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BREAKING | 2026 LB Jakobe Clapper Commits To Notre Dame

2026 Ohio linebacker Jakobe Clapper has committed to the Irish
May 2, 2025
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It may not have come as a shock, but it was certainly welcomed news for Notre Dame.

On Friday morning, Jakobe Clapper‍ announced his commitment to the Irish. 

The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder gives the Irish 13 current verbal commitments in the Class of 2026. He joins Thomas Davis Jr. to give Notre Dame a pair of linebackers in the class.

The St. Xavier High School star chose the Irish over offers from schools like Oregon, Penn State, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Duke among several others. 

Clapper had been considered a Notre Dame lean for months and had made multiple trips to South Bend, but had yet to make his decision official before Friday.

With two linebackers in the fold now, look for the Irish to turn their attention to linebacker targets like Talanoa Ili‍ and Tank King‍ to round out the group. 

As a junior, Clapper recorded 105 tackles (54 solo), 11.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. 

St. Xavier has been friendly to the Irish program as Clapper will join incoming freshman defensive lineman Gordy Sulfsted‍ in South Bend. 

Stay tuned to Irish Sports Daily for more on this breaking news. 

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