The Notre Dame recruiting machine is about to heat up this spring and into the summer season. On Saturday, 4-Star safety Hayden Gamble gave his public commitment to Notre Dame and its 2027 recruiting class during an announcement ceremony on YouTube.
The 5’11” 190 pound safety from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, chose the Irish over the other finalists; the Ohio State Buckeyes, Miami Hurricanes, and Florida Gators. Gamble had an impressive offer list that also included programs like the Georgia Bulldogs, Michigan Wolverines, Texas A&M Aggies and many others.
-Experienced split safety with a lead-dog mentality that sees the field better than most his age.-Frequently in the right place at the right time.-Takes efficient angles as both a zone defender and a run stopper.-Showcased unexpected physicality as an underclassman at the Under Armour All-America Game and has a chance to be a true difference-maker in the ally with further physical development.-Competes in man-to-man looks, but is much better at roaming than he is shadowing at this stage.-Will get across the field with his long speed, but could always get more explosive.-Likely to add immediate special teams value given ability to soak up coaching and make tackles in space.-Projects as a potential multi-year starter at the Power Four level that can emerge as a trusted option with his vision and IQ.
Gamble is the 10th commitment in this 2027 Notre Dame Football recruiting class. This is the 3rd player from the state of Florida, as the Irish are really putting in the effort in the Sunshine State this cycle, and it’s paying off with some great early returns.
This is the second safety commitment for the Irish since the decommitment of Khalil Terry. It’s clear that the Irish are looking to reload and solidify its secondary as 4 of the 10 commitments are defensive backs — and they aren’t done yet.
Dylan Faison, Bubba Frazier, Kaydon Finley, Devin Fitzgerald, Brayden Robinson
Cam Williams, Micah Gilbert, Logan Saldate, Mylan Graham
Peter Jones, Anthonie Knapp, Styles Prescod, Guerby Lambert
Cole Mullins, Sean Sevillano, Francis Brewu, Tionne Gray
Gamble is a great pickup for the Irish, and coming from STA in Florida means that the Irish should get a prospect as polished as can be from high school.