WATCH: The Notre Dame recruiting update with Singer and Kelly (Jan. 16)
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.
On3 Vice President of Recruiting and Transfer Portal Steve Wiltfong joined the show to discuss Notre Dame’s run to the national championship game with a focus on the recruiting impact. How big of a deal are the wins for the Fighting Irish in the postseason?
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.
Also, make sure to subscribe to the Blue & Gold YouTube channel for more video coverage of Fighting Irish football and recruiting.
FootballScoop names Notre Dame GM Chad Bowden its Player Personnel Director of the Year
Notre Dame football’s general manager has been recognized by his colleagues for constructing one of the top rosters in college football this season. FootballScoop announced Chad Bowden as its Player Personnel Director of the Year on Monday. Prior winners voted Bowden as this year’s award winner.
Bowden is in his fourth season with the Fighting Irish, first as the program’s general manager. He previously served as director of recruiting during the 2022 and 2023 seasons before earning a promotion to assistant athletic director for player personnel in March. Over the summer, his title was changed to general manager.
“Chad is elite at what he does,” Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman told reporters in the spring. “The opportunity for him to lead our entire personnel staff is, to me, something that is earned. He’s earned that right and is doing a great job. He does such a good job at what he does. That’s not just connecting with recruits but planning, leading a group of people and evaluations.
Bowden has been a linchpin to Notre Dame football’s success on the recruiting trail and transfer portal. He has been the program’s architect, achieving three top-11 recruiting classes from 2022-2024, a mark the Irish had not attained since 2006-08. During those three years, Notre Dame landed the No. 4, No. 5 and No. 4 classes, respectively.
Top 10
- 1New
Record shattered
ND vs. OSU ticket prices
- 2
Litigation coming?
Wisconsin DB enrolls at Miami without entering portal
- 3
Doubling-down
Bill Belichick, unsigned UNC contract
- 4
Massive fine
Sun Belt fines Marshall for bowl opt out
- 5Hot
Dick Vitale
ESPN icon returning to mic
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
Notre Dame’s 2025 recruiting class ranks No. 12 in the 2025 Industry Ranking Football Team Recruiting Rankings. Its team ranking will be finalized once the four primary recruiting services release their final prospect rankings later this winter.
Last offseason, Bowden spearheaded the team’s presence in the transfer portal, helping build the No. 15 class in the 2024 College Football Team Transfer Portal Rankings. His acquisitions have been pivotal in the Irish reaching the College Football Playoff semifinal.
Bowden is off to another hot start in this year’s transfer portal cycle, adding Alabama defensive back Devonta Smith, Virginia wide receiver Malachi Fields, Wisconsin wide receiver Will Pauling and Arkansas tight end Ty Washington. That class currently ranks No. 20, with other additions in the works.
Notre Dame is also pacing well in the 2026 high school recruiting cycle. The Irish currently rank No. 11 in the team rankings.
Freeman named Bowden the program’s director of recruiting in February 2022. Bowden previously served as the program’s defensive director of recruiting for one season. Freeman brought Bowden from the University of Cincinnati after accepting Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator position in 2021.
