Notre Dame football set to host top-50 recruit for return visit, and continues to battle against elite competition

Notre Dame football is considered to be arguably the top school in terms of offensive line development over the last several years. Names like Quenton Nelson, Zach Martin, Ronnie Stanley, Joe Alt, and Mike McGlinchey bring back fond memories for Fighting Irish fans. It feels like even a down year of offensive line play in […]

Ryan Roberts — National College Football Writer
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Notre Dame 2026 OL target Ekene Ogboko
Raleigh News & Observer

Notre Dame football is considered to be arguably the top school in terms of offensive line development over the last several years. Names like Quenton Nelson, Zach Martin, Ronnie Stanley, Joe Alt, and Mike McGlinchey bring back fond memories for Fighting Irish fans. It feels like even a down year of offensive line play in South Bend is typically on a good level for most programs.

A big reason for that is the recruiting the program maintains up front. They are once again off to a tremendous start in the 2026 recruiting class, already holding commitments from Ben Nichols and Sullivan Garvin. Notre Dame continues to have their eyes firmly set on several other talented linemen, including Durham (N.C.) South Garner offensive tackle Ekene Ogboko.

The North Carolina star is not unfamiliar to the Notre Dame program. Both sides have been in constant contact over the last several months, and Ogboko has actually visited South Bend before. He took an unofficial visit to the campus for the USC game during the 2023 season with his older brother Nnamdi Ogboko, who signed with the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2024 recruiting class.

Ogboko is considered to be a top 50 recruit by several major recruiting platforms. 247Sports has him rated highest, currently sitting at the No. 21 overall player and No. 2 player in the 2026 recruiting class. Ogboko is also considered the third best player in the state of North Carolina on that ranking.

As you might have guessed, the 6-6, 285-pound offensive lineman is being pursued by several prominent programs. Some of his top offers include Notre Dame, Georgia, Ohio State, Alabama, Miami, Florida, Florida State, Auburn, Tennessee, Ole Miss, and Penn State among many others.

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