Top Notre Dame recruiting target sets commitment date following visit to South Bend, but that's bad news for the Fighting Irish

A top 2027 Notre Dame recruiting target is set to make his commitment. Why is this bad for the Fighting Irish?

Notre Dame football recruiting is expecting a ton of good news over the next several months, but that doesn't include this Friday. Elite 2027 Greenwich (Conn.) Country Day star pass rusher Mekai Brown has set his commitment date for then, and he will be selecting between the Fighting Irish, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, and USC.

The Connecticut star just made the trip to South Bend this past weekend for an unofficial visit. According to every source, head coach Marcus Freeman and the Irish staff did a tremendous job with that trip. While vibes were solid, many doubted whether the impact was enough.

Whenever a recruit schedules a commitment date shortly after a visit, that is usually extremely optimistic for that program. When it comes to Brown, that is not expected to be the case. Barring something last-minute, Notre Dame will not be the selection for the talented pass rusher.

The USC Trojans are the frontrunners going into that announcement. If the Irish do miss out on Brown, it is unquestionably a loss. That will put even more pressure on Notre Dame to be able to close on the likes of Abraham Sesay and Aidan O'Neil, among others. The belief is that Charlie Partridge can do just that, but he will need to close strong.

Mekai Brown's recruiting background

Brown is considered to be a four-star player by each of the major recruiting platforms. On the 247 Sports Composite ranking, Brown currently sits as the No. 49 overall player, the No. 6 EDGE, and the No. 1 player in the state of Connecticut for the 2027 recruiting class. This is a toolsy player with all the upside in the world.

It should be no surprise that a long list of impressive programs is pursuing Brown right now. Some of his top offers so far include the Fighting Irish, Georgia, Ohio State, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, USC, Florida State, Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Auburn, South Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia Tech, Maryland, UNC, UCLA, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Pitt, Boston College, Syracuse, and Rutgers, among many others.

At 6-7 and 230 pounds, Brown is a high upside pass rusher who is widely considered one of the most talented defensive ends in the country. As a sophomore in 2024, the Connecticut native managed to collect 36 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, and seven sacks. Brown also recorded two forced fumbles, broke up two passes, and recorded two safeties.