Notre Dame's 2026 Momentum Continues Along the Defensive Line

Max Uretsky
May 19
3 min read

Texas is one of the country's biggest hotbeds for high school football talent. After nabbing a commitment from 4-star running back Javian Osborne out of Forney High School, Notre Dame struck gold again in the Lone Star State when defensive tackle Tiki Hola announced he would be the latest addition to the Fighting Irish's already stellar 2026 class.

Photo via Tiki Hola, Instagram (@dareatiki3), Photo by Albert Vazquez (@chachephotos)

The 285-pound lineman plays with a blend of athleticism and power that is undeniable and he finished his Junior campaign with an eye-popping 102 tackles. Defensive Line Coach Al Washington is on an impressive run on the recruiting trail, and adding a player like Hola will continue to ensure the defensive side of the ball does not miss a beat in the coming years. The film spoke for itself, and after doing my evaluation, I want to review all of the factors that make Hola a perfect fit for the Blue and Gold. Each trait will be graded on a scale of 1 (Poor) to 7 (Elite). Let's get into it!

Upfield Burst: Very Good (6)

Hola does a good job keying the ball, and is generally the one making the contact as opposed to the one absorbing it. He gets off the line with good pad level and attacks upfield as a one-gap defender. Hola has excellent balance for his size, which allows him to deal with cut blocks from linemen while maintaining his path upfield. He also shows some good lateral agility and change of direction as a looping defensive tackle on stunts, with the closing burst to make quarterbacks uncomfortable when he isn't getting home for the sack.

Run-Stopping: Elite (7)

Run-stopping is the bread and butter of Hola's game, and it is something to be seen. He has the versatility to be effective from multiple alignments, and I think he fits very nicely as a 1-technique in an even front and a 5-technique in an odd front. He plays with powerful hands and is consistently able to completely lock out vs offensive linemen, making it easy for him to disengage from blocks at the point of attack. He possesses high Football IQ, and knows when to attack upfield right away, or when to throttle down and leverage his gap and let the play come to him. Hola has zero issue holding up vs double teams and has the play strength to be successful as a two-gapper. Hola is a certified run stuffer and already has the ideal frame you want in a player for the role he will most likely be asked to fit.

Use of Hands: Elite (7)

Hola plays with excellent hand placement, getting into the offensive lineman's chest quickly and knocking them off balance right off the snap. He also knows how to get wrist control, which allows him to steer linemen where he wants and then shed when it is time to make a play. He creates separation with his hand usage, which allows him to freely pursue ball carriers at the appropriate angles. UOH is a subtle trait, but one that is the difference between a good defensive lineman and a great one.

Pass Rush: Solid (4)

If I had to guess, Hola will never be a double-digit sack type of player, but that doesn't mean he doesn't offer some value as a rusher as well. For his size, he has a good change of direction, and his pursuit motor borders elite, and that alone will result in some hustle sacks when QBs hang on to the ball too long. Aside from that, though, there are some actual pass rush tools in his bag. On both the interior and lined up on the edge, Hola's ability to Bull Rush is very evident. When playing as a 5-tech, if he gets matched up vs an offensive tackle who struggles to anchor, it could certainly spell trouble for the offense. In addition to that, he has a good compact swim move he employs on occasion, and because of the athleticism he has, when allowed to attack OT's from an angle, he could provide a little juice on outside rushes.

Tiki Hola has a very defined skill set as a Day 1 run stopper with a solid floor as a pass rusher. The more the 2026 class takes shape, the more you can see the vision Marcus Freeman has for this team and why fans should not be worried about any type of fall off under his tenure. Hola, along with the rest of the recent commits, will be joining one of the nation's most historic programs and will continue to help keep that tradition alive.