Film Don't Lie | Jakobe Clapper
When someone has 11 minutes of highlights from a season, that says a lot about how productive they are as a player. New Notre Dame LB commit Jakobe Clapper is a playmaker. His 195 tackles the past two seasons backs that up.
A bit of a throwback who is advanced in many areas, Clapper is one of my favorite prospects that Notre Dame has landed so far in the 2026 class. I’m a huge fan of his game.
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 215
Projected Position: Linebacker
ISD Grade: 91 (4-star)
National Average Grade: 89.5 (4-star)
What he does best:
Clapper does a fantastic job of block destruction. He uses his hands really well to shed and also shows great lateral movement to slip blocks to make plays against the inside run game.
I think there’s a lot of casual observers who think that blitzing is all about being explosive, but it is truly a skill. It’s one of Clapper’s best skills. He has a great feel for getting skinny to knife in between blockers and with his timing.
He’s a very strong tackler who can deliver a ton of pop on contact.
St. Xavier lines him up as an edge to rush the passer at times and it’s a big plus with his game. He has a great feel for it and has the reactive athleticism to finish.
What he needs to improve:
He’s a good athlete, but not an elite one. I didn’t get to see him play man coverage against backs or tight ends and his instincts and recognition will have to be very good to improve as a coverage player.
That’s something we’ve seen with other Notre Dame linebackers like Te’Von Coney and JD Bertrand who got better each year in coverage.
What’s his ceiling?
Everyone has a tendency to over rely on athletic testing and traits when it comes to evaluating prospects. The film sometimes gets overshadowed in the process, but not for programs like Ohio State, Michigan, and Oregon. Those are three top tier programs who also offered Clapper in addition to Notre Dame.
The film and production against good competition doesn’t lie. Clapper is a heck of a football player who does a lot of things really well. The thing he is elite at is finding the football and there is nothing more important for a linebacker.
I think he’s someone who has the football intelligence to compete early at Notre Dame. It’s always going to be a battle for playing time at linebacker with the way the Irish have recruited the position, but Clapper has the potential to be a multi-year starter.
He reminds me a lot of former Notre Dame star Te’Von Coney (and of his future position coach Max Bullough). That’s the kind of player I believe Clapper can become at Notre Dame.
Who he could be:
Former Notre Dame LB Te’Von Coney
Men's Under Armour Ash Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football Coaches Rival Raglan Pullover Sweatshirt
