Notre Dame Football Remaining Top Targets Of The 2026 Class

Bruce Straughan
May 2
8 min read

Notre Dame recruiting has been on a heater lately, as they continue to build momentum on the recruiting trail. The recent haul of elite talent has positioned Notre Dame to be ranked third overall this recruiting cycle, according to 247 Sports, with more talent likely on the way. Let's take a look at who is left on the board for the Irish this cycle.

Photo by The Irish Tribune

Below is a list of the top targets that remain on the coaching staff's wish list, broken down by position. How many and who they will end up landing remains to be seen, but I like the Irish to land multiple recruits on this list.

Running Backs

Javian Osborne (Forney, TX)

Javian Osborne is a 5'10", 200 lbs. running back out of Forney High School in Forney, Texas. 247 Sports Composite ranks him as the 12th overall recruit in the state of Texas and the 90th overall recruit in the nation. He currently holds 42 D1 offers from such notable schools as Alabama, Michigan, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, and Notre Dame, among others. He is scheduled to make his decision on May 3rd, 2025. Notre Dame has done a fantastic job making Javian a priority at the running back position for the 2026 class, and I like where they stand when it comes to his commitment.

Brian Bonner (Valencia, CA)

Brian Bonner is a 6'0", 190 lbs. running back out of Valencia High School in Valencia, California. 247 Sports Composite ranks him as the 14th overall recruit in the state of California and the 103rd overall recruit in the nation. He currently holds 28 D1 offers from such notable schools as Penn State, UCLA, Auburn, Georgia, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, and Notre Dame, among others.

Jonaz Walton (Carrollton, GA)

Jonaz Walton is a 5'10", 215 lbs. running back out of Central High School in Carrollton, Georgia. 247Sports Composite ranks him as the 18th overall recruit in the state of Georgia and the 124th overall recruit in the nation. He currently holds 32 D1 offers from such notable schools as Alabama, Penn State, Oregon, Auburn, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, Texas, USC, Clemson, and Notre Dame, among others.

DeZephen Walker (Peculiar, MO)

DeZephen Walker is a 6'0", 205 lbs. running back out of Raymore-Peculiar High School in Peculiar, Missouri. 247Sports Composite ranks him as the 6th overall recruit in the state of Missouri and the 363rd overall recruit in the nation. He currently holds 23 D1 offers from such notable schools as Nebraska, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Miami, Oregon, Ole Miss, and Notre Dame, among others.

Wide Receivers

Kaydon Finley (Aledo, TX)

Kaydon Finley is a 6’2”, 195 lbs. wide receiver out of Aledo High School in Aledo, Texas. He is the son of former standout NFL tight end Jermichael Finley and has emerged as a major target for Notre Dame in the 2026 class. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 16th overall wide receiver in the country and a Top 100 (#109) recruit nationally. He currently holds 36 D1 offers from such notable schools as Texas, Texas A&M, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Oregon, Penn State, and Notre Dame, among others. Like Javian Osborne, I really like where Notre Dame stands in terms of Kaydon's recruitment, and the closer it gets to him making a decision, the more confident I am that he will end up picking Notre Dame.

Brayden Robinson (Red Oak, TX)

Brayden Robinson is a 5'9", 160 lbs. wide receiver out of Red Oak High School in Red Oak, Texas. 247 Sports Composite ranks him as the 44th overall recruit in the state of Texas and the 330th overall recruit in the nation. He currently holds 49 D1 offers from such notable schools as Alabama, Penn State, Oregon, Auburn, Ohio State, Michigan, Texas, USC, Clemson, and Notre Dame, among others.

Tight Ends

Ian Premer (Great Bend, KS)

Ian Premer is a 6'6", 230 lbs. tight end out of Great Bend High School in Great Bend, Kansas. 247 Sports Composite ranks him as the No. 1 overall recruit in the state of Kansas and the 44th overall recruit in the nation. He currently holds 26 D1 offers from such notable schools as Auburn, Michigan, Florida, Indiana, Miami, Oklahoma, Oregon, Stanford, Tennessee, USC, Texas A&M, and Notre Dame, among others.

JC Anderson (Mt. Zion, IL)

JC Anderson is a 6'7", 235 lbs. tight end out of Mt. Zion High School in Mt. Zion, Illinois. 247 Sports Composite ranks him as the 3rd overall recruit in the state of Illinois and the 143rd overall recruit in the nation. He currently holds 36 D1 offers from such notable schools as Auburn, Ole Miss, Illinois, North Carolina, Florida, Florida State, Indiana, LSU, Michigan, Oregon, Penn State, Texas, USC, and Notre Dame, among others.

Evan Jacobson (Waukee, IA)

Evan Robinson is a 6'7", 210 lbs. tight end out of Waukee High School in Waukee, Iowa. 247 Sports Composite ranks him as the 2nd overall recruit in the state of Iowa and the 265th overall recruit in the nation. He currently holds 26 D1 offers from such notable schools as Florida State, Auburn, Penn State, Louisville, Stanford, LSU, Ohio State, Miami, and Notre Dame, among others.

Gavin Mueller (Wheaton, IL)

Gavin Mueller is a 6'6", 255 lbs. tight end out of South Elgin High School in Wheaton, Illinois. 247 Sports Composite ranks him as the 17th overall recruit in the state of Illinois and the 829th overall recruit in the nation. He currently holds 23 D1 offers from such notable schools as LSU, Wisconsin, Cincinnati, Florida, Indiana, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and Notre Dame, among others.

Offensive Line

Grayson McKeogh (Glenside, PA)

Grayson McKeogh is a 6'8", 280 lbs. offensive tackle out of La Salle College in Glenside, Pennsylvania. 247 Sports Composite ranks him as the 7th overall recruit in the state of Pennsylvania and the 260th overall recruit in the nation. He currently holds 15 D1 offers from such notable schools as Penn State, Indiana, Missouri, Ole Miss, Michigan State, Duke, Boston College, and Notre Dame, among others.

Ekene Ogboko

Ekene Ogboko is a 6'6", 280 lbs. interior offensive lineman out of South Garner High School in Durham, North Carolina. 247 Sports Composite ranks him as the 7th overall recruit in the state of North Carolina, and the 65th overall recruit in the nation. He currently holds 34 D1 offers from such notable schools as Georgia, Clemson, Alabama, Ohio State, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Miami, Ole Miss, Stanford, USC, Texas A&M, and Notre Dame, among others. He is scheduled to visit Notre Dame on June 20th, 2025.

Defensive Line

Dre Quinn (Norcross, GA)

Dre Quinn is a 6'4", 228 lbs. edge rusher out of Greater Atlanta Christian High School in Norcross, Georgia. 247 Sports Composite ranks him as the 28th overall recruit in the state of Georgia and the 259th overall recruit in the nation. He currently holds 38 D1 offers from such notable schools as Tennessee, Texas, Georgia, Clemson, Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and Notre Dame, among others. He recently named Notre Dame in his Top 6.

McHale Blade (Chicago, IL)

McHale Blade is a 6'4", 245 lbs. edge rusher out of Simeon High School in Chicago, Illinois. 247 Sports Composite ranks him as the 7th overall recruit in the state of Illinois and the 195th overall recruit in the nation. He currently holds 25 D1 offers from such notable schools as Georgia, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Miami, Michigan, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Penn State, and Notre Dame, among others.

Tiki Hola (Bastrop, TX)

Tiki Hola is a 6'3", 270 lbs. defensive lineman out of Bastrop High School in Bastrop, Texas. 247 Sports Composite ranks him as the 41st overall recruit in the state of Texas and the 310th overall recruit in the nation. He currently holds 25 D1 offers from such notable schools as SMU, USC, Arizona, Arizona State, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, and Notre Dame, among others. This appears to be a two-team race between Notre Dame and SMU. Notre Dame appears to be in the lead here, and I don't expect that to change. I predict Hola will be Irish.

Elijah Golden (Sarasota, FL)

Elijah Golden is a 6'4", 275 lbs. defensive lineman out of Cardinal Mooney High School in Sarasota, Florida. 247 Sports Composite ranks him as the 26th overall recruit in the state of Florida and the 188th overall recruit in the nation. He currently holds 39 D1 offers from such notable schools as Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Oklahoma, Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Texas, Notre Dame, among others. Golden was on an unofficial visit to Notre Dame last month.

Linebackers

Talanoa Ili 4-Star LB (Kahuku, HI)

Talanoa IIi is a 6'4" 220 lbs. linebacker out of Kahuku High School in Kahuku, Hawaii. 247 Sports Composite ranks him as the No. 1 overall recruit in the state of Hawaii and the 69th overall recruit in the nation. He currently holds 24 D1 offers from such notable schools as Oregon, USC, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Michigan, Ohio State, and Notre Dame among others.

Tank King (Port Arthur, TX)

Tank King is a 6'2", 220 lbs. linebacker out of Memorial High School in Port Arthur, Texas. 247 Sports Composite ranks him as the 56th overall recruit in the state of Texas and the 407th overall recruit in the nation. He currently holds 31 D1 offers from such notable schools as Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Michigan, Alabama, Arizona State, Florida, Oklahoma, Penn State, SMU, Tennessee, and Notre Dame, among others.

Secondary

Joey O'Brien (Glenside, PA)

Joey O'Brien is a 6'4", 185 lbs. defensive back out of La Salle College High School in Glenside, Pennsylvania. 247 Sports Composite ranks him as the 2nd overall recruit in the state of Pennsylvania and the 71st overall recruit in the nation. He currently holds 28 D1 offers from such notable schools as Penn State, Clemson, Oregon, Alabama, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida State, and Notre Dame, among others. Penn State seems to be the front runner here, but Notre Dame has been in hot pursuit of O'Brien and will be until he announces his commitment.

Nick Reddish (Charlotte, NC)

Nick Reddish is a 5'11", 180 lbs. defensive back out of Independence High School in Charlotte, North Carolina. 247 Sports Composite ranks him as the 29th overall recruit in the state of North Carolina and the 635th overall recruit in the nation. He currently holds 21 D1 offers from such notable schools as North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin, Indiana, Cincinnati, Duke, Louisville, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Notre Dame, among others. Reddish is another recruit who has always raved about his relationship with the Notre Dame coaches and his love for the school. I predict he'll be Irish when all is said and done.

Khary Adams (Towson, MD)

Khary Adams is a 6'2", 180 lbs. defensive back out of Loyola Blakefield High School in Towson, Maryland. 247 Sports Composite ranks him as the 4th overall recruit in the state of Maryland and the 73rd overall recruit in the nation. He currently holds 39 D1 offers from such notable schools as Oregon, Penn State, South Carolina, USC, Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Notre Dame, among others.

Jordan Thomas (Oradell, NJ)

Jordan Thomas is a 6'1", 185 lbs. defensive back out of Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, NJ. 247Sports Composite ranks him as the 2nd overall recruit in the state of New Jersey and the 176th overall recruit in the nation. He currently holds 44 D1 offers from such notable schools as Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas, USC, and Notre Dame, among others.