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 Aug. 6, the Fighting Irish have 26 commits and a class that ranks No. 4 nationally. A five-star 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. 13 player nationally and the No. 2 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. 20 recruit.

In June, a trio of top-100 prospects joined the fold: four-star safety Joey O’Brien chose ND over Penn State; 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 73%, one of the top marks in the nation.

Notre Dame commitments by position

Quarterback
Four-star Noah Grubbs, No. 257 NATL. (No. 19 QB)

Running Back
Four-star Javian Osborne, No. 101 NATL. (No. 9 RB)
Four-star Jonaz Walton, No. 117 NATL. (No. 11 RB)

Wide Receiver
Four-star Kaydon Finley, No. 120 NATL. (No. 14 WR)
Four-star Bubba Frazier, No. 225 NATL. (No. 38 WR)
Four-star Brayden Robinson, No. 335 NATL. (No. 54 WR)
Three-star Devin Fitzgerald, No. 466 NATL. (No. 72 WR)
Three-star Dylan Faison, No. 914 NATL. (No. 128 WR)

Tight End
Four-star Ian Premer, No. 44 NATL. (No. 4 TE)
Three-star Preston Fryzel, No. 431 NATL. (No. 22 TE)

Offensive tackle
Four-star Grayson McKeogh, No. 179 NATL. (No. 14 OT)
Three-star Charlie Thom, No. 689 NATL. (No. 50 OT)

Interior Offensive Lineman
Four-star Gregory Patrick, No. 171 NATL. (No. 11 IOL)
Four-star Tyler Merrill, No. 204 NATL. (No. 14 IOL)
Four-star Ben Nichols, No. 260 NATL. (No. 18 IOL)
Three-star Sullivan Garvin, No. 568 NATL. (No. 57 IOL)

Defensive Lineman
Three-star Tiki Hola, No. 368 NATL. (No. 39 DL)

EDGE
Five-star Rodney Dunham, No. 13 NATL. (No. 2 EDGE)
Four-star Ebenezer Ewetade, No. 107 NATL. (No. 16 EDGE)

Linebacker
Four-star Thomas Davis Jr., No. 214 NATL. (No. 8 LB)
Four-star Kobe Clapper, No. 448 NATL. (No. 36 LB)

Cornerback
Four-star Khary Adams, No. 38 NATL. (No. 5 CB)
Four-star Chaston Smith, No. 369 NATL. (No. 35 CB)

Safety
Four-star Joey O’Brien, No. 34 NATL. (No. 4 S)
Four-star Ayden Pouncey, No. 122 NATL. (No. 10 S)
Three-star Nick Reddish, No. 703 NATL. (No. 62 S)