Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman is finally working with a roster built in his own image. After reshaping the Irish’s recruiting game, Freeman seems to be shifting the narrative in South Bend. The Fighting Irish are no longer playing catch-up.
Freeman is stacking on players! In fact, he is even drawing comparisons to Lou Holtz’s 1980s era. Just like Holtz’s 1988 title team leaned on an ahead-of-schedule 1987 class, Freeman’s Irish are positioning themselves for a similar advantage. Freeman has stars like CJ Carr and Bryce Young in the 2025 class. And the 2026 class is already looking good with 26 hard commits.
Now, Freeman is looking at 2027 recruits. And he has his eyes on a gunslinger from Georgia who could define the Irish’s future.
With 26 Commits Secured, Marcus Freeman Eyes 2027 Standout Teddy Jarrard
The Irish are sitting rather pretty with the third-best 2026 class in the country. They have names like Edge rusher Rodney Dunham, safety Joey O’Brien, corner Khary Adams, and running back Javian Osborne. It is a well-balanced class built for the long term. Freeman, however, is not simply sitting and admiring.
While still waiting on final answers from four-star defensive lineman Elijah Golden and tight end Evan Jacobson, Freeman is looking to land Teddy Jarrard. Jarrard is a 6’3”, 200-pound quarterback from North Cobb Christian.
Peyton Houston vs Teddy Jarrard kicks off 2027 Notre Dame quarterback recruiting discourse as first offers come off the board https://t.co/RIrUysbbCF
— Ryan Roberts (@RiseNDraft) June 23, 2025
Jarrard has a strong arm and is calm under pressure. He has been destroying defenses since his freshman year. Jarrard’s stats speak for themselves. He has nearly 5,000 yards and 49 touchdowns over two varsity seasons.
Scouts seem to love his mechanics, and coaches love his leadership. Now that combo is a Freeman kind of thing. Jarrard recently cut his list to five schools. The usual powerhouses are in the mix. There’s Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State. And Notre Dame is in the pole position.
“We want to be a program that always majors in high school recruiting. That’s gonna be the foundation.” 🗣️@NDFootball coach Marcus Freeman joined the 247Sports Signing Day Show
📺 https://t.co/71pux3IPss pic.twitter.com/PXkr7uZ8ac
— 247Sports (@247Sports) December 4, 2024
According to Rivals’ prediction machine, the Irish have the momentum, and the vibe around South Bend is that Jarrard could be the first big name in the 2027 class. If he commits, it would be a huge early win for Freeman.
Jarrard is the kind of signal-caller who brings in receivers, linemen, and hype. SEC threats are, of course, still at large. However, Freeman’s consistency year after year with elite defensive backs, trench warriors, and dynamic playmakers seems to be bringing in the biggest names.
The 2024 class was the first taste. The 2025 class looks promising. And the 2026 commits are deep and dangerous. But if Jarrard decides to go the South Bend way, then he will join linebacker Ellis McGaskin and long snapper Sean Kraft.
The 2027 class might just be the one that lifts the Irish back to championship glory in a newly made Freeman-Holtz style.
