Irish Breakdown

Notre Dame's 2026 Recruiting Class Earns Top Three Ranking From ESPN

Head coach Marcus Freeman and his crew have put together one of the best 2026 recruiting classes in the nation.
Jackson Langendorf|
Dec 20, 2024; Notre Dame, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman during the third quarter against the Indiana Hoosiers at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-Imagn Images
Dec 20, 2024; Notre Dame, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman during the third quarter against the Indiana Hoosiers at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-Imagn Images | Matt Cashore-Imagn Images

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Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Fresh off Notre Dame’s first national title appearance in the College Football Playoff era (which began in 2014), the Fighting Irish are making it clear that last season was no anomaly. And the first step in building a perennial national title contender? Recruiting. 

And after putting together a solid Class of 2025 haul, the Fighting Irish put their foot on the gas and are in the midst of crafting one of the best recruiting classes in the country for 2026. 

In ESPN’s recruiting class rankings, Notre Dame landed at third in the nation. The Fighting Irish have 12 commits rated inside ESPN’s Top 300, and the class is headlined on the offensive end by 66th overall prospect and ninth-ranked offensive tackle Tyler Merrill, as well as the nation’s eighth-rated pocket-passing quarterback in Noah Grubbs. 

Defensively, Notre Dame has landed a loaded class, including three top-150 recruits in defensive end Rodney Dunham, outside linebacker Thomas Davis Jr. – son of NFL legend Thomas Davis – and defensive tackle Tiki Hola. 

Still, head coach Marcus Freeman and his staff aren’t done. On Tuesday, the Fighting Irish offered offensive tackle Charlie Thom, and have already lined up a visit with the three-star prospect, and received a prediction to land Thom from On3’s Mike Singer. 

Notre Dame is also heavily involved with receiver Devin Fitzgerald, and a handful of other prospects. Nonetheless, as the current recruiting class sits, the Fighting Irish possess an uber-talented 2026 group of commits that have the potential to leave a lasting legacy in South Bend.

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Jackson Langendorf
JACKSON LANGENDORF

Primarily covers Illinois football and basketball, and Kansas basketball, with an emphasis on analysis, features and recruiting. Langendorf, a third-generation University of Illinois alum, has been watching Illini basketball and football for as long as he can remember. An advertising student and journalism devotee, he has been writing for On SI since October 2024. He can be followed and reached on X @jglangendorf.

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