Skip to main content
Notre Dame

Elite TE Ian Premer commits to Notre Dame football

Singer headshotby: Mike Singer06/26/25MikeTSinger
ian-premer-penn-state-football-recruiting-on3
Tight end Ian Premer (2026) from Great Bend, Kan. (Credit: Ryan Snyder | Blue White Illustrated)

Great Bend (Kan.) High tight end Ian Premer has announced his commitment to Notre Dame football, giving the Irish a major boost in their 2026 class.

The three schools to watch for the 6-5, 225-pounder have been Iowa State, Kansas State and Notre Dame in recent weeks, and multiple writers who cover the Wildcats for On3 even logged predictions earlier on Thursday for the elite talent to pick KSU with a commitment expected to come soon.

The decision is here. It’s just for Notre Dame.

Sources tell Blue & Gold that after time to reflect over his choices, Premer got on a FaceTime call with the Notre Dame staff earlier today to inform them of his decision. It’s safe to say that the Fighting Irish are over the moon with this monumental development.

Premer ranks as On3’s No. 24 overall player and No. 3 tight end in America, plus the No. 1 prospect from the state of Kansas.

According to the On3 Industry Ranking —   a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies — Premer is the No. 42 player and No. 4 tight end nationally.

Premer becomes Notre Dame’s 22nd commitment in its 2026 recruiting class and second tight end commit, joining Toledo (Ohio) Central Catholic’s Preston Fryzel.

Premer is the Irish’s second-highest ranked commit of the class, and Notre Dame now has a whopping six top-100 overall pledges — all per On3.

He’s Notre Dame’s highest-ranked tight end commitment according to the On3 Industry Ranking since Michael Mayer in the 2020 class. Mayer was the No. 34 overall player and No. 3 tight end in America.

Premer hauled in 30 passes for 541 yards with 8 touchdowns as a junior in 2024, plus 27 carries for 260 yards with 2 scores.

More on Premer and Notre Dame

The Irish offered a few tight end prospects last year, but things didn’t really get rolling until after the Irish concluded the 2024-25 season.

Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock and tight ends assistant Harris Bivin offered a few tight end prospects, including Premer on Feb. 1. Premer’s first trip to South Bend took place on March 21.

“I had a really good visit,” Premer told Blue & Gold‘s Kyle Kelly after the trip. “Obviously, the campus is impressive. I found a lot of the old buildings cool and interesting. You don’t see those at a lot of places. They’re also building the new facility now, which will be really cool to see when it’s finished.

“I definitely felt comfortable. A lot of the guys had more of a Midwest feel. They were all really nice and relatable.” 

Denbrock and Bivin both saw Premer during the spring evaluation period and were crucial in Premer picking the Irish. Denbrock is Notre Dame’s tight ends coach on paper, but Bivin does most of the day-to-day recruiting contact at the position.

“They have a great history with tight ends,” Premer recently told On3. “I think they have the most tight ends ever drafted into the NFL. They played for the national championship season too, so if you go to Notre Dame, you have a chance to win it all.

“I like how Coach Denbrock coaches tight ends and is the offensive coordinator too. I think there are some unique advantages to that.”

Premer officially visited Kansas on June 6, Iowa State on June 13, Notre Dame June 17 and Kansas State on June 20.

Again, much of the media buzz was on the Wildcats within hours of Premer’s public announcement. However, Notre Dame always felt good about their standing with Premer.

You may also like