WATCH: The Notre Dame recruiting update with Singer and Kelly (Feb. 7)

In a weekly YouTube live show at Blue & Gold, recruiting writers Mike Singer and Kyle Kelly give the latest on Notre Dame’s recruiting efforts.

The show started a couple hours after news broke that Texas Tech general manager James Blanchard wouldn’t be taking the same position at Notre Dame after Marcus Freeman and Co. courted him for the past couple weeks. The guys react and share perspective on that and discuss a few class of 2026 prospects who have recently scheduled official visits to South Bend.

It is not a show to miss for Fighting Irish fans. It aired live on the Blue & Gold YouTube page Friday at 1:00 p.m. ET. Watch a replay of this week’s show in the video player below.

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Notre Dame pursuit of Texas Tech GM falls short

Notre Dame went after Texas Tech general manager James Blanchard for its own GM job, but that pursuit is likely going to fall short.

Blanchard will stay at Texas Tech. His decision was not contingent on money or staffing, both of which were agreed to in principle, per the source. But “life events and timing” are keeping the rising star evaluator in his home state of Texas.

Ultimately, the source said, Blanchard decided not to leave Texas, where he’s spent all but eight months of his professional life. The Irish thought very highly of Blanchard, which is why they gave him several days to consider their offer. However, he still turned it down to remain close to home.

Blanchard has five children with his wife, Kiara Fowler, according to his bio page on Texas Tech’s website.

Notre Dame is not in any hurry to fill its general position, which opened when Chad Bowden left the Irish for the same position at USC.

News broke on Jan. 25 that Irish head coach Marcus Freeman was targeting Blanchard to be Notre Dame’s general manager. On Feb. 2, Football Scoop reported that Blanchard was staying in the Morris Inn located on Notre Dame’s campus as the two parties looked to finalize the deal.

Entering his fourth season as Texas Tech’s general manager, Blanchard is considered one of the top young personnel people in college football. He got his start at Baylor as director of recruiting from 2019-20 after spending six years as an assembler specialist at American Valve and Hydrant while evaluating Texas high school football prospects on the side.

When then-Baylor head coach Matt Rhule left for the Carolina Panthers, he took Blanchard with him as a pro scout. He would then return the Baylor as assistant athletics director for player personnel, and when then-Bears linebackers coach Joey McGuire took the head coaching job at Texas Tech, Blanchard was his first hire.

With the Red Raiders, Blanchard immediately elevated the standard of recruiting in Lubbock, Texas.

“Blanchard joined McGuire in Lubbock immediately upon his hire, reshaping the Red Raiders’ entire recruiting process from scouting to on-campus visits as part of Texas Tech’s unique model that resembles an NFL front office,” his web page reads. “Blanchard and his staff identify are responsible for identifying every prospect Texas Tech ultimately offers a scholarship opportunity, allowing McGuire and his coaching staff to prioritize player development and scouting, especially during the season.”

Texas Tech’s 2023 class ranked 28th in the country, per the On3 Industry Ranking, and fourth in the Big 12. His 2024 class was even better, coming in at 23rd nationally and first in the conference. That class included the Red Raiders’ first five-star signee ever, wide receiver Micah Hudson (although it should be noted that Hudson transferred to Texas A&M after his freshman year).

On the field, Texas Tech finished the 2024 regular season 8-4 (6-3 Big 12). It was the Red Raiders’ best regular-season record since 2009, the late Mike Leach‘s last year in Lubbock, Texas.

Blanchard also engineered One3’s No. 1 transfer portal class in the 2025 cycle, as Texas Tech acquired a whopping eight of the On3 Industry Ranking’s top 100 transfers.