Recruiting is a weird business. One day you're the crown jewel of a class, and the next, you're a "what if" story or a rival’s gain. Honestly, if you’ve followed the Derek Meadows Notre Dame saga, you know it was basically a high-stakes poker game that lasted for two years.
It wasn't just about a kid catching footballs. It was about a 6-foot-5 frame, track-star speed, and a wingspan that makes cornerbacks look like they’re standing still. Notre Dame fans wanted him. Marcus Freeman needed him. But as we saw with the 2025 class, the trail between Las Vegas and South Bend is never as straight as it looks on a map.
The Physical Freak from Bishop Gorman
Derek Meadows isn't your average high school wideout. Coming out of Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas—a literal factory for NFL talent—he arrived with a profile that felt almost lab-grown.
He’s huge. 6-foot-5 and change.
He’s fast. We're talking 2023 Gatorade Nevada Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year fast.
He won the state title in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 36.73 seconds. For a guy that size to move like that? It's rare. Most "big" receivers are possession guys who win with their bodies but get caught from behind. Meadows was the guy who could catch a slant and actually outrun the safety.
Why Notre Dame Went All In
The Irish coaching staff, specifically Marcus Freeman and Chad Bowden, identified Meadows early. They didn't just want him; they made him the priority. Why? Because the Notre Dame wide receiver room has historically lacked that "X" factor—the jumbo-sized athlete who can stretch the field vertically.
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- The "Irish Invasion" Factor: Meadows blew the doors off the summer camp in South Bend. That’s when the offer became a "must-get."
- The Roots: Believe it or not, Derek actually lived in Aurora, Illinois, for a big chunk of his life. He grew up watching Rudy. He knew the Golden Dome. The "home-field advantage" felt real.
- Academic Fit: His parents, DeShawn and his mother, were vocal about the value of a Notre Dame degree. In the world of NIL and flash, that academic angle usually gives the Irish a massive edge.
The Recruitment Rollercoaster
Everything seemed to be trending toward the Irish for a long time. Then things got... complicated.
In July 2024, the world expected a commitment. Meadows actually pushed his date back, which usually signals a late-game pivot. When the dust settled on July 20, he didn't pick the Irish. He picked LSU.
It was a gut punch for South Bend. Brian Kelly, the former Notre Dame coach now at LSU, swooped in and sold the "Receiver U" dream. LSU’s track record of putting guys like Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase into the league is hard to argue with, even if you love the academic prestige of Notre Dame.
The Late-Cycle Flip Attempt
But here’s the thing: Notre Dame doesn't take "no" for an answer very well anymore. Even after he pledged to the Tigers, the Irish stayed in his ear.
By November 2024, rumors started swirling again. Meadows showed up in South Bend for the Florida State game. He paid his own way. In the world of recruiting, "on your own dime" is code for "I'm seriously considering a change." Fans were tracking his every move. The "Crystal Ball" predictions started flipping back toward the Irish.
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Ultimately, recruiting is about relationships and the final signature. While the Derek Meadows Notre Dame connection remained a "will-they-won't-they" drama for months, it highlighted a new era of Irish recruiting: being aggressive, staying in the fight, and refusing to concede elite talent to the SEC without a war.
What Most People Get Wrong About His Stats
If you look at his high school box scores, you might be confused. How does a five-star (or high four-star) recruit only have 15 or 20 catches in a season?
Bishop Gorman is a powerhouse, but they are also a machine that shares the wealth. They run the ball. A lot. They have five other Division I athletes on the field at any given time. Meadows wasn't a stat-padder. He was a "big play" specialist.
He averaged over 25 yards per catch as a junior. Basically, every time he touched the ball, it was a highlight or a touchdown. Scouts didn't care about the volume; they cared about the ceiling. They saw a guy who was still "raw" in his route running but had "Sunday" written all over his physical traits.
The Scouting Consensus
- 247Sports: Ranked him as high as the No. 46 player nationally and the No. 7 wideout.
- On3: Had him as the top-rated player in Nevada.
- Rivals: Slotted him as a top-100 talent with massive upside.
The general consensus among scouts like Greg Biggins was that Meadows is a "jumbo" receiver who might even grow into a lethal, pass-catching tight end if his frame keeps filling out. That versatility is exactly why schools like Alabama, Georgia, and Michigan were also banging on his door until the very end.
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The Reality of Modern Recruiting
We have to talk about the "LSU to Alabama" twist. In a wild turn of events during the early signing period, Meadows eventually moved his commitment from LSU to Alabama.
Wait, what?
Yeah. The Derek Meadows Notre Dame dream finally died when the Crimson Tide made their move. It’s a reminder that even when the Irish do everything right—host the kid four times, sell the degree, leverage the local ties—they are still fighting against the SEC's gravity.
It doesn't mean the Irish failed. It means the bar for "elite" wide receiver recruiting is higher than it's ever been.
Actionable Insights for Irish Fans
If you're wondering what this means for the future of Notre Dame's roster, here are a few things to keep an eye on:
- Watch the Transfer Portal: In 2026 and beyond, players like Meadows are never truly "gone." With the way the portal works, if things don't click in Tuscaloosa or wherever he lands, the previous relationship with Marcus Freeman could matter again.
- The "Legacy" Strategy: Notre Dame successfully signed Jerome Bettis Jr. and Elijah Burress (son of Plaxico) in that same cycle. They are pivoting to high-floor, high-IQ players while still swinging for the fences on "freaks" like Meadows.
- Recruiting persistence: The fact that Chad Bowden kept the Irish in the conversation until the eleventh hour shows that Notre Dame is no longer content being "second place" for elite athletes. They are going to make it difficult for every kid to say no.
The Derek Meadows saga was a wild ride. It showed us that Notre Dame can compete for the best of the best, even if the final signature occasionally lands elsewhere.
Next Steps for Tracking Irish WR Recruiting:
Check the 2026 target list for players with similar track backgrounds, as the staff has clearly prioritized speed-to-size ratios. Follow the "Irish Invasion" camp results this summer to see who the next priority "X" receiver will be.