame has become an elite defensive program over the last 8 years. Additions like Clapper won’t be seen nationally as something incredible due to his borderline 4-Star ranking, but the coaches love him, and he is incredibly productive at one of the best programs in the great state of Ohio.
