Notre Dame football received a massive commitment in the 2026 recruiting class on Thursday, quite literally. Mechanicsburg (Pa.) Cumberland Valley offensive lineman Tyler Merrill opted for the Fighting Irish over finalists Alabama, Penn State, Clemson, and Wisconsin. The 6-5, 320-pound mauler is a potentially elite player in the class, adding a ton size, physicality, and upside to the table.

Merrill joins fellow offensive line commits Ben Nichols and Sullivan Garvin to create a really strong three-man class early on. There is still a want from the offensive line coach Joe Rudolph and the offensive staff to bring in at least one more player up front, and possibly two if the right combination wants to come.

For that last spot or two, closing on a couple of talented offensive tackles will be key. The 2026 offensive line board in general isn’t overly big, and we have a pretty good idea for whom the key targets are left. Here are the standouts to know.

Gregory Patrick – Portage (Mich.) Northern

Patrick is a player who has been on the board for Notre Dame for some time now. He has been fond of the Irish for some time now, and the staff reciprocates that interest. It’s going to be interesting to see where things go from here because Patrick might project best inside on the next level. Unless one of him, Nichols, or Merrill can play offensive tackle, there may not be room for Patrick.

Ekene Ogboko – Durham (N.C.) South Garner

At 6-6 and 280 pounds, there is little question surrounding Ogboko’s ability to stick at offensive tackle. Rated as one of the top overall players in the 2026 recruiting class, there are a lot of impressive suitors pursuing Ogboko. Notre Dame is firmly in the fight, but a school like Georgia is going to be hard to beat with his older brother Nnamdi already playing for them. Ogboko’s high school teammate, Ebenezer Ewetade, is a defensive end that the staff is also very high on.

Felix Ojo – Mansfield (Texas) Lake Ridge

With potentially only one offensive line spot open, the Irish staff can afford to be picky. Ojo is an impressive athlete at 6-6 and 275 pounds with worlds of potential. He is currently considered one of the better offensive tackle recruits in the class, and has a heavy interest from schools all across college football. It will be a fight for Ojo, but Notre Dame doesn’t intend to back down. 

Evan Goodwin – Little Rock (Ark.) Pulaski Academy

Goodwin is a newer name to the offensive line board, receiving an offer from the Irish a couple of weeks ago during Junior Day. At 6-6 and 315 pounds, he is a massive blocker. While not the most fleet of foot, he possesses really nice length, outstanding power, and developmental upside. 

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