Not only did the Notre Dame football team score it's quarterback for the 2027 class, but it did so on a rather large stage.
Wonderful "Champ" Monds IV announced his commitment to the Fighting Irish on May Day, and he did so on ESPN's The Pat McAfee Show. The quarterback, out of Vero Beach, Florida, picked Marcus Freeman and Co. over some big guns in Ohio State and Florida State as the final three.
Notre Dame football lands Champ Monds after beating Ohio State and Florida State
Monds visited all three programs during the spring and said it was important to see how coaches interact with their players. Ahead of Friday's announcement, the quarterback said he'd already made his decision. "We know where home is going to be" Monds said with a smile after practice on April 29. Considering predictions came in soon after and just a few days ahead of the May Day telecast that he was Notre Dame-bound, the official pick didn't offer a ton of mystery, though Irish fans are celebrating just as hard.
Monds comes out of a program that has seen several quarterbacks go to Power 4 schools. Vero Beach head coach Lenny Jankowski has tutored Carter Stanley (Kansas), Ryan Jankowski (Akron) and Tyler Aronson (SMU). However, Monds is the highest-rated quarterback at Vero Beach since Jankowski arrived 15 years ago.
Monds is considered a 4-star quarterback according to the Rivals Industry Rankings and the No. 21 quarterback in the class. He's also the No. 28 player in Florida. He's been impressing since he first started playing for Vero Beach, throwing for 2,234 yards, 23 touchdowns, and just 5 interceptions while showing off his dual-threat value by rushing for 502 yards and 9 rushing TDs in his freshman season.
Champ Monds brings Notre Dame football arm talent, mobility and maturity
He has a very strong arm and can push the ball downfield. Monds sports a solid throwing motion but is also an accurate passer who can throw with touch. He is well-built and mobile — both moving in the pocket and being used as a runner. He can make off-platform throws and remains accurate when on the move. Notwithstanding his decision to ever talk to Pat McAfee, the young quarterback is also considered mature beyond his years.
That maturity is an important point, given Champ Monds' reclassification from the 2028 class to 2027. He happens to be the second straight quarterback commit to Notre Dame who reclassified. The whole reason the Irish pursued and secured the Wonderful commit is that Teddy Jarrard reclassified from the 2027 class to the 2026 class.
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