Notre Dame set to host very important group of 2026 recruiting targets for annual Blue-Gold Game
With the reformatting of spring practices, spring games are losing a little bit of the luster. Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman and the Irish staff are trying to preserve that intrigue as much as possible. The annual Blue-Gold Game is scheduled for Saturday at 2 PM Eastern time, giving fans their first glimpse of […]
With the reformatting of spring practices, spring games are losing a little bit of the luster. Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman and the Irish staff are trying to preserve that intrigue as much as possible. The annual Blue-Gold Game is scheduled for Saturday at 2 PM Eastern time, giving fans their first glimpse of the 2025 team.
This event, and this weekend, will still continue to be a very important one for the recruiting operation. Notre Dame is expecting several important recruits on campus. That includes current 2026 commits Tyler Merrill, Sullivan Garvin, and Ben Nichols. The Irish will also welcome several 2027 targets, including St. John Bosco cornerback Jailen Hill.
The 2026 recruiting class will be the main talking point, and several key targets will be making the trip. Here is who Notre Dame fans should expect.
RB Javian Osborne – Forney (Texas) High School
It’s been incredible to see the job that new running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider has done on the recruiting trail since he came over from Penn State. The top target on the board right now is Osborne, and Notre Dame is battling Michigan for his services. Right now, this is Notre Dame’s battle to lose.
RB DeZephen Walker – Peculiar (Mo.) Raymore
Walker is a player that doesn’t get talked about much by the fanbase but the staff has been recruiting for some time now. He’s an explosive runner that has a propensity to make big plays. Notre Dame has interest in potentially bring in two running backs, and Walker is certainly worth keeping tabs on.
WR Brayden Robinson – Red Oak (Texas) High School
Robinson is a diminutive pass catcher at 5-8 and 160 pounds, but he is lightning in a bottle. Notre Dame needs to find more wide receivers that can make an impact in space. The Irish are in a good place, but they need to close against the likes of Ohio State, Miami, and Arizona.
DT Tiki Hola – Bastrop (Texas) High School
Of the defensive tackles on the board, there is nobody at a higher priority than Hola. He is set to make his college decision on May 10th, where he will choose between Notre Dame and SMU. The Irish are viewed as the front runner right now for the 6-2, 285-pounder.
DT Noah Clark – Durham (N.C.) C.E. Jordan
At 6-4 and 318 pounds, Clark is a massive defensive tackle that has a ton of raw tools. It’s uncertain where things stand between the Irish program and Clark, especially since this is his first visit. We will have a much better idea about whether they can continue the momentum in North Carolina after the trip.
