Notre Dame football is one missing piece away from an elite 2026 EDGE haul, and they could come from a very familiar place
Notre Dame defensive line coach Al Washington and the Fighting Irish staff has been on quite a roll from a recruiting perspective over the last few months. They already hold commitments from 2026 five-star pass rusher Rodney Dunham and toolsy EDGE defender Ebenezer Ewetade. The program is also expected to land Texas defensive tackle Tiki […]
Notre Dame defensive line coach Al Washington and the Fighting Irish staff has been on quite a roll from a recruiting perspective over the last few months. They already hold commitments from 2026 five-star pass rusher Rodney Dunham and toolsy EDGE defender Ebenezer Ewetade. The program is also expected to land Texas defensive tackle Tiki Hola on Saturday, fighting with the USC Trojans and SMU Mustangs for his services.
Regardless of whether Notre Dame does close the deal with Hola on the interior (I expect them to), this EDGE group in the 2026 recruiting class has a chance to be special. Dunham is the highest ranked defensive end recruit that the Irish have a commitment from since the 2011 recruiting class. Ewetade also, has as much upside as anyone. That duo is tremendous, and has all the upside in the world.
If that was the defensive end class in the end, it would be very good for the Irish, even with just two total. They are, however, one to two commitments away from being an elite group and arguably the best Notre Dame has signed in a very, very time. There are several key targets to know still on the board, such as Georgia pass rusher Dre Quinn, among others. Perhaps the most underrated member of the board currently, and the key to that elite haul, is Chicago (Ill.) Simeon star McHale Blade.
The 6-4, 245-pound defender is someone that this Notre Dame staff has been high on for some time, and has been recruiting for years. Blade was injured during the 2024 season, his first with the Simeon program. If that high school sounds familiar, it’s because it is the same as 2025 Irish defensive end signee Christopher Burgess.
Blade brings something unique to the table compared to Dunham and Ewetade, size and a ton more growth potential. There is no guarantee that either of the current commits ends up growing into a big end in the Notre Dame system, at least not in the near future. Blade, however, is already up to 245 pounds and has the room to add a substantial amount of weight. He has the game that would pair exceptionally well with the others.
In the world of recruiting, diversity isn’t talked about enough. You want elite football players, but you also don’t want too many players that win in similar ways. Opposing offenses want to know exactly what to expect, and when they can’t, that’s where mistakes happen.
From every vantage point, Blade is exactly what this EDGE class needs. They need his size, his upside, and they also need to keep this type of talent at home. It won’t be easy, but Blade has been, and will continue to be a priority target in the 2026 recruiting class.
Notre Dame football just got one step closer from stealing away dynamic speedster from a hated rival at a major position of need
Notre Dame is trending quickly.
