As FootballScoop noted days ago, James Blanchard has been a near-hire in Marcus Freeman's Notre Dame football organization multiple times in the past.
Blanchard is closer than ever to becoming a key member in Freeman's Fighting Irish regime.
Numerous sources tell FootballScoop that Blanchard remains the top target to replace Chad Bowden as general manager of Notre Dame football.
In fact, sources with direct knowledge told FootballScoop Saturday night that Blanchard was expected on campus at Notre Dame's Morris Inn and had a room reserved in his name, sources shared with FootballScoop.
Freeman most notably tried to hire Blanchard two years ago in a key role within the Irish's personnel department, but Blanchard received an incredibly lucrative offer to remain at Texas Tech, where he has spearheaded Red Raiders recruiting efforts under Joey McGuire.
Freeman at that time ended up hiring Butler Benton, with whom Notre Dame parted ways a year ago.
Bowden had been Freeman's first hire at Notre Dame way back in the winter/spring of 2021, when Freeman signed on to become Brian Kelly's defensive coordinator.
Bowden was added to become Freeman's top asset in recruiting for the Irish defense, and he steadily climbed through the ranks at Notre Dame as Freeman transitioned from defensive coordinator to Irish head coach after the 2021 regular season.
Days after Notre Dame's runner-up finish in the first-ever, 12-team College Football Playoff, Bowden was lured away from the Irish to become the new general manager of USC football.
FootballScoop reported days ago that Freeman and Blanchard met face-to-face in Mobile, Ala., during Senior Bowl practices and festivities.
It was indicated by numerous sources at that time that conversations extended deep enough for the two sides to begin discussion compensation numbers if Blanchard and Notre Dame worked out an agreement to make Blanchard the program's new general manager.
On Friday, sources with direct knowledge at Texas Tech told FootballScoop of Blanchard "(we) expect him to go."
Sources added that Blanchard is expected to be fully "deciding by tomorrow (Sunday).”
Those comments mesh with sources who possess direct knowledge telling FootballScoop that Blanchard is due to check in to a hotel room on the hallowed Notre Dame campus by Saturday night; his expected arrival was confirmed directly to FootballScoop earlier Saturday evening.
If a deal is finalized, Blanchard confronts a considerable void -- not only with Bowden's departure but that of Zaire Turner, the former Irish director of player personnel who was so esteemed by Freeman & Co. that Turner was sent out onto the road recruiting last month while Irish coaches prepared and practiced along their CFP title-game run.
For his part, Bowden was a runaway winner for FootballScoop's top personnel executive for the 2024 season as voted by his peers.
Among other candidates to replace Bowden, sources told FootballScoop that Freeman met directly with Rex Hogan. A former Notre Dame personnel staffer, Hogan had commanded multiple positions of note in the NFL, including with the Indianapolis Colts as well as most recently with the assistant general manager of the New York Jets. Hogan and that franchise parted ways in January 2024.
Blanchard literally was McGuire's first-ever hire at Texas Tech; additionally, Blanchard previously had worked at Baylor and coached in the high school ranks in Texas, as well as operated his own scouting service and worked in a non-athletics, industrial position.
Notre Dame closed its 2024 season, Freeman's third, 14-2 and finished as national runner-up to Ohio State.
The Fighting Irish are scheduled to open spring practice in mid-March, with the program's annual spring game expected to be conducted the second weekend of April.
(Editor's note: FootballScoop President Scott Roussel and National College Football Columnist/Writer Zach Barnett contributed to this report.)