No regret is bigger for a college football head coach than missing out on the Natty at the last turn. And who better knows it than Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame? So, one can sense how desperately Freeman and his boys are going to move around this season. Tyler Horka had given a glimpse of it.
“It’s year four for Marcus Freeman at Notre Dame and he keeps coming across as more comfortable and confident with each practice, press conference, etc. Probably a narrative that should have been put to bed by now but he won’t let it die.” While Freeman gears up for a blockbuster season, he is ensuring that he does not take the future lightly. That’s when he jumped into the race to seek someone who would fill CJ Carr’s space. And obviously, the search is leaving him sweating.
The hot recruit who might have his face printed on the dart board at Freeman’s living room is none other than 4-star quarterback recruit Peyton Houston, the class of 2027 product. For so long, Freeman’s Notre Dame has been one of the biggest suitors of Houston. But looks like Freeman needs to worry a little because of poaching alerts. Lincoln Riley and the USC Trojans are now also running in the Houston race, too. On June 27, analyst Billy Tucker shared a clip of the hot recruit’s interview. The caption read, “Peyton Houston says he’s been hearing from USC weekly at this point in his recruitment @PeytonHouston8.” The No.1 pocket passer in the nation seems to be wooed by the efforts that the Trojans are putting in.
Peyton Houston says he’s been hearing from USC weekly at this point in his recruitment @PeytonHouston8
He’s ranked as the No. 1 pocket passer in the nation in the ESPN Jr. 300 pic.twitter.com/Ws7qZxpbpk
— Billy Tucker (@TheUCReport) June 27, 2025
Here came a wake-up call for Freeman. While a lot of commotion goes on in the background, we could figure out what Houston shared, “It’s weekly for sure, they tell me when they hit me up and I circle with them.” More worries for Freeman as the Notre Dame head coach could sense the desperation as the blue-chip signal-caller is the only quarterback the Trojans have offered in the 2027 class so far. Houston is in Indianapolis this week to compete in the 2025 Rivals Five-Star elite event. However, not to forget, he got his first look at USC when he visited the school in the eighth grade and has held the Trojans in high regard since then. While Freeman might think that over these years, the charm has faded, that’s not the case.
Carrying the tag of quarterback whisperer, Riley is bound to hold a strong seat in Houston’s heart. As the 2027 prospect shared, “It means a lot, it’s a blessing for sure to have Lincoln Riley to think I’m one of the top guys for him. Just the history he has with quarterbacks, Kyler Murray, Baker [Mayfield], just to name a few that I’ve watched. It means a lot and that relationship there is definitely strong too.” The Trojans’ head coach’s resume is too tempting to ignore, both in Oklahoma and USC. Both Kyler Murray and Baker Mayfield won the Heisman Trophy and went on to become the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts spent one season with Riley after transferring from Alabama and reset his football trajectory. So, will it be tough for Freeman to catch up in the Houston race?
Will Peyton Houston’s divine moment in Notre Dame save in the long run?
Not to underestimate Freeman. The program has recruited the quarterback position extremely well over the last several years. You name them- Kenny Minchey, CJ Carr, Blake Hebert, and Noah Grubbs, that calls for an impressive collection of signal callers. Now Freeman’s coaching staff, offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, and quarterback coach Gino Guidugli are implementing a new recruiting strategy in the 2027 class. For so long, they had been the only program that hadn’t offered a single quarterback in the class. Every P4 program had offered at least one quarterback. The staff has been hosting a ton of talented signal callers on campus, as well as getting on the road to see them throw.
They now have Houston on their radar. After receiving an offer from Fighting Irish, the recruit tweeted, “Proverbs 22:4 -By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor, and life. Thank you, Coach @Marcus_Freeman1, @MikeDenbrock, @GinoGuidugli, and the @NDFootball Family for the offer.” If spring game statistics mean anything, Carr went 14-of-19 for 170 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. So, Freeman would definitely not want Notre Dame’s future to lose this power. And in this, Houston ticks off all the boxes.
He has put up eye-popping numbers in his sophomore season, throwing for 4,480 yards and 38 touchdowns. As per MaxPreps, Peyton Houston had one game last season where he threw for 817 yards, the third-most in a single game all-time at the high school level. The Evangel Christian Academy product got a seal of approval from the high school head coach, Denny Duron. “This young man is so extraordinary in every way…He fits our culture perfectly, and of course, he is extremely talented.” But if Marcus Freeman thinks that locking the door for USC will be enough to keep them safe in the Houston chase, it’s time for him to wake up. The 5-foot-11, 198-pound quarterback is highly coveted by programs such as Oklahoma, Texas, Clemson, and LSU. Not trying to rattle the Irish, but they know who’s really wearing the recruiting crown. The Trojans, of course.
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