Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame football go into Ohio State’s backyard for a dynamic defender that the Buckeyes wanted
Notre Dame just had a massive recruiting win right in the backyard of the Ohio State Buckeyes.
While the vibes are a bit odd right now around Notre Dame following the College Football Playoff fiasco, the recruiting momentum is still very strong for the Fighting Irish. Head coach Marcus Freeman and his staff have done a masterful job on that end, attracting some of the top talent from across the country over the last few cycles. That includes some very important areas, even in the backyards of fellow Midwestern powers.
Notre Dame received some huge news on Tuesday when 2027 Cincinnati (Ohio) Anderson cornerback Ace Alston opted for the Irish, a player who has been a priority for the program for a while now. The Fighting Irish won out over finalists Ohio State, Michigan, Oregon, LSU, Tennessee, Penn State, USC, Indiana, and Missouri. That is quite the list of impressive suitors, making this a big statement for the Irish.
Alston joins California safety Khalil Terry as the first two defensive backs in the class for Notre Dame. Secondary coach Mike Mickens has done a phenomenal job recruiting on the back end in recent years, and that doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. If Freeman and this staff have taught us anything, they aren’t afraid to recruit talented players from anywhere. That includes in the state of Ohio for a player that the Buckleyes want.
The 2027 class is a very diverse group so far for the Irish. Notre Dame holds commitments from players from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, California, Georgia, Wisconsin, Alabama, and North Carolina. The reach of Notre Dame football is tremendous.
Ace Alston’s recruiting profile
Alston is considered a four-star recruit and a top-150 overall player by each of the major recruiting platforms right now. On the 247 Sports Composite ranking, Alston is rated as the No. 115 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 schools that have offered Alston up until this point 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 many others.
During the 2025 season, Alston put together yet another strong season for Anderson. The 5-11, 175-pound cover man has recorded 46 total tackles, two interceptions, 16 pass breakups, and 3.5 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.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish News
Several favorites are already separating themselves for former Notre Dame QB Kenny Minchey since entering the Transfer Portal
There are some early teams to know for former Notre Dame quarterback Kenny Minchey since entering the portal.
