Early National Signing Day: Meet the 2026 Defensive Signees

Bruce Straughan
1 day ago
6 min read

Notre Dame has put together one of the most impressive recruiting classes in recent memory, and it's highlighted by some incredible talent on the defensive side of the football. Let's officially meet the defensive side of the historic class of 2026!

Recruiting is a roller coaster ride for both the coaches and the fans who follow it. There is a lot of work for the coaching staff. They spend months building relationships with the recruits and their families, visiting them at their high schools, and hosting them for games on campus, all while preparing the current team for success on the football field. The payoff for all this hard work comes on signing day when the recruits put pen to paper and officially announce their commitment to play for the Fighting Irish. This year's class comes in as the 4th overall class in the country according to 247Sports, and is loaded from top to bottom with impressive talent on both sides of the ball. Get to know the class of 2026 defensive signees.

Joey O'Brien - S

5-star safety Joey O'Brien was always a top target for Notre Dame in the class of 2026. It was a back-and-forth battle between Notre Dame, Penn State, and Oregon for the elite prospect. Freeman and the coaching staff never gave up on landing the highly touted safety and continued to recruit him until he signed with the Irish. He is considered by many as the crown jewel of the 2026 class.

O'Brien is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the best player in the state of Pennsylvania, the 2nd-best safety in the nation, and the 31st overall player nationally. Before signing with Notre Dame, he held 28 offers from many of the most notable schools in the country, such as Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Penn State, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, and Notre Dame, among many others.

Rodney Dunham - EDGE

Dunham is a very dynamic playmaker and a great addition to the defensive line at the edge position. Dunham is a 5-star edge rusher at Myers Park High School in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 2nd-best player in the state of North Carolina, the 2nd-best edge rusher in the country, and the 8th overall player in the country.

Before signing with the Irish, Dunham held 31 offers from some of the biggest schools in the country to include Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, Indiana, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas, and Notre Dame, among others. Dunham is a very talented prospect who is sure to make a huge impact for the Irish at the next level.

Khary Adams - CB

At 6'2" 175lbs, Khary Adams is a very intriguing prospect and is already one of the best cornerbacks in the country. He is a composite 5-star corner out of Loyola Blakefield High School in Towson, Maryland. He is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 3rd-best player in the state of Maryland, the No. 1 Cornerback in the country, and the 24th overall recruit in the nation.

Before signing with the Irish, he had 39 offers from some of the most notable schools in the country, such as Clemson, Florida State, Indiana, LSU, Miami, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Louisville, Duke, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Penn State, and Notre Dame, among others. He committed to the Irish on July 5, 2024, and has been very vocal about how much he loves the University.

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Ebenezer Ewetade - EDGE

Ebenezer Ewetade, a 6'4", 221lbs edge, is another dynamic playmaker on the defensive side of the ball, and a great addition to the defensive line at the edge position to complement the 2026 class with Rodney Dunham. Ewetade is a 4-star edge at South Garner High School in Garner, North Carolina, and is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 9th-best player in the state of North Carolina, the 13th-best edge in the country, and the 119th overall player in the country.

Before signing with the Irish, Ewetade held 23 offers from some of the biggest schools in the country to include Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Ohio State, Penn State, and Notre Dame, among others.

Ayden Pouncey - S

Pouncey is a 4-star playmaker on the defensive side of the ball, and a great addition to the secondary at the safety position. Pouncey is a 6'2.5", 160lbs, safety at Winter Park High School in Winter Park, Florida, and is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 12th-best player in the state of Florida, the 8th-best safety in the country, and the 81st overall player nationally.

Before signing with the Irish, Pouncey held 47 offers from some of the biggest schools in the country, including Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, and Notre Dame, among others.

Chaston Smith - CB

Chaston Smith is a talented cornerback out of Knoxville Catholic High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, who has a knack for the ball and seems to always be in the right spot, which often results in interceptions. Smith is a 4-star cornerback ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 7th-best player in the state of Tennessee, the 22nd-best cornerback in the country, and the 216th overall player nationally.

Before signing with the Irish, Smith held 37 offers from such schools as Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Indiana, LSU, Michigan, Ole Miss, Penn State, Oregon, USC, and Notre Dame, among others.

Elijah Golden - DL

Elijah Golden, at 6'4", 275lbs, is a big-framed defensive lineman who has experience at multiple front-line spots. He is a 4-star defensive end at Cardinal Mooney High School in Sarasota, Florida, and is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 22nd-best player in the state of Florida, the 16th-best DL in the country, and the 154th overall player in the nation.

Before signing with the Irish, Golden held 41 offers from many big-name schools across the country, such as Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, and Notre Dame, among others.

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Thomas Davis Jr - LB

Thomas Davis Jr, a 4-star linebacker, is the son of former NFL linebacker Thomas Davis, who played at Georgia, where he was a 2x All-SEC selection, a consensus All-American, and a 3x Pro Bowler at the professional level. Davis Jr is a talented player in his own right at Weddington High School in Matthews, North Carolina. Davis Jr is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 12th-best player in the state of North Carolina, the 14th-best linebacker in the country, and the 250th overall player in the nation.

Before signing with the Irish, he held 33 offers from notable schools such as Auburn, Clemson, Indiana, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, South Carolina, USC, and Notre Dame among many others.

Tiki Hola - DL

Tiki Hola, a 6'2", 285lbs defensive lineman, has been another impressive recruit on the defensive side of the ball for the Irish. Hola is a 3-star DL at Bastrop High School in Bastrop, Texas. In his Junior year, he recorded 102 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, 3 forced fumbles, and 9 QB hurries. He is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 48th-best player in the state of Texas, and the 40th-best defensive lineman in the country.

Before signing with the Irish, Hola held 25 offers from such schools as Arizona State, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, USC, and Notre Dame, among others.

Nick Reddish - S

Nick Reddish is a fiesty DB at Independence High School in Charlotte, North Carolina. Reddish is a 3-star safety ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 30th-best player in the state of North Carolina and the 75th-best safety in the country. He is a great addition to an already star-studded backfield with 5-star Joey O'Brien and 4-star Ayden Pouncey to secure depth in the secondary for the Irish.

Before signing with the Irish, Reddish held 21 offers from such schools as Virginia Tech, Wisconsin, Indiana, Cincinnati, Louisville, North Carolina, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Notre Dame, among others.

Jakobe Clapper - LB

Jakobe Clapper is 6'1.5", 215lbs, 3-star linebacker at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 23rd-best player in the state of Ohio, the 38th-best linebacker in the country, and the 475th overall player nationally.

Before signing with the Irish, Clapper held 23 offers from notable schools like Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, and Notre Dame, among others. He was selected as an All-Star in the 2025 Polynesian Bowl. Kia has been committed to the Irish since January 15, 2024.

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