Notre Dame’s fall camp is still in its early stages, but freshman linebacker Ja’Kobe Clapper is already making noise.
Clapper arrived in South Bend as a 3-star prospect in the 247Sports composite, yet the 6-foot-1, 230-pound defender has started to look like a player capable of beating that label. Over the weekend, he drew notice from linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary, who sounded genuinely upbeat about what he’s seen so far.
Matt Freeman posted on social media that Jean-Mary was very excited about Clapper’s potential. He went on to say “I think he’s got a chance to have a pretty bright future here.”
That doesn’t mean Clapper is about to jump into a major role right away. Notre Dame already has several linebackers ahead of him on the depth chart, so early playing time looks unlikely. But the early signs are encouraging, and the staff clearly likes what it has seen from the freshman.
Clapper’s background helps explain why. He put together a strong high school career in Ohio, piling up 201 tackles and 15.5 tackles-for-loss over two seasons of action.
His junior year was wiped out by injury, but when he was on the field he showed the kind of production that stands out. He also spent time on the edge at times, which means he has some experience getting after the quarterback.
For Notre Dame, the takeaway is simple: Clapper is already showing he can handle the position. And that gives the Irish a young linebacker who could become a real asset down the line.
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