In the span of less than a week, the Notre Dame football team went from trailing Miami to being in the driver's seat for Kaden Henderson to losing the 5-star linebacker to Texas A&M. Or at least that's what it looked like from the outside looking in. According to the Tampa Jesuit superstar, he really knew that the Aggies were the right team for him all the way back to last fall.
Henderson announced his official commitment on Thursday afternoon during an appearance on ESPN's The Pat McAfee Show. While he made it official for the SEC team that boasts the No. 1 recruiting class in the 2027 cycle on Thursday, things took a noticeable turn away from the Fighting Irish and toward Mike Elko's squad on Tuesday night. On Wednesday morning, insiders started predicting A&M as the winner of the derby to reel in the talented defender, and by Wednesday evening, ND fans had already started to move on.
In speaking to Chad Simmons of Rivals, Henderson made it clear that his entire family is very invested in his going to Texas A&M. He called it a "family affair" because when he and his parents visited, it felt like the right destination for all of them. He then detailed how Notre Dame might not have been as out front as it appeared.
"When I went to that Florida game, it was an eye-opening experience,” Henderson said about the Aggies' game on October 11. “The atmosphere and the people were different. I believe everybody in that building wants the best for me.”
Kaden Henderson says Texas A&M won over his family before Notre Dame football surge
While Notre Dame made a major late push, Henderson never lost sight of what mattered most. That late push made him at least consider switching to the Fighting Irish but in the end, even Marcus Freeman couldn't convince him that South Bend was a better fit than College Station.
“I wanted to go somewhere I felt comfortable every day. That’s what made this decision.”
While some might wonder if he was toying with teams if he's felt that way since last fall, it's clear the linebacker wanted to make sure he pulled the trigger for the right program. He took official visits to LSU, Miami, and Texas A&M this spring. Initially scheduled to close his official visit slate with a trip to Notre Dame from June 19-21, Henderson is no longer expected to visit the Fighting Irish this weekend. He did have a couple of unofficial visits that gave him a good idea of what the Golden Domers were like on their home turf.
Now Mike Elko, a former Notre Dame coach adds the No. 22 nationally ranked, No. 1 linebacker, and No. 3 player in Florida to an incredible class. The Aggies and the Irish just finished a home-and-home series on the field, but it's clear the rivalry is heating up.
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