One of the most interesting aspects of Notre Dame football's recruiting is that it tends to stay away from the state of Indiana. Most of the reason for that is that the Hoosier state never produces a ton of Power 4 talent. That doesn’t mean there’s never a player worth grabbing, but until recently, when there was, the Fighting Irish tended to snap them up.
Knowing all of that, there are some times when Indiana players have somehow squeaked through the cracks. There are even some very good players that managed to go elsewhere, especially during the rare times when the Irish had losing seasons. Or when they had a coach that didn’t really seem like a great recruiter.
So, who are the players who got away from Notre Dame and hurt the most? The list isn’t long, but it can be painful.
In-state recruiting misses that Notre Dame regrets not getting
Pete Werner
2017 linebacker Pete Werner was a 4-star product out of Mount Vernon, Indiana. He committed to the Irish in the spring of 2016, looking like Notre Dame locked down the No. 2 player in the state. Unfortunately, a 4-8 season and Werner decommitted from Brian Kelly and the uncertain coaching staff in South Bend. Weeks later, he committed to the Buckeyes.
Werner had a solid career at Ohio State, racking up 185 tackles, 4 sacks and 11 passes defended. He then went on to the NFL and has been a routine contributor for the New Orleans Saints for the last five years. Needless to say, Werner could have been a useful piece to Brian Kelly’s early Irish career.
Jeff George
No list about in-state misses for Notre Dame recruiting would be complete without Jeff George. The quarterback from Indianapolis first committed to Purdue and then to Illinois over the Fighting Irish, had a huge career there, and became a first-round NFL draft pick.
George would finish his college career with 6,212 yards, to go with 35 touchdowns and 35 interceptions, and most notably, an MVP performance against the Virginia Cavaliers in the 1990 Florida Citrus Growers Association Florida Citrus Bowl. In 1989, his final year as a college player, he threw for 2,738 yards with 22 TDs vs. 12 INTs.
Rondale Moore
Moore was technically not an in-state player when he committed to Purdue because he spent his final high school year in Louisville. However, he clearly had a soft spot for his home state and spent a year in New Albany, Indiana. Moore went on to star for Purdue and then made it to the NFL.
His story is especially tragic as the former All-World wide receiver died in February 2026. While he died far too young, his college career was incredibly impressive.
George Karlaftis
Elite 5-star edge rusher George Karlaftis played his high school ball in West Lafayette and then stayed home as he committed to Purdue. With the Boilermakers, he didn’t get to experience a ton of winning, but he was one of the best in the sport at his position.
From 2019 to 2021, the defensive end logged 97 tackles (29 for loss), 14 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries, an interception, and 1 touchdown. He went on to be a first-round pick and Super Bowl contributor with the Kansas City Chiefs. A dominant in-state defensive lineman going to the Boilermakers is exactly the profile Notre Dame is supposed to lock down.
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