Miami missed on a national defensive target Tuesday when four-star EDGE Jackson Vaughn committed to Notre Dame, giving the Fighting Irish a head-to-head recruiting win over the Hurricanes, South Carolina, Auburn and LSU.
Vaughn, a 2027 pass rusher from Bergen Catholic in Oradell, New Jersey, had been one of the more interesting defensive recruitments on Miami's board. He moved from the 2028 class into the 2027 cycle, which sped up his timeline and pushed him into a decision before potential summer official visits took place.
BREAKING: Four-Star EDGE Jackson Vaughn has Committed to Notre Dame, he tells me for @Rivals⁰⁰The 6’4 225 EDGE chose the Fighting Irish over South Carolina, Auburn, LSU, and Miami
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) May 26, 2026
“Philippines 4:13”https://t.co/WyBjqcK4e6 pic.twitter.com/Y79DSxEpEp
Miami misses on Jackson Vaughn as Notre Dame keeps building
The industry momentum had been pointing toward Notre Dame before the decision. Vaughn had four Rivals Recruiting Prediction Machine picks logged for the Irish from Steve Wiltfong, Mike Singer, Kyle Kelly and Chad Simmons.
Vaughn gives Notre Dame another blue-chip piece in a 2027 class that was already sitting inside the national top 10 before the announcement. The On3/Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings has Notre Dame at No. 7 nationally and Miami still ahead of the Irish at No. 4 nationally.
Notre Dame's 2027 class already had major defensive value before Vaughn entered the picture. The Irish had cornerback Xavier Hasan, EDGE Aidan O'Neil and other defensive pieces.
On3/Rivals ranks Vaughn No. 249 nationally, No. 25 at his position and No. 5 in New Jersey.
Vaughn finished the 2025 season with 40 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, eight sacks and three pass breakups. He also had eight sacks as a freshman in 2024, giving him back-to-back eight-sack seasons before the end of his sophomore year.
Miami's 2027 defensive line commits
- Ezekiel Ayangbile: 6-foot-2, 265-pound defensive lineman from Langham Creek in Houston who ranks as a Top247 prospect and committed May 8.
- Josh Johnson: gives 6-foot-5 and 270 pound DL out of Key West.
- Demarcus DeRoche: Hybrid EDGE at 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds from Cardinal Gibbons.
- Jayvon Dawson: In-state EDGE at 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds from Santaluces Community.
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