April was a strong month for Notre Dame on the recruiting front, and May is already off to a fast start. On Friday, 4-star linebacker Jakobe Clapper announced his commitment to the Fighting Irish as part of the 2026 recruiting class. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound standout from St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, chose Notre Dame over a competitive list of programs, including Ohio State, Michigan, Tennessee, and Penn State.
While athletic testing often gets the spotlight in recruiting evaluations, Clapper’s game film tells the real story—one that programs like Ohio State, Michigan, and Oregon clearly respected enough to extend offers. Clapper consistently produces against high-level competition, showcasing his instinctive ability to find the football, a crucial skill for any linebacker.
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He becomes the 13th commit in Notre Dame’s 2026 class and the first from Ohio—also the only defensive player from a northern state so far. The Irish currently hold the No. 2 spot nationally in the 247Sports Team Composite Rankings. Notre Dame continues to stockpile top-tier defensive talent, especially at linebacker, with 13 eligible players at the position for the 2026 season. That depth might suggest the staff is close to wrapping up LB recruiting for the cycle.
Over the past eight years, Notre Dame has built a reputation as one of the nation’s premier defensive programs. Though Clapper may not be a headline-grabbing name nationally due to his borderline 4-star status, the coaching staff values his productivity and playmaking for one of Ohio’s powerhouse high school programs.
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