Notre Dame Secures Top 2026 Defensive Lineman Golden

Notre Dame football has secured a major commitment from four-star defensive tackle Elijah Golden, who chose the Irish over Alabama, Oklahoma, and Virginia Tech, bringing their 2026 recruiting class to 27 commitments. This class ranks among the nation's best and is poised to be Notre Dame's highest-rated since 2013, reflecting the program's growth into a consistent top-10 recruiting operation under coach Marcus Freeman. Golden is the fourth defensive lineman in the class, complementing highly rated edge rushers and bolstering Notre Dame's focus on building a line-driven team. The recruiting success signals a potential top-five national class, the program's best in over a decade, and is expected to help maintain Notre Dame's status as a top football program. Alongside this, Notre Dame is addressing special teams issues by acquiring kicker Noah Brunette, who brings experience and a decent field goal percentage to improve upon previous inconsistencies. Meanwhile, the legacy of standout players like Christian Collins and James Flanigan, who led their high school to a state title before moving on, underscores the ongoing talent pipeline feeding Notre Dame football.