2027 four-star LB Ellis McGaskin commits to Notre Dame football

Notre Dame has gone into the South and landed a commitment from a big-time class of 2027 linebacker. Mobile (Ala.) Williamson’s Ellis McGaskin has announced his surprising pledge to the Fighting Irish.

McGaskin, who ranks as the No. 188 overall player and No. 10 linebacker per the On3 Industry Ranking, held offers from big-time SEC programs in the South, but after just one visit to Notre Dame, he’s seen enough. He picked the Fighting Irish.

“When I visited Notre Dame, it felt like home,” he told Blue & Gold before announcing his decision publicly. “The coaching staff expressed how they would love to use me, and how I will fit in the system. The prestige of this program and the ability to compete in a national championship during my 3-to-5 years here — I know I can develop as a player and a person at Notre Dame.”

McGaskin’s visit to South Bend took place on June 6 for the staff’s Irish Invasion camp, and he had a strong day working with linebackers coach Max Bullough and even head coach Marcus Freeman. Those two coaches in particular were fired up to get the call that McGaskin wanted to end his recruitment early and commit to their program.

“They were super excited,” McGaskin said. “I don’t think they were expecting me to commit this early, but they welcomed me into the family. Coach Freeman was really fired up after talking with him again; I was reassured that my decision was the right one. He was super excited about bringing me in.”

“Everybody on their staff made me feel like I’m home when I was up there. Coach Max Bullough is the coach that I’m always talking with; he’s the man. I’m super excited about working with him.”

McGaskin holds offers from more than 20 Power Four programs, including Auburn, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas A&M. McGaskin could’ve gone through the process and looked closely at other schools, but he decided to end his recruitment early.

“I did a lot of talking with my family and coaches, and when I told them that Notre Dame made me feel like I was most at home, they asked me what I was waiting for,” noted McGaskin. “I’ve been to several college campuses, but I knew Notre Dame was home when I got there.”

With all that being said, signing day for the 2027 class is still a year and a half away. His commitment is only a verbal one; nothing is official until he puts pen to paper next December, and programs closer to home will probably make a run at trying to flip him.

McGaskin isn’t ruling out visiting other programs, but he feels confident that his mind won’t change.

“I’m fired up about getting to Notre Dame again as soon as possible,” he added. “I’m sure I will visit some more schools, but Notre Dame is home.”

He is Notre Dame’s second commitment of the 2027 class, joining North Carolina long snapper Sean Kraft.

McGaskin added his scholarship offer from Notre Dame on March 17. He was one of several dozen prospects in the 2027 class to earn an Irish offer for the staff’s St. Patrick’s Day-themed Pot of Gold Day recruiting initiative.

As a sophomore, McGaskin delivered an impressive stat line, recording 130 tackles (64 solo), 21 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 9 quarterback hurries, 4 pass breakups, 3 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery in nine games.

He was named to the Alabama Sports Writers Association first-team all-state and First-Team All-Coastal in 2024. He was also Lagniappe’s 2A-5A Player Of The Year as just a sophomore.