Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football National Signing Day Central

Notre Dame signed all 27 of its commits on Wednesday to finish with the No. 2 class in the country. Another drama-free national signing day for head coach Marcus Freeman, just the way he likes it.

“We didn’t waste a lot of time,” Freeman said. “We were on the right guys. Nobody decommitted. They bought into what this place has to offer.”

Here are Blue & Gold’s position group grades for the Fighting Irish’s 2026 recruiting haul.

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The funny thing about this exercise is, with a few exceptions (Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa in 2024) over the years, no one has any idea which Notre Dame freshmen will contribute in a given season.

It’s extremely difficult to say until the players get on campus. What we do know, though, is the Irish are never afraid to play freshmen if they prove that they are the best option in a given role.

This season was a down year for Day 1-contributing freshmen. Only four members of the 2025 class — linebacker Madden Faraimo, cornerbacks Mark Zackery IV and Dallas Golden and kicker Erik Schmidt — burned their redshirt. Tight end James Flanigan came on strong in November and is expected to contribute in the postseason, too. But aside from those five, the freshman contributions have been minimal.

The 2026 class, though, is ripe with talent that could play right away. As always, this is just as dependent on the opportunities than the players themselves (i.e. no one would have known who Leonard Moore was last season if Benjamin Morrison didn’t get hurt). But here are five signees who could fill meaningful roles in 2026.

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The press conference begins at 2 p.m. ET. We will have a separate live blog running for updates on what they say during the presser. Video of it is embedded below.

Live updates article is linked here.

Here’s what Martin said when asked about the Irish defensive back class:

“It’s a tremendous group. We’re really excited about them. Khary Adams is a shutdown guy and an eraser. Joey is a talented guy — long, rangy safety who has a knack for taking the ball away. Ayden Pouncey can play wherever — he’s a dynamic, physical, tough, instinctive player. Nick Reddish is tough, talented and a leader who sets the tone. Chaz Smith is a long corner who has shutdown ability.

“We have a talented group, and we’re super excited about what they offer and will bring to Notre Dame.”

Martin on what he’s proud of in the class:

“The thing I’m most proud of about this class is that we had zero decommitments. There’s all these awesome stats, but the one we’re most proud of is zero decommitments. We might be the only school of all the Power Four teams with zero decommitments, and that speaks to what makes this place different.”

Full interview:

It appears that Notre Dame’s efforts on National Signing Day are over. The next big item from the day is Marcus Freeman and Mike Martin having a press conference at 2 p.m. ET. But stay tuned to this page for any further developments.

Notre Dame football signed a historic haul of recruits Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period for the 2026 class.

On National Signing Day, Notre Dame’s 2026 class is currently on pace to be considered Notre Dame’s best since the online recruiting industry boom started with Rivals in 2002.

Blue & Gold shares some of the notable numbers to know about Notre Dame’s 2026 class.

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Decommitments in Notre Dame’s 2026 class. Every Power Four team in college football had at least one decommitment in this recruiting cycle. The last time Notre Dame completed a recruiting cycle without a commitment exiting its class was 2016.

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The individual and collective star power of Notre Dame football’s latest recruiting class, in head coach Marcus Freeman’s fourth complete cycle, is potent enough to prompt a deep forage into Irish history to find something comparable.

The true beauty of it, though, is the consensus perception that the nation’s No. 2 class — per Rivals Industry rankings — isn’t an outlier, but rather a sustainable leveling-up that should eventually lead to making history on the field.

With no corresponding fade in sight.

“I just think there’s a swagger at Notre Dame right now that they can be the best team in America, and it starts with coach Freeman,” said Steve Wiltfong, On3/Rivals vice president and national college football recruiting and transfer portal analyst.

“And the core of that is embracing the uniqueness of Notre Dame and elevating the things that others may deem as reasons not to come. Instead, they’re reasons why you should.”

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The Notre Dame football program has added three NFL legacy recruits to its roster and another prospect with NFL ties.

On Wednesday’s National Signing Day, the Irish secured signatures from wide receivers Devin Fitzgerald (son of Larry Fitzgerald) and Kaydon Finley (son of Jermichael Finley) and linebacker Thomas Davis Jr. (son of Thomas Davis Sr.). They also signed safety Ayden Pouncey, who is a second cousin of Maurkice and Mike Pouncey. All four prospects are four-star recruits, per the Rivals Industry Ranking.

With the younger Fitzgerald, Finley, Davis and Pouncey in the fold, Notre Dame now has 11 players with NFL legacy connections on next year’s projected roster. All have been signed within the last three recruiting cycles.

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Eventual NFL Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald’s son, four-star wide receiver Devin Fitzgerald, signed with Notre Dame on Wednesday, giving the Irish a productive pass catcher who’s developing at a rapid rate. The younger Fitzgerald hails from Phoenix Brophy College Prep, the same school that produced ND cornerbacks Benjamin Morrison and Cree Thomas.

Kyle’s take: Fitzgerald coveted the chance to play for the Irish, and his willingness to wait for it is a testament to his patience. It’s also a nod to Notre Dame’s evaluation process. When Fitzgerald emerged on the program’s radar before his junior season, he had Power Four tools but needed more development to fit Notre Dame’s profile. He kept improving to the point he added an Irish offer last spring, which led to a commitment after his official visit. Following his outstanding senior season, Fitzgerald now projects as an eventual weapon in the Irish offense. He caught 82 passes for 1,230 yards (15 yards per catch) and 15 touchdowns. And of course, he has the genes.

Notable offers: Clemson, Michigan, Florida State, Vanderbilt, North Carolina and Pittsburgh
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 362 NATL, No. 58 WR and No. 4 player from Arizona
Rivals ranking: No. 71 WR and No. 9 player from Arizona

Mike Mickens received this honor from Blue & Gold for his efforts in the 2025 class, as Notre Dame signed six defensive backs, three of whom ranked in the 100-150 overall player range. The other three were three-star recruits — all according to the Rivals Industry Ranking.

As good as that haul was for the sixth-year Irish defensive backs coach, it doesn’t compare — on paper — to what he and the staff pulled off in the 2026 class.

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That’s all for Notre Dame’s central time zone signings. Twenty-six of the Irish’s 27 commitments have now signed with the Irish. Wide receiver Devin Fitzgerald will sign with Notre Dame at 9 a.m. ET, and he may be the last addition of the day.

Notre Dame needed a big presence at defensive tackle in the 2026 class. On Wednesday, it officially got one, signing Bastrop (Texas) High three-star defensive tackle Tiki Hola.

Kyle’s take: Last May, Hola’s decision went down to the wire. The 6-foot-2½, 300-pounder was torn between SMU and Notre Dame, but the Irish won thanks to a strong push by defensive line coach Al Washington. Notre Dame needed someone who could absorb opposing blockers and create opportunities for its linebackers. They got that and more in Hola, who, entering the final game of his senior season, had 86 tackles (47 solo), 11 stops for loss, 3 sacks, 14 QB hurries, 5 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries. He is a big get for the Irish.

Notable offers: SMU, USC, Oregon, Texas, Texas A&M, Georgia, Miami, Tennessee, LSU, Michigan and Texas Tech
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 404 NATL, No. 44 DL and No. 53 player from Texas
Rivals ranking: No. 102 DL and No. 138 player from Texas

Notre Dame’s illustrious history of signing elite tight end recruits continued Wednesday when Great Bend (Kan.) High’s Ian Premer put pen to paper with the Irish. According to the Rivals Industry Ranking, he is one of just four 5-star tight ends in the class.

Kyle’s take: Premer was not expected to commit to Notre Dame in June, at least according to multiple recruiting experts. On the same day the 6-5, 225-pounder did announce in favor of the Irish, predictions in the Rivals Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM) favored Kansas State. However, a mid-week official visit to Notre Dame nine days earlier proved to be an eye-opener. The Irish went above and beyond to impress him and his family, and they succeeded. Considering Premer’s potential impact, their effort was necessary. He is a talent who could see snaps right away for Notre Dame. Premer demonstrated that during his senior season, posting 40 catches for 734 yards and 14 touchdowns, along with 56 carries for 620 yards and 14 more scores. He’s a freak, and sources in South Bend know it.

Notable offers: Kansas State, Kansas, Iowa State, Nebraska, Miami, Michigan, Oklahoma, Penn State, USC, Oregon, Texas A&M and Tennessee
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 28 NATL, No. 3 TE and No. 1 player from Kansas
Rivals ranking: No. 27 NATL, No. 1 TE and No. 1 player from Kansas

Notre Dame’s impressive run of landing NFL legacies continues in the 2026 class. One of the latest additions is Aledo (Texas) High’s Kaydon Finley.

Mike’s take: Notre Dame went into the Dallas area to land Finley, a four-star wide receiver and Texas legacy, as the son of former Longhorn Jermichael Finley, who played several years for the Green Bay Packers. And Finley’s choice was down to Notre Dame and Texas. He was a top target for both programs, and the Irish are thrilled to have the highly productive and skilled wide receiver who has the ready-made talent and body type to contribute early in his Notre Dame career.

Notable offers: Texas, Texas A&M, Georgia, Oregon, Oklahoma
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 145 NATL, No. 22 WR and No. 19 player from Texas
Rivals ranking: No. 110 NATL, No. 15 WR and No. 13 player from Texas

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One of the most productive wide receivers in Texas has signed with Notre Dame. Red Oak (Texas) High’s Brayden Robinson is Irish.

Mike’s take: Robinson holds the following Red Oak High career records: 227 receptions, 3,328 receiving yards, 4,358 total yards and 40 touchdowns. There’s no arguing that he’s on the smaller side at 5-8, 160 pounds, but Robinson is tough as nails and is not a one trick pony. He can make things happen in the short passing game as you’d expect from a typical speedy slot receiver, but Robinson is also a downfield threat and has been a very productive red zone threat for Red Oak as well. It was a strong recruiting win for the Irish to land Robinson. It came down to Notre Dame, Miami and Arizona for him.

Notable offers: Miami, Texas, Ohio State, Alabama, LSU
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 378 NATL, No. 60 WR and No. 47 player from Texas
Rivals ranking: No. 90 WR and No. 72 player from Texas

One of the most prized running backs in the Lone Star State has signed to play his college football in South Bend. Forney (Texas) High four-star talent Javian Osborne is officially a member of the Irish.

Kyle’s take: There’s no replacing the impact Jeremiyah Love made on and off the field at Notre Dame. It was generational. But Osborne will try. The 5-foot-8½, 200-pounder is perhaps the most charismatic and marketable figure in the Irish 2026 class. He also should become a real difference-maker out of the Notre Dame backfield. Osborne was that at Forney High School, rushing for more than 6,500 yards during his prep career. This season alone, he had over 2,000 yards and 32 touchdowns. With Love and redshirt junior running back Jadarian Price gone after this season, the Irish have big shoes to fill. Osborne will do his best to contribute from Day 1.

Notable offers: Michigan, Texas, Texas A&M, Georgia, Alabama, Oklahoma, Oregon, USC, Ohio State, Miami, Tennessee, Texas Tech and Penn State
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 126 NATL, No. 10 RB and No. 17 player from Texas
Rivals ranking: No. 135 NATL, No. 8 RB and No. 18 player from Texas

Notre Dame won a highly competitive recruitment in August when it beat out Alabama, Oklahoma and others for Sarasota (Fla.) Cardinal Mooney’s Elijah Golden. The four-star defensive lineman has officially joined the Irish football program.

Mike’s take: Golden is a versatile defensive lineman the Fighting Irish coaching staff is very excited to have. He’s listed by Rivals at 6-3.5, 278 pounds, but it’s my understanding that he’s slimmed down to keep explosiveness as a defensive end while remaining a force when he lines up on the interior. Landing Golden was a strong recruiting win with his impressive offer list. Auburn tried flipping him early in the fall, but he didn’t reciprocate that interest.

Notable offers: Alabama, Ohio State, Miami, Clemson, Georgia
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 156 NATL, No. 18 DL and No. 22 player from Florida
Rivals ranking: No. 229 NATL, No. 23 DL and No. 28 player from Florida

Charlotte (N.C.) Independence safety Nick Reddish has signed his letter of intent with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Mike’s take: Reddish may not have elite size or project long term as a top draft pick, but pop on his tape, and it’s easy to like him a lot. He can play with range as a deep safety and also make plays around the line of scrimmage. What hurt his recruitment take off — as well as his recruiting ranking — was a broken fibula he suffered in the second game of his junior year. But in his return to action as a senior, he posted 91 stops (8 for loss), 2 sacks, 2 interceptions, 4 pass breakups and 2 fumble recoveries. Reddish is a slept-on prospect in Notre Dame’s 2026 class.

Notable offers: Indiana, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Tennessee, USC
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 776 NATL, No. 71 S and No. 30 player from North Carolina
Rivals ranking: No. 67 S and No. 45 player from North Carolina

The first offensive lineman to commit to Notre Dame’s 2026 class has officially signed with the Irish. Sullivan Garvin, a three-star recruit from Allegan (Mich.) High, was verbally committed to Notre Dame for nearly one year. 

Tyler’s take: Notre Dame started its 2026 offensive line recruiting efforts focused on interior linemen, and Garvin emerged as one of the staff’s favorites. When the Irish offered Garvin in September 2024, there was little doubt the three-star offensive lineman from Michigan would end up in Notre Dame’s class. He took a couple months to verify his decision and become the first offensive line commit in the class. The 6-5, 315-pound Garvin has a reputation for overpowering his competition at high school, but he’ll have a significant talent jump to deal with at Notre Dame. Garvin will have time to develop before he needs to push for playing time. 

Notable offers: Indiana, Purdue, Washington, Cincinnati, Kansas, Western Michigan, Toledo and Miami (Ohio) 
Rivals Industry Rankings: No. 635 NATL, No. 63 IOL and No. 13 player in Michigan 
Rivals Rankings: No. 57 IOL and No. 12 player in Michigan  

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Four-star offensive lineman Ben Nichols celebrated his verbal commitment to Notre Dame on Christmas Eve of last year. The product of Davison (Mich.) High celebrated his official signing with the Irish on Wednesday. 

Tyler’s take: Notre Dame knew it wanted to keep tabs on Nichols after he participated in the program’s lineman camp in 2023. The Irish followed through with an offer on Pot of Gold Day in 2024. He was a frequent Notre Dame visitor before committing to the Irish last December and attended nearly every home game this season. The Irish landed a boulder of an offensive linemen in the 6-5, 335-pound Nichols. He’ll transition to playing on the interior when he arrives at Notre Dame next summer. That’s where he’ll test his strength and quickness most. With proper physical development and technical training, Nichols could become a pretty imposing pulling guard. 

Notable offers: Wisconsin, Penn State, Tennessee, Michigan State, Ohio State, Alabama, Iowa and Indiana  
Rivals Industry Rankings: No. 176 NATL, No. 9 IOL and No. 3 player in Michigan 
Rivals Rankings: No. 28 IOL and No. 6 player in Michigan  

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The top 2026 prospect in Michigan has signed with Notre Dame. Gregory Patrick, a Michigan State legacy, followed through with his April commitment by signing Wednesday. 

Tyler’s take: Patrick followed the coaching of his father, Joseph Patrick, but he didn’t choose to follow the same college path as him. Joseph Patrick, who played offensive line at Michigan State, was his son’s offensive line coach at Portage (Mich.) Northern. Gregory’s play reflects his father’s knowledge and experience well. He’s a fundamentally sound and smart player with traits that could be used on the interior or at offensive tackle in college. Because Portage Northern used such a run-heavy offense, the younger Patrick doesn’t have as much experience in pass protection. But he’s worked with his father to help ease the transition. The four-star recruit got a look at elite competition at Rivals Five-Star in June. The 6-4, 280-pound Patrick learned how quickly top defensive linemen can put an offensive lineman in a bad spot. The Patricks put their faith in ND offensive line coach Joe Rudolph to develop him toward his potential. 

Notable offers: Michigan State, Michigan, Penn State, Oklahoma, Alabama, Wisconsin, Stanford and Indiana 
Rivals Industry Rankings: No. 165 NATL, No. 8 IOL, and No. 1 player in Michigan 
Rivals Rankings: No. 139 NATL, No. 10 IOL and No. 1 player in Michigan 

Notre Dame wide receiver Jordan Faison’s brother is set to follow in his footsteps. Boca Raton (Fla.) Saint Andrew’s School three-star wide receiver Dylan Faison has signed with the Irish.

Kyle’s take: Because he essentially committed to Notre Dame on the spot during the spring of his sophomore year, Dylan Faison is probably the most overlooked player in the Irish 2026 class. But he shouldn’t be. Miami made a big push for the 5-11, 170-pounder over the summer, but he chose to stay locked in with the Irish. This season was his best yet in high school, catching 53 passes for 849 yards (16 yards per catch) and 10 touchdowns in 12 games. Faison is also an excellent lacrosse player, ranking as the No. 14 overall prospect in his class according to Inside Lacrosse. Like Jordan, Dylan intends to play both sports at Notre Dame.

Notable offers: Miami
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 866 NATL, No. 125 WR and No. 94 player from Florida
Rivals ranking: No. 170 WR and No. 115 player from Florida

Matthews (N.C.) Weddington four-star linebacker Thomas Davis Jr. has signed with Notre Dame. He is the son of former Pro Bowl linebacker Thomas Davis Sr., who spent 16 years in the NFL with the Panthers, Chargers and Commanders.

Kyle’s take: Davis reasonably could have committed to a few other schools. His father is in Georgia’s Circle of Honor, essentially the university’s athletic Hall of Fame. His cousins, four-star defensive linemen Aiden and Andrew Harris, are both committed to South Carolina. But the 6-2, 210-pound Davis locked on with Freeman’s program early, giving the Irish an instinctive linebacker who is a playmaker on defense. Because his cousins, the Harris twins, are so productive at the high school level, Weddington has not had to rely on Davis to make tackles. He recorded 63 tackles in 13 games along with 14 pass breakups, an interception and 10 quarterback pressures. The Irish defense will lean on him to make similar game-changing plays. 

Notable offers: Georgia, Miami, Ohio State, Clemson, USC, Oregon, Michigan, LSU, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Penn State and South Carolina 
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 271 NATL, No. 14 LB and No. 13 player from North Carolina
Rivals ranking: No. 41 LB and No. 21 player from North Carolina

Notre Dame’s elite defensive back class features one of the top cornerbacks from the University of Tennessee’s backyard. On Wednesday, Knoxville (Tenn.) Catholic senior Chaston Smith made his decision official, signing with the Irish.

Kyle’s take: Smith’s initial Notre Dame commitment a year ago came out of the blue. When the 6-foot-1, 170-pounder set his decision date, schools like Clemson and Texas A&M appeared best positioned to secure his pledge. But one trip to South Bend in November 2024 was all assistant coach Mike Mickens needed to convince Smith to join his defensive backs room. Since then, Smith has been one of the fastest risers in the rankings, climbing to No. 15 among all cornerbacks in the class. He has plus length and the lockdown ability Mickens desires. This past season, Smith recorded 33 tackles, 8 pass breakups and 2 interceptions in 11 games. Don’t be surprised if he becomes yet another Notre Dame NFL Draft pick at defensive back.

Notable offers: Clemson, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Michigan, LSU, Alabama, Oregon, USC and Vanderbilt
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 236 NATL, No. 27 CB and No. 8 player from Tennessee
Rivals ranking: No. 104 NATL, No. 15 CB and No. 4 player from Tennessee

Winter Park (Fla.) High’s Ayden Pouncey spurned Florida schools and top SEC powers back in April when he committed to Notre Dame, and he’s now officially part of the program.

Mike’s take: What an impressive recruiting victory this was, going into the Sunshine State and landing Pouncey, who has family members who played at Florida (brothers Jordan and Ethan as well as second cousins Maurkice and Mike). And Pouncey grew up a fan of Miami and LSU. Pouncey could’ve picked any of those programs — as well as many others — but decided to take his talents to South Bend. Pouncey was dominant as a senior, excelling at safety, cornerback, wide receiver and in the return game. He could play anywhere in the Irish secondary. He’s that good.

Notable offers: Miami, LSU, Georgia, Oregon, Michigan
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 76 NATL, No. 8 S and No. 11 player from Florida
Rivals ranking: No. 96 NATL, No. 7 S and No. 11 player from Florida

Notre Dame went into the Peach State and landed a commitment from Carrollton (Ga.) Central’s Jonaz Walton back in the spring. That pledge became official on signing day.

Mike’s take: Notre Dame had Walton as a top target for much of the 2026 cycle but seemed like a long shot to land him, considering he went nearly a year until his first visit after landing his offer. But once Walton visited, the Irish surged on his list, and he ultimately chose Notre Dame over SEC powers. Walton never looked back from his pledge, which is great news for Irish fans. Walton is a tremendous, all-around back who can do it all. In his high school career, Walton has totaled over 7,000 all-purpose yards and over 80 touchdowns.

Notable offers: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, USC, Ohio State
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 123 NATL, No. 9 RB and No. 14 player from Georgia
Rivals ranking: No. 121 NATL, No. 5 RB and No. 19 player from Georgia

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Savannah (Ga.) Benedictine Military School wide receiver Bubba Frazier has made his Notre Dame commitment official on National Signing Day.

Mike’s take: Notre Dame has added a speedy, dynamic slot receiver to the future of its football team. Frazier is a great fit off the field, and he will provide explosiveness as a slot receiver and returner. He could be the team’s next Jordan Faison as a slippery and quick pass catcher, and he has speed for days. At an Under Armour Next camp series stop in Georgia in February 2025, he ran a blazing-fast 4.43 laser-timed 40-yard dash. For context, only 16 wide receivers ran better 40 times in the 2025 NFL Combine.

Notable offers: Georgia, Auburn, North Carolina, Georgia Tech, Wisconsin
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 231 NATL, No. 37 WR and No. 26 player from Georgia 
Rivals ranking: No. 239 NATL, No. 33 WR and No. 31 player from Georgia

Garner (N.C.) South Garner’s Ebenezer Ewetade has signed his letter of intent with the Fighting Irish. 

Mike’s take: He’s a high-ceiling prospect with a lot of impressive traits, which is crucial for long term projections of pass rushers. Ewetade is long, athletic and explosive, and he had a very productive senior season, posting 70 stops, 28 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 4 pass breakups, 4 fumble recoveries and 2 forced fumbles. Ewetade is a bit of a late bloomer on the recruiting trail, and Notre Dame did the best job recruiting him. He’s a borderline five-star prospect by Rivals.

Notable offers: Georgia, Florida State, Alabama, Ohio State, Miami
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 90 NATL, No. 13 EDGE and No. 6 player from North Carolina
Rivals ranking: No. 28 NATL, No. 7 EDGE and No. 3 player from North Carolina

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Notre Dame officially has one of the best pass rushers in the country in its 2026 class. Charlotte (N.C.) Myers Park’s Rodney Dunham has signed with the Irish.

Mike’s take: Dunham visited Notre Dame in the spring of 2024, and the Irish looked to be in great position for him, but it took him 11 months to get back to South Bend, and he visited Tennessee three times in that span. It seemed like the Irish were lagging behind for the five-star prospect, but after his March 2025 visit, he was all Notre Dame. He committed a couple of weeks later and didn’t look back. Dunham has all the traits of a future first-round draft pick at the defensive end position. He’s a bona fide stud.

Notable offers: Tennessee, Georgia, Oregon, Ohio State, Alabama

Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 17 NATL, No. 5 EDGE and No. 3 player from North Carolina
Rivals ranking: No. 10 NATL, No. 3 EDGE and No. 1 player from North Carolina

For the second straight recruiting cycle, Notre Dame has gone back to Cincinnati St. Xavier — the top team in Ohio — to sign one of the program’s top defenders. This year, it’s three-star linebacker Kobe Clapper.

Kyle’s take: Clapper doesn’t have the recruiting profile of some of Notre Dame’s linebackers in the Freeman era, like Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, Drayk Bowen, Jaylen Sneed or Madden Faraimo. Still, the 6-2, 195-pound Clapper is worthy of being considered one of the top thumpers in the 2026 class. Despite playing alongside two other of the nation’s premier defenders on his high school team — Brayden Reilly and Aden Reeder — Clapper totaled 110 tackles, 11 stops for loss, 3.5 sacks and 1 pass breakup in 12 games. He also contributed several turnovers: 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery and 1 interception. Look for Clapper to be one of the leaders calling out the Notre Dame defense in the years to come.

Notable offers: Oregon, Ohio State, Michigan, Tennessee, Penn State, Louisville, Wisconsin and Cincinnati
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 493 NATL, No. 44 LB and No. 25 player from Ohio
Rivals ranking: No. 33 LB and No. 28 player from Ohio

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The Irish have added one of the top pass-catchers in the 2026 class at tight end. Toledo (Ohio) Central Catholic’s Preston Fryzel, a four-star according to Rivals, has signed with Notre Dame. He attends the same high school that produced former ND quarterback DeShone Kizer.

Kyle’s take: Fryzel is a member of the Notre Dame football program because of first-year general manager Mike Martin. When Martin, the former Detroit Lions director of scouting, was commuting from Detroit to South Bend last spring, he made a pit stop in Toledo to check out Fryzel. He discovered an outstanding receiver who will play tight end at the next level. The 6-4, 215-pound Fryzel has spent most of his high school career lining up at wide receiver, where he developed his promising pass-catching ability. Even though he drew the opponent’s attention as a senior, he managed to record 33 receptions for 849 yards (25.7 yards per catch) and 8 touchdowns in 14 games. Fryzel has drawn comparisons from the Notre Dame coaching staff to Tyler Eifert. 

Notable offers: Iowa, Miami, Auburn, Indiana, Michigan State, Pittsburgh, North Carolina, Cincinnati, Wisconsin and Louisville
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 419 NATL, No. 24 TE and No. 19 player from Ohio
Rivals ranking: No. 195 NATL, No. 8 TE and No. 11 player from Ohio

Five-star cornerback Khary Adams — the top player at his position in America — has put pen to paper and officially ended his recruitment. The Towson (Md.) Loyola Blakefield star will play for the Fighting Irish in 2026.

Mike’s take: It was a very impressive recruiting win for the Irish to land Adams’ commitment initially, and his pledge held true with no drama. Michigan tried to flip him, but Adams didn’t entertain it. Adams had a tremendous senior season and is deserving of a five-star ranking. He’s a playmaker at receiver and is a lockdown cornerback. Notre Dame has turned its secondary from a weakness to a strength under Mike Mickens, but the Irish haven’t signed five-star corners in recent history. Landing Adams is monstrous.

Notable offers: Penn State, South Carolina, Michigan, Oregon, LSU
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 26 NATL, No. 1 CB and No. 4 player from Maryland
Rivals ranking: No. 23 NATL, No. 2 CB and No. 2 player from Maryland

More on Adams here

Notre Dame’s biggest recruiting win of the 2026 cycle is now official. Wyndmoor (Pa.) La Salle College five-star safety Joey O’Brien has signed with Notre Dame, ending overtures from Oregon and Penn State during the 2025 season.

Kyle’s take: Over the last several years, Notre Dame has used Kyle Hamilton as its recruiting pitch to most safeties. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound O’Brien is unequivocally the one who most resembles the former Irish first-round NFL Draft pick. Rivals projects O’Brien to become one himself because of his elite ball skills and versatility in the secondary. He legitimately could see snaps at wide receiver — and he should. Through 13 games, he has 69 catches, 1,141 yards (16.5 yards per catch) and 18 touchdowns. Notre Dame was one of the first to offer in the spring of his sophomore year, and it stayed pedal-to-the-metal from start to finish. His recruitment goes down as a remarkable win for everyone involved in the Gug.

Notable offers: Oregon, Penn State, Clemson, Ohio State, Tennessee, Michigan, Georgia, Alabama and Miami
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 31 NATL, No. 3 SAF and No. 1 player from Pennsylvania
Rivals ranking: No. 25 NATL, No. 1 SAF and No. 3 player from Pennsylvania

More on O’Brien here

Notre Dame’s five-star offensive tackle streak is on track to extend to six consecutive classes following the signing of Grayson McKeogh. So long as McKeogh’s rating holds up through the final update in January, he’ll become the sixth offensive tackle rated as a five-star recruit by On3 or Rivals to sign in Notre Dame’s last six classes following Blake Fisher (Rivals, 2021), Aamil Wagner (On3, 2022), Charles Jagusah (On3, 2023), Guerby Lambert (On3, 2024) and Will Black (On3 and Rivals, 2025). 

Tyler James’ take: Notre Dame’s long pursuit of safety Joey O’Brien led the Irish to discover McKeogh, his teammate at Wyndmoor (Pa.) La Salle College High. After the Irish offered McKeogh in March, they bullied their way to a recruiting victory over Penn State, which had been pursuing McKeogh for longer. The 6-7, 280-pound McKeogh gave Notre Dame his pledge in June after making official visits to both schools. O’Brien verbally committed to Notre Dame soon after. As the recruiting cycle continued, it became less clear which of the two had more potential as a prospect. Rivals ranks McKeogh higher than O’Brien with his size and athleticism at the offensive tackle position. Fortunately for Notre Dame, it doesn’t have to choose between the two. 

Notable offers: Penn State, Texas, Ohio State, Alabama, Ole Miss, Florida, Indiana and Stanford 
Rivals Industry Rankings: No. 116 NATL, No. 11 OT and No. 4 player in Pennsylvania 
Rivals Rankings: No. 9 NATL, No. 3 OT and No. 1 player in Pennsylvania 

More on McKeogh here

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Offensive lineman Tyler Merrill gave Notre Dame its first commitment following the departure of former general manager Chad Bowden to USC in January. The coveted recruit out of Mechanicsburg (Pa.) Cumberland Valley gave the Irish his written word Wednesday by signing to join the program. 

Tyler’s take: While Notre Dame’s recruiting department was under transition, Merrill gave the Irish staff good news following his January junior day visit. Merrill had already been to Notre Dame five times, so he had a pretty good feel for the program he was preparing to join. He completed Notre Dame’s priority interior trio alongside Garvin and Nichols. It’s easy to understand why offensive line coach Joe Rudolph coveted Merrill. The 6-5, 330-pounder plays the position like a bulldozer. He’s a physically mature player with a powerful upper body and a gritty demeanor to match his frame. Notre Dame won’t need to worry about making Merrill bigger. It will just need to fine-tune his frame and develop his technique. 

Notable offers: Penn State, Alabama, Clemson, Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia, Texas A&M and Pittsburgh 
Rivals Industry Rankings: No. 202 NATL, No. 12 IOL and No. 7 player in Pennsylvania 
Rivals Rankings: No. 34 IOL and No. 14 player in Pennsylvania

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Charlie Thom bet on himself when he opted to play an extra season of high school football. The Irish are betting on Thom, a Rivals four-star recruit, continuing to develop as an offensive tackle after officially signing with the Irish on Wednesday. 

Tyler’s take: It seemed like Notre Dame was just picking on Penn State when it swooped in to land Thom’s commitment after the Nittany Lions started to prioritize him. The Irish didn’t have an obvious need for another offensive tackle commitment when Thom became the sixth offensive lineman in ND’s 2026 class. But the Irish decided they wanted to take a chance on Thom, who opted to take a post-graduate year at Avon (Conn.) Old Farms after graduating from Darien (Conn.) High. The 6-6, 270-pound Thom’s decision to stay at the high school level allowed him to transition from tight end to offensive tackle, where he became a far more attractive prospect. He’s big, can move well and is just scratching the surface on what he can become as an offensive tackle. 

Notable offers: Penn State, Boston College, Virginia Tech, Nebraska, Stanford, Michigan State, Syracuse and Wake Forest 
Rivals Industry Rankings: No. 448 NATL, No. 35 OT, No. 2 player in Connecticut 
Rivals Rankings: No. 206 NATL, No. 21 OT, No. 1 player in Connecticut

One of the most productive quarterbacks in Florida high school football history has put pen to paper and signed with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. That prospect is none other than Lake Mary (Fla.) High’s Noah Grubbs.

Mike’s take: Grubbs was viewed as a top quarterback in the 2026 class after his incredible 49-touchdown sophomore season, but he’s slid down the rankings since. It’s puzzling to me, as Grubbs has great size and impressive arm talent, not to mention how seasoned he is as a quarterback playing against strong competition in the Sunshine State. Grubbs led Lake Mary to a state title appearance as a junior and has the Rams back in the 7A semifinals. To this point, Grubbs has thrown for over 10,000 yards and accounted for 149 touchdowns. His game later this week will be his 52nd high school appearance. Grubbs has seen it all at the high school level, which will help him get acclimated to life as a college football player.

Notable offers: Michigan, Ohio State, Miami, Texas A&M, Oklahoma
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 403 NATL, No. 28 QB and No. 13 player from Florida
Rivals ranking: No. 41 QB and No. 60 player from Florida

More details on Grubbs here

Prospects can start signing at 7:00 a.m. their local time. Based on what we’re hearing at Blue & Gold, it should be a quiet day in terms of unexpected additions for the Irish. But on signing day, you just never know.

Notre Dame enters the day with 27 verbal commitments. Today, those verbals become official.

The Irish begin the day with the No. 2 class in America according to the Rivals Industry Team Ranking. More details here.