Notre Dame football and head coach Marcus Freeman have been on quite the hot streak in term of 2026 recruiting class. The official visits are over for the program, and we are already seeing the early benefits of it. That includes a commitment from Toledo (Ohio) Central Catholic tight end Preston Fryzel, who chose the Fighting Irish over Miami and Iowa. 

Here is my prediction for the next five commitments in the 2026 recruiting class for Notre Dame. The target list is getting smaller and smaller, and just how elite this class ends up being will be decided over the next few weeks. It’s quite a remarkable stretch. 

WR Devin Fitzgerald – Phoenix (Ariz.) Brophy Prep

The son of former NFL great and future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald, his son brings a big frame at 6-2 and 185 pounds, and a massive catch radius to boot. Since his official visit to Notre Dame two weekends ago, things have been trending very quickly. Fitzgerald is the size prototype that they need desperately in the wide receiver room for the 2026 class.

S Nick Reddish – Charlotte (N.C.) Independence

With Notre Dame gaining a commitment from Joey O’Brien and Khary Adams, there is one more spot in the secondary for the Irish class. Reddish is an underrated talent on the back end but brings a lot of coverage upside to the table. The 5-11, 185-pound safety come play from depth, as well as in the slot, or in the box.

WR Kaydon Finley – Aledo (Texas) High School

There is no bigger target on the board than Finley, at that goes at any position. The 6-1, 200-pound pass catcher is one of the more productive pass catchers in the 2026 recruiting class. He is a Texas legacy so there has been a lot of conversation around whether the official visit this past weekend would push it back into the Longhorns favor. I like the Fighting Irish as the dust is settling. 

TE Evan Jacobson – Waukee (Iowa) High School

At 6-7 and 230 pounds, Jacobson has the frame and growth potential to become an outstanding inline tight end long term. He has pretty good straight line speed and a massive catch radius to work with. Combining Jacobson with the newly committed Fryzel would create an intriguing duo to develop for the Irish staff. 

DT Elijah Golden – Sarasota (Fla.) High School 

Notre Dame is battling out with Alabama right now, but the vibes are very good with the Fighting Irish right now coming out of his official visit. At 6-3 and 270 pounds, Golden projects best as a dynamic three technique long term. That’s the ingredient that the class is missing right now. 

Predicting the final Notre Dame 2026 defensive class following the Fighting Irish wrapping up official visits

Predicting the final Notre Dame 2026 defensive recruiting class