Curt Cignetti has changed the recruiting conversation at Indiana, but Notre Dame still landed the latest big swing in the 2027 class.
Roman Igwebuike, a 4-star linebacker from Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, committed to the Fighting Irish on Saturday, choosing Notre Dame over Indiana, Missouri, and Clemson. The 6-foot-3, 226-pound defender is ranked by Rivals Industry as the No. 10 linebacker and No. 134 overall prospect in the 2027 class.
“All glory to God!! I will give 110% everyday to bring a natty to my hometown!”⁰
For Notre Dame, the commitment adds another major piece to a class that is already drawing plenty of praise. Igwebuike is the 22nd pledge in the Irish’s 2027 group and the 18th blue chip recruit in the class. Rivals currently has Notre Dame at No. 2 nationally in the 2027 team rankings.
The miss is a real one for Indiana, especially with Igwebuike headed to South Bend, but it doesn’t change the bigger picture in Bloomington. The Hoosiers still have a class that is taking shape and already includes 16 commitments, good for No. 29 in the country according to Rivals.
There’s also plenty of talent already in that group. Indiana’s 2027 class features six blue chip prospects: EDGE Myles Smith, LB Jalaythan Mayfield, OT Mason McDermott, and DL Reinaldo Lopez are all Rivals 4-stars, while S Brady Scott picked up a fourth star from ESPN last month and WR Branden Sharpe was elevated to 4-star status by 247Sports.
And the Hoosiers are still in the mix for one of the biggest names left on the board. Five-star wide receiver Monshun Sales, from Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis, remains undecided. His finalists are Indiana, Texas, Alabama, Ohio State, and LSU, though the race appears to have narrowed to Indiana and Texas.
If Indiana can keep Sales home, he would become the program’s first-ever 5-star high school commit. For now, that’s the next recruiting storyline Hoosier fans are watching closely.
In Other News...
Indiana Basketball Unveils A Bold New Look For Team USA Trip
Indianas offseason has taken on a different look under Darian DeVries, and the latest wrinkle comes with a patriotic twist. The Hoosiers are headed to Lima, Peru, for the International University Sports Federation America Games from July 20 to Aug. 1, where theyll represent the United States in a run of exhibition and pool play that offers a rare chance to see the group together before the 2026-27 season.
Along with the international stage, Indiana is bringing special USA-themed uniforms built around red, white and blue, a fitting touch for a team trying to establish an identity quickly. The trip also gives DeVries and a largely rebuilt roster time to start building chemistry, with only one returning player from last season, and the matchups against Canada, Argentina, Brazil and Peru should provide an early test of how far that process has come. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Just Landed A December Test That Could Matter In March
A December nonconference date can carry a lot more weight than it first appears, and Indiana is lining up one that should offer a useful early measuring stick. Missouri and Indiana are reportedly finalizing a game for Dec. 18, 2026, in Bloomington, a one-off setup with no return trip to Columbia, and it would be the first time the programs have met since 2004.
For Indiana, the appeal is obvious under Darian DeVries after last season ended without a postseason bid. Games like this can help shape an NCAA Tournament rsum, especially when the opponent is willing to challenge itself the way Missouri has under Dennis Gates, with a nonconference slate built to be demanding from top to bottom. [Read more 🡒]