Notre Dame football now has a new “can’t miss” recruiting target following a couple of tough days for the interior defensive line class
It hasn’t been a great couple of days for Notre Dame defensive line recruiting. Head coach Marcus Freeman and Al Washington have been busy putting together an elite group up front defensively, and they really just needed to have a solid finish. This week has not gone to plan so far. In a 24 hour […]
It hasn’t been a great couple of days for Notre Dame defensive line recruiting. Head coach Marcus Freeman and Al Washington have been busy putting together an elite group up front defensively, and they really just needed to have a solid finish. This week has not gone to plan so far.
In a 24 hour span, the Fighting Irish missed out on Liberty Hill (Texas) High School defensive tackle Alister Vallejo, who committed on Tuesday to the Michigan Wolverines. Gardena (Calif.) Junipero Serra star Khary Wilder also came off the board yesterday, opting for Ohio State and their substantial NIL offer. Both were players that Notre Dame was pushing hard for.
Chicago (Ill.) Simeon defensive end McHale Blade also committed to Michigan earlier this week as well. That loss didn’t hurt quite as much. The Irish had cooled on him in recent weeks, and valued other targets at a higher level.
Those three “losses” did, however, make the board a whole lot thinner in an instant. Defensive end is a position that is already fantastic, but Hola does need a running mate inside. The defensive tackle class still needs a big answer, specifically in terms of penetration potential.
As of today, there are two realistic targets that remain on the board. That includes Buford (Ga.) High School pass rusher Dre Quinn and Sarasota (Fla.) Cardinal Mooney defensive lineman Elijah Golden. Both players are very talented, but each project to a much different role on the next level.
The difference in position fit is what makes me value one slightly over the other. It’s nothing against Quinn, and if Notre Dame does take five defensive linemen in the end, I would take him without question. That would, however, be making a strength a bigger strength in the class rather than answering a bigger question.
The Irish class just doesn’t have an impact three technique in it right now, and that’s what Golden would represent. While he plays a lot on the edge in high school at the moment, Golden is an easy fit inside long term. Already at 6-3 and 270 pounds, he could be 300 pounds very early into his college career.
If Notre Dame was only able to land one of those two remaining targets, Golden would be the pick for me. You are going to have to out-dual Alabama for him, but they have a strong chance to do so going down the stretch.
Golden is rated as the No. 107 overall player and No. 16 defensive lineman in the 2026 recruiting class according to 247Sports. That ranking also has Golden rated as the No. 12 player in the state of Florida, a hotbed for talent every year. The 247Sports Composite ranking has him pegged as the No. 185 overall player in the class.
After playing high school football for IMG Academy in 2023, Golden played at Cardinal Mooney as a junior. In 11 games, Golden collected 61 total tackles, 29 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks. Golden also had eight more quarterback hurries and a pass breakup.
Latest Notre Dame recruiting news ends a couple of tough days for the Fighting Irish staff and the 2026 recruiting class
Notre Dame received some bad recruiting news so far this week
