Notre Dame Offer A Big One For 2026 LB Jakore Smith

The offer Jakore Smith‍ landed from Notre Dame back in March during the Irish’s Pot of Gold Day push seemed to represent a bit of a turning point for the 2026 Arkansas linebacker.

The offer seemed to represent the 6-foot-1, 190-pounder’s biggest to that point.

“Notre Dame stays going to the College Playoff,” Smith told Irish Sports Daily.

The Parkview Magnet star has since added other big-time offers from schools like Alabama, Tennessee and Florida State.

Notre Dame remains one of the offers that solidifies Smith as a true national prospect.

Smith is familiar with Notre Dame’s history and has seen the Irish develop players to the pros, including Chase Claypool.

Irish linebackers coach Max Bullough has been educating Smith even more on Notre Dame and how Smith himself can improve.

“He's really been telling me how to gain weight,” Smith said of Bullough. 

Smith has a positive overall impression of Bullough.

“When he talks to me, he doesn't just talk to me from a coach standpoint,” Smith said. “He jokes around, talks to me like he's one of the guys, one of my friends. He's just cool.”

Smith has also talked with Irish defensive coordinator Al Golden and is looking forward to getting up to South Bend at some point.

He hasn’t been on many visits yet, but has checked out Arkansas, Alabama, Oklahoma and Tennessee

He isn’t exactly sure what he’s looking for in a college just yet.

“I really don't know,” he said. “I'm just getting used to the recruiting stuff. I'm a sophomore.”

He’s looking forward to seeing more schools throughout the process.

“ I really just have to see if I like it.”

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