Notre Dame offers three prospects committed elsewhere on Pot of Gold day
Marcus Freeman and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football staff several dozen new prospects on Pot of Gold day, which is the staff’s recruiting initiative to essentially launch their efforts in the 2026 class.
The Irish sent out three offers to prospects who are currently committed to other programs Sunday. This includes an SEC pledge and two Big Ten verbals.
Notre Dame offered a handful of new running back recruits yesterday, including Aledo (Texas) High’s Raycine Guillory, a 5-9, 165-pounder who is currently committed to Texas. Guillory picked Steve Sarkisian‘s program back in January over offers from the likes of Arkansas, USC, Texas Tech, Baylor, TCU, Georgia and many others.
In helping lead Aledo to a perfect 16-0 season, Guillory rushed 146 times for 1,236 yards with 21 total touchdowns.
The Irish are now also in pursuit of Harrisburg (Pa.) Trinity class of 2026 running back Messiah Mickens, a Penn State commit. Mickens picked the Nittany Lions last August. The 5-10, 195-pounder is ranked by three of the four major recruiting websites and is thought of highly. He’s the No. 25 overall prospect and No. 3 running back in the land according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
Mickens burst on to the scene in no time as a freshman. On 136 carries in 14 games, Mickens racked up 1,078 rushing yard and a whopping 19 touchdowns. He also hauled in 16 receptions for 200 yards. Mickens and his teammates won a District III Championship and made it all the way to the PIAA semifinals.
As a sophomore, he has continued his excellence, toting the rock 105 times through 11 games, accounting for 961 rushing yards and another 14 touchdowns. He has also added 173 yards and three touchdowns in the receiving game.
Notre Dame also offered a USC commit from the Golden State.
Los Angeles Loyola’s Brandon Lockhart, who ranks as the No. 10 overall prospect and No. 1 cornerback nationally according to the 2026 On3 Industry Ranking, was on the receiving end of the good news. Oregon, Arizona and Penn State are among the other schools that have offered Lockhart, who committed to the Trojans last October.
Lockhart gave such an early pledge to the local Trojans, but other schools aren’t slowing down their pursuit, and he seems open to other options.
“Just taking it easy,” Lockhart recently told On3 regarding his recruitment. “I don’t let the offers and hype get to me. I’m really humble about it, so I’m still working and getting better.”
