Notre Dame bolsters their 2027 class by beating out SEC and Big 12 rivals for a physical, 6-foot-7 target who brings elite run-blocking potential to the depth chart.
Notre Dame picked up a commitment from Choctaw, Okla./Choctaw tight end Titus Hawk. It gets the Irish on the board at the position, and the Irish beat out Florida and Oklahoma State among many others to land Hawk.
Let's take a look at how the commitment of Hawk impacts the Notre Dame depth chart and the 2027 recruiting class.
NOTRE DAME CLASS IMPACT
Hawk is the 14th player to commit to Notre Dame in the 2027 class. He's the seventh offensive player and the first tight end to join the 2027 class.
Notre Dame has signed three tight ends in the last two seasons, landing talented Wisconsin tight end James Flanigan in the 2025 class and five-star Kansas tight end Ian Premer as well as speedy Ohio tight end Preston Fryzel in the 2026 class. Notre Dame could certainly use two tight ends in this class, but landing at least one was the key, and Hawk certainly meets that need.
Beyond that, landing a player that projects as more of a Y, which is the primary tight end role that will attach to the line and play more in the box, was also a key. Flanigan is a Y but Fryzel is more of a H. Premer can do it all, but to best maximize his skills he needs to also be used outside and as a movement player. Complementing the two 2026 tight ends with a more traditional Y was key, and Hawk fits that mold. He can catch the ball and do a lot of things beyond just blocking, but the fact he is such a good run blocker and can eventually play attached adds even more value to this pickup.
Notre Dame — and will — look for a second tight end in the class, but they can look for more of a pass catcher now that Hawk is in the class.
NOTRE DAME FIT
Hawk fits the Y position in the Notre Dame offense, which I stated above. He's tall and thin at the moment, but he has the frame and game to develop into a player that can line up attached and do damage in the run game. He is built a lot like Eli Raridon, who just went in the third round of the NFL Draft. But Hawk projects to be an even stronger blocker than Raridon, which is why the Y position fits him so well. That doesn't mean he can't play H or can't do things outside the box, because he can, but projecting as a Y makes this pickup even more impactful.
FILM ANALYSIS
Hawk is every bit the 6-7 and 210 pounds he's listed as. You can see it on the football field, but it's even more obvious when you see him playing first base or hitting as a standout baseball player. He's very lean at the moment, but his frame is outstanding and I see him filling out quite nicely when he gets to Notre Dame. Playing baseball will also make it a bit tougher for him to fill out to the maximum degree, but he will easily get to 250 pounds for football season once he gets into the Notre Dame strength and nutrition program.
On top of being big, Hawk also shows impressive power for someone that isn't already a 240+ pound player. He plays with serious attitude and looks to dominate in the run game, and he has the toughness and natural power to make that happen. As he fills out and adds more weight room strength he should be able to translate his run game production into the Notre Dame offense as well. He has the demeanor and willingness to battle in the run game that you want, and he's especially effective blocking on the perimeter thanks to his agility and smooth all-around athletic skill.
I rave about Hawk's ability in the run game, because it's something Notre Dame really needed in the class, and it's also something that surprised me when I first popped in the film after seeing how thin he was at Irish Invasion. But make no mistake, Hawk is a modern tight end when it comes to the pass game. He's an athletic pass catcher that averaged an impressive 20.8 yards per catch thanks to his ability to use his speed to stretch the field and also do damage in the screen game. He's a nimble athlete with impressive body control, and he looks like a big receiver once he gets the ball in his hands. Hawk has a good idea of what to do as a route runner as well, which helps him work open and get in position to use his size and speed.
Hawk has really good ball skills, which he put on display at Irish Invasion last summer and obviously shows in high school. He has an elite catch radius thanks to his height and length, he shows good timing when attacking the ball down the field, he's a hands catcher and he's a tough player that can catch the ball in traffic. He has a pretty good idea what he wants to do as a route runner, but getting sharper with his cuts will be a key at the next level. He'll also need to add the weight and strength I discussed above. He can thrive as a route runner at the prep level at his current size, but when working against linebacker and safeties in college he'll need to build on his frame and improve his overall play strength.
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