Notre Dame football predicted to go into the backyard of a Midwest rival and land defensive recruit that every top program wants 

Notre Dame has a chance to beat Ohio State for a really talented in-state recruit.

Ryan Roberts — National College Football Writer
Add as preferred source on Google
Ace Alston, Anderson defensive back, soaks up the atmosphere of the game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Texas Longhorns at Ohio Stadium on Aug. 30, 2025.

Head coach Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame football are fresh off a tremendous recruiting weekend for their matchup against the USC Trojans. Not only did the Fighting Irish beat their rival on the field in Notre Dame Stadium, but they also used that performance to their advantage with the elite players who were on campus visiting. It was a great weekend all the way around. 

For the 2027 recruiting class, Cincinnati (Ohio) Anderson cornerback Ace Alston has become a clear place to know for the Irish. The Ohio native was one of the talented players who were on campus, and things couldn’t be in a better place. Notre Dame has become the clear team to beat. 

Rivals national recruiting analyst Greg Smith has logged an expert prediction for Alston to land with the Fighting Irish. It would be a tremendous addition to the 2027 class if Freeman and his staff can close this one out. 

Ace Alston recruiting background

Alston is considered to be a four-star recruit and Top-150 overall player by each of the major recruiting platforms. On the 247 Sports Composite ranking, Alston is currently rated as the No. 112 overall player, the No. 11 cornerback, and the No. 2 player in the state of Ohio for the 2027 recruiting class. 

While Alston has impressive recruiting rankings, his offer list is even better. Some of the top programs that have offered Alston so far include the Fighting Irish, Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan, LSU, Tennessee, USC, Texas A&M,  Auburn, Nebraska, Louisville, Indiana, Missouri, Kentucky, Pittsburgh, Arkansas, Illinois, Wisconsin, Virginia Tech, Michigan State, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Cincinnati, Duke, West Virginia, UCLA, Vanderbilt, and Purdue, among several others. 

So far in 2025, Alston has been putting together a strong season for Anderson. The 5-11, 175-pound cover man has recorded 24 total tackles, two interceptions, 11 pass breakups, and three tackles for loss. That’s coming off a sophomore year in 2024 where Anderson also managed to record 46 total tackles, two interceptions, 10 pass breakups, two tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. 

Anytime you can potentially pull a really talented player away from the in-state Buckeyes, it’s a huge deal for Notre Dame. Mike Mickens has recruited and developed the secondary at a tremendous level for the Fighting Irish over the years. It appears that is going to continue in the 2027 class. 

Related Articles