Notre Dame Scouts Top Illinois Quarterback Recruit

Fighting Irish coach visits Illinois commit Kamden Lopati, raising speculation of a scholarship offer.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 4:07pm

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Notre Dame football is continuing to build its program for the future, and the Fighting Irish have recently taken a close look at an ascending Big Ten team. Reports indicate that Notre Dame has hired Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry to join its coaching staff, and the Irish have also expressed interest in Illinois quarterback commit Kamden Lopati. Notre Dame quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli visited Lopati last week, sparking speculation that the Irish may offer the Utah native a scholarship.

Why it matters

Notre Dame's interest in Illinois' top talent suggests the Fighting Irish are looking to bolster their roster with players from up-and-coming Big Ten programs. As Notre Dame seeks to end its national championship drought dating back to 1988, securing commitments from highly touted recruits like Lopati could be crucial to the team's long-term success.

The details

Lopati, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound quarterback from Salt Lake City, Utah, has been committed to Illinois since July 2025. He holds offers from nearly 20 programs, including Tennessee, Oregon, and Utah, and is rated as a four-star prospect by the 247Sports composite. Notre Dame's quarterbacks coach visited Lopati last week, raising the possibility that the Irish may offer the Utah native a scholarship.

  • On January 28, 2026, Notre Dame quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli visited Kamden Lopati.
  • In late July 2025, Kamden Lopati committed to the University of Illinois.

The players

Marcus Freeman

The head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team.

Kamden Lopati

A 6-foot-3, 215-pound quarterback from Salt Lake City, Utah, who is currently committed to the University of Illinois.

Gino Guidugli

The quarterbacks coach for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team.

Aaron Henry

The defensive coordinator for the University of Illinois football team, who is expected to join the Notre Dame coaching staff as a co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach.

Chris Ash

The co-defensive coordinator for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team.

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What they’re saying

“His arm talent is what jumps out and what separates him. He can throw the deeper outs and posts on a rope and the ball jumps out of his hand. Want to see him continue to improve his ability to process the game and be quicker with his reads but with two more years to develop, it's exciting to see where his game will be at by the time he's ready for college.”

— Greg Biggins, 247Sports Analyst

What’s next

Time will tell if Notre Dame ultimately makes an offer to Kamden Lopati, but the Irish's interest in the Illinois quarterback commit suggests they see him as a potential target for their 2027 recruiting class.

The takeaway

Notre Dame's pursuit of top talent from the Big Ten, including Illinois' defensive coordinator and quarterback commit, demonstrates the Fighting Irish's commitment to building a championship-caliber roster through strategic recruiting across the country.