Notre Dame Football Recruiting: Fighting Irish have loaded 2026 class

After failing to land a top-10 recruiting class — per the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings — in each of the last two cycles, Notre Dame is gunning to sign an elite crop of prospects in the 2026 class.

So far, head coach Marcus Freeman and his staff are well on their way to doing just that. As of Sept. 24, the Fighting Irish have 27 commits and a class that ranks No. 3 nationally. Two five-stars and 18 other blue-chippers currently highlight the pledge list.

In April, Charlotte Myers Park five-star EDGE Rodney Dunham became the top-ranked commit in the Irish’s class, as he chose ND over Georgia, Tennessee and others. He’s now the No. 15 player nationally and the No. 3 EDGE. Five days earlier, another elite EDGE prospect in South Garner (N.C.) four-star Ebenezer Ewetade committed. He is a major outlier for Rivals, checking in as the No. 29 recruit.

In June, a trio of top-100 prospects joined the fold: safety Joey O’Brien chose ND over Penn State and is now a five-star; the nation’s No. 4 tight end Ian Premer entered the fold; elite cornerback Khary Adams added another piece to an intriguing secondary haul.

May brought a quartet of commitments, including the touted running back duo of Forney (Texas) four-star Javian Osborne and Carrollton (Ga.) Central four-star Jonaz Walton. Both are top-15 prospects at the position.

Six offensive linemen are already in the class. Winter Park (Fla.) four-star safety Ayden Pouncey and Lake Mary (Fla.) four-star quarterback Noah Grubbs are blue-chippers set to make the move from the Sunshine State to South Bend.

The class blue-chip percentage sits at 74%, one of the top marks in the nation.

Notre Dame commitments by position

Quarterback
Four-star Noah Grubbs, No. 255 NATL. (No. 21 QB)

Running Back
Four-star Javian Osborne, No. 102 NATL. (No. 8 RB)
Four-star Jonaz Walton, No. 118 NATL. (No. 11 RB)

Wide Receiver
Four-star Kaydon Finley, No. 124 NATL. (No. 13 WR)
Four-star Bubba Frazier, No. 224 NATL. (No. 38 WR)
Four-star Brayden Robinson, No. 339 NATL. (No. 56 WR)
Three-star Devin Fitzgerald, No. 473 NATL. (No. 72 WR)
Three-star Dylan Faison, No. 942 NATL. (No. 138 WR)

Tight End
Four-star Ian Premer, No. 44 NATL. (No. 4 TE)
Three-star Preston Fryzel, No. 408 NATL. (No. 24 TE)

Offensive tackle
Four-star Grayson McKeogh, No. 159 NATL. (No. 14 OT)
Three-star Charlie Thom, No. 703 NATL. (No. 51 OT)

Interior Offensive Lineman
Four-star Gregory Patrick, No. 149 NATL. (No. 8 IOL)
Four-star Tyler Merrill, No. 202 NATL. (No. 14 IOL)
Four-star Ben Nichols, No. 256 NATL. (No. 18 IOL)
Three-star Sullivan Garvin, No. 579 NATL. (No. 59 IOL)

Defensive Lineman
Four-star Elijah Golden, No. 188 NATL. (No. 19 DL)
Three-star Tiki Hola, No. 370 NATL. (No. 39 DL)

EDGE
Five-star Rodney Dunham, No. 15 NATL. (No. 3 EDGE)
Four-star Ebenezer Ewetade, No. 110 NATL. (No. 17 EDGE)

Linebacker
Four-star Thomas Davis Jr., No. 211 NATL. (No. 9 LB)
Four-star Kobe Clapper, No. 454 NATL. (No. 38 LB)

Cornerback
Four-star Khary Adams, No. 37 NATL. (No. 5 CB)
Four-star Chaston Smith, No. 342 NATL. (No. 33 CB)

Safety
Five-star Joey O’Brien, No. 27 NATL. (No. 4 S)
Four-star Ayden Pouncey, No. 107 NATL. (No. 10 S)
Three-star Nick Reddish, No. 720 NATL. (No. 69 S)