Notre Dame lands elite 2027 cornerback Xavier Hasan

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Notre Dame lands elite 2027 CB Xavier Hasan over Ohio State, Florida State and others

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Dec 15, 2025 9:13 PM ET

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish may still be smarting over being left out of the College Football Playoff, but there's still work to do on the recruiting trail.

The trail never sleeps, and Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman knows that better than most. He's one of the best recruiters in the country.

In the early signing period, Freeman brought in an elite class, with 27 signees. His 2026 class is ranked No. 4 in all of college football.

Freeman is already cooking with his 2027 class, though. On Monday, the Fighting Irish landed the commitment of an elite cornerback named Xavier Hasan.

From Raleigh, N.C., Hasan is a 4-star cornerback, ranked as the No. 4 player at his position in the 2027 class, according to the 247Sports Composite.

BREAKING: Elite 2027 CB Zay Hasan has Committed to Notre Dame, he tells me for @rivals⁰⁰The 6’0 190 CB chose the Fighting Irish over Ohio State, Tennessee, & FSU⁰⁰He’s ranked as the No. 27 Recruit in the 2027 Rivals300⁰⁰“Best in NC play in ND ☘️”⁰⁰https://t.co/G7Dj4dFIyF pic.twitter.com/SGg5RA67rN
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 15, 2025

Hasan visited Notre Dame in September and made a return in November for the Irish's win over Navy. Everything about committing to Notre Dame made sense to him after those visits.

“What made Notre Dame right for me is the way they recruited me and talked to me honestly," he told Steve Wiltfong of Rivals. "I love everything about the school and campus. The life after the football and the way they take care of their players that means a lot.”

Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame Fighting Irish pick up elite 2027 CB Xavier Hasan

Defensive backs coach Mike Mickens was Hasan's primary recruiter at Notre Dame. He loves Mickens' experience as a former NFL cornerback and it's worth noting that he has helped develop several great cornerbacks himself.

That's a list that includes Sauce Gardner, with whom Mickens worked with while both were at Cincinnati.

Ultimately, being coached by Freeman was a big draw for Hasan as well.

"He’s a great coach," Hasan said of Freeman. "I like the way he just talks to people. He knows how to lead men. That’s something I’m looking for, a great leader.”

This past season for Cardinal Gibbons High School, his junior campaign, Hasan notched 17 tackles and three interceptions to go along with three kickoffs returned for touchdowns.

He's Notre Dame's ninth 2027 commitment in a class that's ranked No. 3 in the country.

Notre Dame beat out Florida State, Ohio State, North Carolina and Tennessee for this commitment.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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