​There are a couple of local 2028 recruiting targets that have become massive priorities for Notre Dame football and the Irish staff. Notre Dame football and head coach Marcus Freeman have a real opportunity to address a significant tight end need in the 2028 recruiting class, and the Fighting Irish already have their eyes on two priority targets within their own geographic footprint. After a 2027 class that fell short at the position despite elite-level recruiting across the board, offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock and the Notre Dame staff have shifted their focus to two Illinois prospects who could form one of the better tight end duos the program has signed in years. Both targets have emerged as major priorities.
The Fighting Irish currently hold a commitment from Choctaw, Oklahoma, standout Titus Hawk in the 2027 class. The 6-foot-7, 215-pound athlete has the upside to develop into a productive inline tight end at the college level, but Notre Dame originally aimed to land two tight ends in this cycle. The staff faced several high-profile misses, including Jaxon Dollar, Seneca Driver, and Malik Howard, three elite tight ends who chose other programs. While Notre Dame will continue evaluating options on the board, there’s a real possibility the Irish end up with Hawk alone in the class. That reality makes the 2028 tight end haul critical for the program’s long-term offensive identity.
Elmhurst, Illinois’ Immaculate Conception high school has produced another name to watch: Grant Bowen. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound athlete has already emerged as a top priority for the Fighting Irish. Bowen is one of the more dynamic and versatile players in the 2028 class, capable of lining up at tight end, linebacker, or defensive end at the next level, with Notre Dame envisioning him as a tight end for their offense. Ranked inside the top 60 overall players in the 2028 class according to the 247Sports composite, Bowen enjoyed a standout sophomore season in which he racked up over 700 yards and 11 touchdowns on offense. He attends the same high school as Notre Dame’s 2025 defensive end signee Dominik Hulak, a connection that only helps strengthen the existing pipeline. Notre Dame currently holds an early favorable position with Bowen, but the competition remains elite. Bowen’s father, Matt Bowen, was a star defensive back at Iowa in the late 1990s, which adds another layer of challenge for the Irish in this recruitment. Freeman and his staff have a real opportunity here, but it will require sustained effort and ongoing relationship-building to close the deal.
In addition to Bowen, Notre Dame is also high on Chicago’s Brother Rice tight end Jack McNamara. Bowen has a profile that leans toward a versatile flex role, while McNamara presents as a true inline Y target at 6-5 and 235 pounds. In many ways, McNamara’s game mirrors that of a former Notre Dame standout, Mitchell Evans, featuring a big frame and solid after-the-catch ability without relying primarily on elite change-of-direction prowess. Notre Dame is excited about McNamara’s upside and sees him as a strong fit for their tight end progression, potentially providing a different stylistic option within the same class. The staff views McNamara as a player who could contribute immediately in a tight-end-yet-versatile role, complementing Bowen’s more flexible skill set.
Overall, the 2028 tight end pursuit represents a strategic focal point for Notre Dame’s offense going forward. The combination of Bowen’s multifaceted athleticism and McNamara’s physical inline potential provides the Irish with a compelling duo that could anchor the next wave of their offensive identity. The challenge will be maintaining the momentum and outlasting stiff competition from other programs that are prioritizing these same Illinois and Chicago-area talents. Freeman and his staff appear determined to convert these targets into signature additions, but it will require deliberate recruitment, relationship-building, and sustained excellence on the field to finalize commitments.