Sneed Signed as Notre Dame Builds Top-5 Class
Currently the lone five-star of the 2022 Notre Dame recruiting class, Jaylen Sneed signed early with the Fighting Irish. Sneed is a 6’2, 210-pound linebacker out of Hilton, South Carolina, and initially committed to the Irish back on July 12th. He’s ranked the #3 linebacker in the class and 28th best overall player by 247 Sports composite ranking. Sneed spent most of his junior year in high school at defensive end, but he largely boasts the build of an outside linebacker.
The Irish could use some linebacker depth, as they’ll lose some talent at the position. Captain Drew White figures to leave following the 2021 season. Fellow graduate students Isaiah Pryor and Bo Bauer could be on their way out as well. Notre Dame does have some talented underclassmen and players coming back from injury, but Sneed will definitely elevate the talent level in the room. Sneed’s commitment is also an immediate reflection of the effect of Marcus Freeman. Freeman recruited Sneed as a defensive coordinator but was promoted to head coach after Brian Kelly left for LSU. Sneed signing represents the first defensive player to be top of an Irish recruiting class since 2018 safety Kyle Hamilton. In 2021, the top five players were all offensive talent; the same held true for the top four in 2020.
The biggest concern in the linebacker’s recruitment came when he visited South Carolina unofficially on November 27. However, ultimately, Jaylen Sneed signed with the Irish early, and he heads to South Bend to join a title-hunting team.
