Notre Dame’s 2026 recruiting class isn’t just promising; it’s powerful. As the fourth recruiting class under head coach Marcus Freeman, it follows an incredible 14-2 run in the 2024 season that took the Irish to the national championship game. Freeman and his coaching staff have capitalized on that success to secure elite recruits.
Notre Dame 2026 Full Commit List
The Fighting Irish is preparing for the future, and the 2026 recruiting class is already turning heads. Here’s a look at the class with overall ratings reflective of ESPN rankings:
- DE Rodney Dunham (220 pounds), four-star
- OT Tyler Merrill (335 pounds), four-star
- OLB Thomas Davis Jr. (210 pounds), four-star
- QB Noah Grubbs (220 pounds), four-star
- DE Ebenezer Ewetabe (220 pounds), four-star
- OG Ben Nichols (320 pounds), four-star
- OG Sullivan Garvin (295 pounds), three-star
- CB Chaston Smith (160 pounds), three-star
- WR Dylan Faison (175 pounds), three-star
DE Dunham committed to the program on April 10, three days after a two-day unofficial visit. According to the On3 Industry Ranking, Dunham—ranked No. 19 nationally and No. 3 among EDGE players—holds the highest ranking for a Notre Dame defensive lineman or EDGE since Aaron Lynch in 2011, who was No. 16 nationally and No. 3 at the position.
OT Merrill from Cumberland Valley High School in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, is one of the top recruits in the country. He committed to Notre Dame on Jan. 30. According to the 247Sports Composite, he’s the second-best player in Pennsylvania, the seventh-best interior offensive lineman nationwide, and holds the 88th overall spot nationally.
OLB Davis Jr. is the son of former Georgia All-American and 16-year NFL veteran Thomas Davis. A junior at Weddington High School in North Carolina, he is currently ranked No. 126 in the ESPN Junior 300. He decided to commit to Notre Dame three days after attending the team’s dominant 52-3 victory over Florida State on Nov. 12, 2024.
QB Grubbs from Lake Mary (Fla.) High School ranks as the No. 198 overall player and No. 14 quarterback in the country, according to the 2026 On3 Industry Ranking, at an Elite 11 regional camp. He committed to the Fighting Irish on June 1, 2024.
DE Ewetade committed to Freeman, Al Washington, and the 2026 Notre Dame football recruiting class on April 5. The 220-pounder from South Garner High School selected the Irish over notable programs, including Ohio State, Georgia, Alabama, and Penn State.
OG Nichols from Davison, Michigan, committed to Notre Dame on Dec. 25, 2024. Ranked 3rd in Michigan and 16th by 247Sports Composite, he chose the Irish over 19 top programs, including Alabama, Ohio State, and Penn State.
Allegan (Mich.) OG Garvin committed to Notre Dame on Dec. 5, 2024. He’s ranked No. 48 among interior offensive linemen and No. 14 in Michigan for the 2026 class. His 247Sports rating jumped from 86 to 87 following a strong summer camp performance.
McCallie School class of 2026 cornerback CB Smith committed to Notre Dame on Dec. 1, 2024. He has since received offers from Florida, North Carolina, and Nebraska. The three-star holds a 0.9083 rating from 247Sports, ranking No. 281 nationally, No. 41 among CBs, and No. 9 in Tennessee.
The Fighting Irish secured its first commitment for the 2026 class on March 18, 2024, from Dylan Faison, the younger brother of standout freshman and two-sport athlete Jordan Faison.
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Notre Dame has nine commitments in the 2026 recruiting cycle, with six prospects rated four stars and three as three stars. The program may not be firing on all cylinders yet – the Irish have landed just three 2026 commitments since the calendar flipped to January – but several of their obligations are in the ESPN 300.
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