By Maliha
Four-star linebacker Ellis McGaskin committed to Notre Dame’s 2027 class on Monday. The Williamson High School (Mobile, Alabama) standout chose Marcus Freeman’s program over Auburn, LSU and Ohio State.鈥淗e went on a visit up there and loved it,鈥 Williamson coach Antonio Coleman told AL.com following McGaskin’s commitment. 鈥淗e came back and had nothing but great things to say about it. Obviously, he still has more visits to take.”He loves Ohio State, but he hasn鈥檛 been on campus yet. Oregon is another school he鈥檚 liked, but Notre Dame just blew his mind. Ever since he got back, he鈥檚 been all Notre Dame. It鈥檚 huge for him. I think he鈥檒l fit in great there.鈥滿cGaskin, who holds offers from over 20 Power Four schools, made his decision after visiting South Bend on June 6 for the Irish Invasion camp.鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 wait to come up here and connect with those guys,” McGaskin told the Irish Sports Daily. “They showed me another world.”As a junior last season, McGaskin racked up 130 tackles, including 21 for loss, along with four sacks and three forced fumbles. He is the No. 10 linebacker in the 2026 class and the No. 9 recruit in Alabama, according to the On3 Industry Rankings.Ellis McGaskin reveals Notre Dame staff’s excitement following his surprise commitment Ellis McGaskin received his scholarship offer from Marcus Freeman鈥檚 Notre Dame on March 17, during the staff鈥檚 St. Patrick鈥檚 Day-themed 鈥淧ot of Gold Day鈥 recruiting push. As a member of the 2027 recruiting class, he had ample time to weigh his college options.However, McGaskin’s unexpectedly early commitment came as a pleasant surprise to the Irish coaching staff, including Freeman and linebackers coach Max Bullough.”Coach Freeman was really fired up after talking with him again; I was reassured that my decision was the right one,” McGaskin told Blue & Gold. “He was super excited about bringing me in.鈥淓verybody on their staff made me feel like I鈥檓 home when I was up there. Coach Max Bullough is the coach that I鈥檓 always talking with; he鈥檚 the man. I鈥檓 super excited about working with him.鈥滿cGaskin becomes Notre Dame鈥檚 second pledge in the 2027 class, joining long snapper Sean Kraft from North Carolina. Freeman鈥檚 staff will need to stay engaged throughout the process, as McGaskin isn鈥檛 completely closing the door on visiting other schools.McGaskin is confident he will stick with his decision, but in today鈥檚 recruiting landscape, anything can happen.