2027 QB Trae Taylor Enjoys Notre Dame Return

It’s early, but it’s been obvious for a while now that Trae Taylor‍ is a prospect to keep an eye on.

Last week, the 2027 Illinois was back in South Bend for Notre Dame’s game against Pitt.

“It was good,” said Taylor, who camped with the Irish over the summer. “I had a really good time.

“I had already seen all of it. The only thing I really got to see different was the players' locker room inside of the stadium. They took us in there for a quick second. Last time I was at Notre Dame, they took me around the whole campus in a golf cart, so that was really nice. It was good to see all of it again.”

The freshman already has offers from schools like Michigan, Miami, Maryland, Vanderbilt and Colorado among others. 

He enjoyed his first trip to South Bend for a game.

“It was really cool, really amazing,” the Carmel Catholic standout said. “I wasn't expecting the amount of energy that was in the stadium.”

He was also impressed with the Irish’s performance during their 58-7 rout of the Panthers.

“I thought they played really good,” Taylor said. “Obviously their offense can put points on the board. It was cool to see how they worked the pass and run game and everybody still get out of that game safe. It was really cool to see how Notre Dame is spreading the ball out through run and pass. This was the first (game) I truly, truly, truly got to watch them play.”

While in town, Taylor was able to speak with Notre Dame quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli and other staffers.

“I talked to some recruiters who are students there right now, so I can see what the academics is like for a student there now,” he said. “I had a good conversation with Coach Gino. It was about 15, 20 minutes.

“Just asking about how high school football's been and how I've been liking it, how the playoffs going…and just how everything's been going.”

Taylor likes what he’s seen from Guidugli so far.

“Really relaxed, has a lot of energy, though,” he said. “He's just a really good guy. He definitely has intensity, but a good intensity, not just yelling to yell. But he's always ready for football it feels like.”

The rest of Taylor’s visit schedule this fall will be dependent on his team’s playoff success, but he does intend to return to South Bend for camp again next summer.

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