Notre Dame added another linebacker target to its 2027 board on Wednesday as Tate Wallace picked up an offer during a visit to South Bend.
The 2027 Iowa linebacker learned of the scholarship while meeting with linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary during his time on campus.
“I was in a meeting with Coach BJ and we were talking some football,” Wallace told Irish Sports Daily. “Then that’s when it happened.”
Wallace didn’t need long to process what the moment meant.
“It was unbelievable,” he said. “Just to get that offer from such a prestigious program, it’s just a blessing. All the hard work is paying off and it’s an honor.”
The 6-foot-2, 226-pounder also holds offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Kansas State, Minnesota, Purdue, Tennessee, West Virginia and Wisconsin among others.
Notre Dame built toward that offer over the past several weeks.
Jean-Mary first reached out roughly a month ago and began establishing a relationship that carried into consistent communication leading up to the visit.
“He told me he was excited about me and really wanted to get some eyes on me and get me up to visit,” Wallace explained. “We’ve been talking over the phone the past couple weeks and I was really looking forward to this visit.”
The trip gave Wallace a chance to see the program up close.
“The visit was a blast,” Wallace said. “I got to do a lot of good stuff and I thought practice was amazing, great energy.”
The Regina High School standout left with a clear focus moving forward.
“The next step is just continuing to build my relationship with Coach BJ,” Wallace said. “And getting on the phone with Coach (Marcus) Freeman.”
Wallace said he expects to return to Notre Dame at some point as the process continues, though his timeline could move quickly.
“I would like to commit before the summer,” Wallace said. “So the only official visit I would take would be the one I’m committed to.”
This was his first visit of the spring, with trips to Minnesota, Wisconsin, Arizona, Arizona State, Kansas State and Purdue coming up next.
He plans to use those trips to compare each program before making a decision.
“Compare and contrast what I saw from each school, point out the good and bad and go from there,” Wallace said.
Given his accelerated timeline, a return to South Bend could be in relatively short order.
For Wallace, the decision will come down to fit and development.
“Definitely the relationship with the coaches and having a prestigious program. Going somewhere where I can develop as a man and as a football player and be in the best position to succeed.”
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