Four-star 2027 LB Ellis McGaskin commits to Notre Dame: "The opportunity that comes with it"

Mobile (Ala.) Williamson four-star 2027 linebacker Ellis McGaskin has committed to Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame.

The 6-foot, 215-pound McGaskin was in South Bend earlier this month for Irish Invasion. He chooses ND over his other top schools in LSU, Tennessee and Ohio State.

“It was the culture,” McGaskin said. “The atmosphere. The coaches. From the moment we stepped foot in South Bend we felt the love.

“I was talking to my dad and he was like this is somewhere we can live as a family because I got two sisters. Great people to be around. With Coach Freeman’s background and the rest of those guys, we know they want the best.”

McGaskin ranks as the nation’s No. 10 linebacker and No. 188 prospect overall. He is commit No. 2 for Notre Dame in the class of 2027 alongside long snapper Sean Kraft.

Notre Dame had everything McGaskin was looking for

McGaskin said it was the right time to make his college decision.

“It’s an amazing place,” McGaskin said. “The opportunity that comes with it, getting closer to God, getting to compete for a championship every year, that’s a needle mover.

“The thing that stood out to me the most, Coach Freeman, he played at the next level. Of course that’s where you want to be. He was at the camp and first thing he went to go do is coach the backers. That’s a big thing. If the coach is bought in on the backers the whole team is.”

McGaskin has been a dominant player the last two seasons. As a freshman he registered 142 tackles including 13 stops for loss and two forced fumbles. This past fall he posted 130 stops including 21 plays behind the line of scrimmage, four sacks and three forced fumbles.