4-star Elijah Golden adds to Notre Dame's elite DL class

Sarasota (Fla.) Cardinal Mooney four-star defensive lineman Elijah Golden announced his commitment to Notre Dame on Saturday.

The blue-chipper chose to play for head coach Marcus Freeman and the Irish over his other finalists in Alabama, Oklahoma and Virginia Tech.

Ranked by the Rivals Industry Rankings as the nation’s No. 19 defensive lineman and No. 191 prospect overall, the 6-foot-4, 275-pound Golden becomes commit No. 27 for Notre Dame in the 2026 cycle. He adds to a haul that ranks fourth in the Rivals Industry Team Rankings. Future position coach Al Washington was the lead recruiter.

“Mainly the coaching staff is good and they rocked with for a long time and the fanbase is crazy,” Golden said. Freeman and others were heavily involved in his process as well.

“I’d definitely say the people, the people there are good people.”

Irish’s defensive line class is elite

Golden recently said he was looking for a place that feels like home. “And if my parents were to drop me off at the school right now I’d be able to fit in with the coaching staff and players and everybody.”

He found that at Notre Dame. The Irish were always front-runner for Golden the moment they offered in the spring of 2024.

“The coaching staff stands out the most and their campus,” Golden has sad. “Their campus feels like home! “They have a wonderful coaching staff.”

Notre Dame has put together one of the top defensive line classes in the country. Golden joins a group that includes five-star edge Rodney Dunham Jr., prized defensive end Ebenezer Ewetade and four-star defensive tackle Tiki Hola.