2028 Illinois DT Caleb Tucker Has Notre Dame Near Top Of His List

Caleb Tucker‍ has offers from some of the biggest programs in college football, but Notre Dame has established itself as one of his top priorities.

The 2028 Illinois defensive tackle made that clear following Saturday's return to South Bend, where another opportunity to spend time with the Irish coaching staff reinforced his interest.

“They're a top priority,” Tucker said. “They're definitely top of my list.”

The 6-foot-5, 355-pounder was on campus with his family for Notre Dame's 58-7 victory over Stanford, and the experience made an impression on everyone.

“Everything was great at Notre Dame, to be honest,” he said. “It was fun. The atmosphere was great and my family loved it.”

The Mount Carmel High School standout spent time with Notre Dame defensive line coach Charlie Partridge and Director of Scouting DJ Bryant, continuing to strengthen the relationships he's developed with the Irish.

Partridge has become an important figure in Tucker's recruitment, and their conversations on Saturday gave the Chicago native additional insight into how he could fit into Notre Dame's defense.

“He was telling me about the d-line and stuff,” Tucker said. “It looked very fun from his standpoint, and I see how he likes to experiment with the d-line.”

That appeals to Tucker, who believes the Irish's defensive system would allow him to play the type of football he's accustomed to.

“It's definitely my type of scheme,” he said. “It's definitely the type of stuff I play in.”

That personal connection could be huge as Notre Dame competes with an impressive collection of programs for his commitment.

In addition to Notre Dame, Tucker holds offers from Ohio State, Georgia, Texas, Texas A&M, Oregon, USC, Miami, Michigan, Penn State, Ole Miss, Florida, Auburn, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois and Purdue, among others.

Despite those options, Notre Dame has clearly established itself as one of the schools he'll continue to evaluate closely. The Irish may have to wait until the spring for another opportunity to host him.

With November expected to be occupied by Mount Carmel's playoff schedule, Tucker anticipates a return to South Bend after the season rather than for another game this fall. He does have other visits on his calendar, beginning with a trip to Miami next weekend for the Hurricanes' game against Florida State.

A visit to Michigan for the Wolverines’ game against Indiana is another possibility, depending on whether Mount Carmel earns a bye during the playoffs.

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