Notre Dame can now see the light at the end of the tunnel in the race for a borderline five-star recruit once committed elsewhere​

There is now an end in sight for a top Notre Dame recruiting target.

When elite 2027 Middletown (Delaware) Appoquinimink offensive tackle Layton Von Brandt decommitted from Penn State following the firing of head coach James Franklin, things moved incredibly quickly for the Notre Dame program. Head coach Marcus Freeman, Joe Rudolph, and Co. quickly opted to offer the Delaware native, and many believed they became the front runner. Things were in a great place.

With Von Brandt getting a second chance at the recruiting process, there was an intention to not make an impulse decision. While the Fighting Irish were in a great spot, and the assumed leader, he was going to let the process play out. That can be unsettling for the assumed leader, but things have continued to trend in a great direction for Notre Dame.

That includes with the Irish being selected as a finalist for the talented offensive lineman several weeks ago, being put inside of his top eight schools. Notre Dame was joined by Ohio State, LSU, Penn State, Tennessee, Florida, Auburn, and Virginia Tech on that list. It’s an impressive group of suitors, but Notre Dame had as good of a chance as anyone.
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With a group of finalists known, the next natural question is what the decision timeline would be for Von Brandt. It appears we may have gotten that answer this past week, when the Delaware star posted that he target is around the start of his senior season. That means that the end of August-beginning of September should be when a decision and announcement comes.
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As of today, I wouldn’t want to be anyone in this recruitment other than Notre Dame. With so many elite programs after Von Brandt, however, the Irish will have to be ready to battle. Rudolph has shown himself to be an elite recruiter since coming to South Bend, and this would be one of his biggest victories if he can close it out in the future.
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Just sayin': Based on the article, the same can be said for Ohio State.

brodybuck21 said:

Too many people talk about WRU and fail to mention TG

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His body control was out of this world.

DZ83CK said:

You're right, that's been the one constant with three coaches over practically 10 years now, not enough dogs, too many puppies. Wisconsin really exposed OSU's lack of post presence - both offensively and defensively, it was embarrassing. Blackwell for Wisconsin is the perfect example of the type of player OSU needs more of, a guy who will bully his way to the basket and not let a defender being in his way stop him. You need a team filled with guys who can handle some bumps, be able to play through contact, get to the foul line and convert in the paint, but over the last several seasons OSU puts together teams with maybe 2 guys who can do it and 8 who can't. There absolutely should be a higher priority in recruiting players with the requisite size, strength and athleticism to hold their own at the B1G level. At this point, what justification is there for continuing to recruit based on the same failed emphasis on offensive skillset over all else?

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The problem is they aren't skilled either. Year after year this team has no strengths to beat you. They aren't going to out shoot you, they aren't going to out defend you, they aren't going to out pace you. etc

BOOM!

Too many people talk about WRU and fail to mention TG

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Fuck TCUN

It's been at least... scrolls back to page seven... January 7, 24 days since someone came to this thread and typed out "Fuck Michigan."

Let's not forget our driving force on this site. Fuck Michigan.

dragurd said:

Took forever to announce it. Wonder what the holdup there was

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They had to assuage BN27 first.

ScriptOhio said:

“Get the ball to 4”

Just sayin': The consistent answer to almost any situation in 2026 to the question: What play should we run?

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Great Post. I agree

Did I miss Matt Patricia's extension?

brodybuck21 said:

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Took forever to announce it. Wonder what the holdup there was

Never thought of that connection. Guess Wexner coulda been chumming Epsteins waters to provide women's 'flimseys' for his parties. These young 'uns couldn't have been able/required to provide their own party duds. Have seen the U-tubes where the young hottie asks the old guy how old he is, and he replies '$70 million in the bank', and she replies that's a great age....

FWIW Notre Dame is owned by the Brothers of Holy Cross who also own Hoban... In my day, a number of the teachers came from ND

Where did the Cubans get California Avocados? PS, what's the 'mystery meat'? Enough sauce, you can serve dog, and it'll be tasty.

Still remember 'Nothings Boy' from the HPLovecraft album...Lovecraft's books, still cause nightmares.

Geez Dubs, you got all this on vinyl? My stash is only two feet deep. Yours must be around 20'....and eclectic as heck. Liked the psycadelic (sp?) album at top, brings back some late 60's memories. Cannot remember whose, but those times are best kept locked up....and pine for my Klipsch speakers that sold for a song....my first purchase with my first paycheck, from my first job after receiving my MBA....

calibuck said:

Don't really believe that the Buckeyes were playing bad defense - against the 3's. They WERE playing bad defense when the ally oops were going over our smallish team for lay-ups. Wiscy was raining three's from all over the court, and our 3 machines weren't answering. PS, to the above opinion that we have a brutish 5, who has the attitude 'get the ball', believe he's sitting on the bench right now, nursing an injury. (Xfer from Baylor). Have no clue what the injury is, but hope he's doing his cardio, so if he can get ready for the Dance or ? he's ready. "Puff" doesn't seem to be cutting it when he's in. Not really certain what he does, but haven't seen any of it....

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Puff jumped in after like a week of practice after not even getting to practice with the team at all for the whole season up until that point. That's a very hard thing to do so I'll cut him a break, at this point he was just a desperately needed extra body