Blink and miss, that is the pace that Marcus Freeman is moving in. He just took Notre Dame football to the stratosphere. The 38-year-old head coach, a former linebacker and defensive coordinator, has been on a journey to revamp the Fighting Irish. And last season was a premiere of the same.
Freeman nearly pulled off the impossible. After an early-season stumble against Northern Illinois, the Freeman squad went on a 10-game tear. They toppled ranked teams, took down USC, won their first-ever home playoff game, and even beat Georgia in the rescheduled Sugar Bowl. With a 13-win season and a national title game appearance, Notre Dame was officially back. And now, it looks like they are levelling up again.
Marcus Freeman’s Recruiting Magic: 3 Major Steals Boost Notre Dame’s 2026 Class
Freeman isn’t resting on a dream season. He’s revamping, reloading, and doing it all using his recruiting power. Notre Dame is now ranked No. 2 nationally according to 247Sports. And the ranking is not just about the five-star recruits! While everyone’s eyes were on the usual blue-chip suspects, Notre Dame made quiet moves that now look like major coups. Freeman’s been relentless, and these three recruits are the proof in the pudding.
1. Joey O’Brien
Recruiters knew there was something cooking the moment four-star safety Joey O’Brien changed his official visit calendar. O’Brien, when he made the changes, ended up dropping Ohio State in favor of Notre Dame.
Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame football are on a hot streak in the world of recruiting; holding the title for the No. 2 ranked class in the country for 2026 according to 247Sports.
ND is currently in the mix for several high-profile recruits on both sides of the ball 🧵 pic.twitter.com/0iOCMMrh2S
— The Irish Tribune (@TheIrishTribune) May 14, 2025
O’Brien, out of La Salle College in Pennsylvania, is the No. 2 player in his state and a top-five safety in the country. And Marcus Freeman has been using his deadly combo of Mike Mickens and Marti Biagi to lock Joey O’Brien. And it definitely seems like it is working.
Joey O’Brien was supposed to visit South Bend in early June. Now, that has changed. He will be there right before the recruiting dead period. This might be a strategic move that might just seal the deal. When a top-70 player starts leaning Irish late in the game, it’s not luck. It’s Freeman.
2. Jonaz Walton
Ever thought about what it would be like to steal a top-10 running back from the SEC? Well, Marcus Freeman is doing just that. Jonaz Walton, coming out of Carrollton, Georgia, is a tank of a back who also swims and sprints. He is 5’9”, 205 pounds, and is one of the best recruits for the Fighting Irish.
After visiting Notre Dame in April, momentum started building. Recruiting gurus from 247Sports and On3 even went on to predict that Walton has a leaning toward Irish. To add on, there’s another X factor. And that is none other than new RB coach Ja’Juan Seider, who was nabbed from Penn State. Seider has already delivered one top-10 back. Walton might be his next big win.
3. Brayden Robinson
Brayden Robinson is a Red Oak, Texas product. He might be small in size, but don’t let that fool the fandom. Robinson has a knack for blowing past defenders. He, in fact, has drawn interest from Miami, Ohio State, and Arizona.
KEEP READING: Notre Dame Ramps Up Pursuit of 4-Star WR Brayden Robinson As Marcus Freeman’s Staff Stays Aggressive in Crunch-Time Recruiting
Notre Dame is tapping into Texas talent like never before, and Robinson could be the crown jewel. He is ranked inside the top 50 receivers and top 40 in Texas. Robinson’s versatility as a slot threat and returner makes him the perfect chess piece in Freeman’s playbook. Evidently, Marcus Freeman is not just about stars but about stacking smart.
While the headlines go to the five-star flashes, it’s these well-timed, well-executed recruiting heists that have Notre Dame dreaming bigger than ever. And if Freeman keeps pulling off moves like these? South Bend might just be the new recruiting capital of college football.
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