Notre Dame and DL Coach Charlie Partridge have come out on top of a recently sped-up commitment process, securing a pledge from EDGE Jackson Vaughn on Tuesday. Photo via Jackson Vaughn/IG (@jacksonvaughn_13) Once the #19 overall recruit in the 2028 class, the Irish’s newest commit announced his decision to reclassify to 2027 on April 27th. Following his reclassification, Vaughn now sits as the #15 EDGE and #104 overall recruit in the ‘27 class (247 Sports). The 6-4, 225-pound EDGE holds over 50 offers and ultimately chose the Irish over Auburn, LSU, Miami, and South Carolina. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Vaughn comes out of Oradell, NJ, where he plays at Bergen Catholic, a local and national powerhouse. As a Sophomore this past season, Vaughn recorded 40 tackles, 12 TFLs, 8 sacks, and 3 passes defended as Bergen ultimately fell short in the State Semifinals. The vaunted pass rusher earned a spot on the 2025 MaxPreps Sophomore All-American First Team and is scheduled to participate in the 2027 Navy All-American Bowl. Vaughn records a sack against East St. Louis (IL) Vaughn records a pass-breakup Sophomore Season Mix On the field, Vaughn has the natural physicals to be a dominant edge rusher given his 6-4 height and 80-inch wingspan. As he continues to grow and add weight, the Jersey native will look more and more like a future NFL star. As noted, Vaughn is an elite pass rusher who has showcased elite quickness, flexibility, and elusiveness at Bergen. Additionally, he projects as a good run-stopper. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle For Notre Dame, Vaughn marks the Irish’s 18th overall commit of the 2027 class. He becomes the fourth DL and third player from New Jersey to join the group. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

For the first time in a very long time, Notre Dame will enter the 2026 football season the odds-on national championship favorite, along with a Heisman favorite at quarterback. Photo by The Irish Tribune The 2026 season is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated seasons in Notre Dame football history. With CJ Carr one of the Heisman favorites and the Notre Dame defense returning nearly all its production from last season, the Irish are in a good spot to make a championship run. Despite the program's success in recent years, this feels like the first time the Irish have been a near consensus favorite to win it all. In part, it can be attributed to the rather weak schedule Notre Dame has this season with Miami and BYU being the real premier games. Outside of that, Notre Dame mostly plays a conventional ACC schedule, with the addition of a pair of Big Ten opponents, Navy, and Rice. While Notre Dame failed miserably to handle expectation two years ago after their big win against Texas A&M to open the season, Marcus Freeman was able to rewrite the course of the season and lead the Irish to a national championship game appearance. Now, the question becomes whether this roster has the depth to get over the hump. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! It is clear that the Irish have to replace two of the most dynamic playmakers in recent program history in Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, yet it is impossible to replace the production of those two generational running backs. Aneyas Williams is not Love nor Price, but he is a physical running back who doesn't go down on the first hit, who is exceptional as a pass catcher and in pass pro. He will not hit the 50+ yard touchdown runs that Love or Price would make look routine, yet he will be able to move the chains and protect CJ Carr as he drops back. The area in which the Irish are looking to replace the explosiveness of their NFL-bound tandem will be in the pass catching department. The additions of former five-star Ohio State receivers Mylan Graham and Quincy Porter are dynamic, talented receivers looking to be developed by Mike Brown and play a premier role in the offense. They join a talented, somewhat unproven room with Jaden Greathouse, Jordan Faison, and Micah Gilbert all looking to improve upon their prior seasons. Defensively, the Irish have the best secondary in college football, which is something that is pretty much undisputed, because of the return of Leonard Moore, Adon Shuler, Tae Johnson, and Christian Gray. To add to that talent, the Irish also signed former All-Big 12 corner DJ McKinney. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Manning the middle of the defense is a group of veterans. Captain Drayk Bowen, Jaiden Ausberry, and Jaylen Sneed will lead the Irish linebacking unit at the beginning of the year with the hope that Kyngstonn Viliamu Asa will return from his ACL injury near the end of the regular season. Up front, the Irish did what they needed to do to bulk up their interior defensive line with the additions of Francis Brewu and Tionne Gray. On the outside, the trio of Boubacar Traore, Bryce Young, and Alabama transfer Keon Keeley should generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The stars appear to be aligning for Notre Dame this season, and if the Irish can handle their expectations and block out the outside noise, they have all the talent to run the table. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Follow @LiamFarrell_IT on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

The Garden State to Notre Dame pipeline just got another update, with the Fighting Irish landing Olu Olubobola, the number one player in New Jersey and a top three offensive tackle in the C/O 2027. Photo via Oluwasemilore Olubobola/IG (@o.olub) The 5-star lineman has help bolster this incredible recruiting class, which is currently in the top five nationally, and the potential to move even higher. Olubobola joins James Halter as the other offensive tackle to land with the blue and gold for this cycle, and has all the makings of a big time player. I went through his Junior season tape, and although a raw prospect in some areas, Olubobola's potential is highlighted on almost every single play. Let's do a deep dive! Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! The Great Anybody who has seen the movie The Blind Side may be familiar with the scene where Michael Oher's character gets called for excessive blocking after driving his opponent about eighty yards downfield and through the back of the endzone. Well Notre Dame fans can certainly expect that same level of nastiness when it comes to Olu Olubobola. He routinely muscles defenders out of the picture both on the play side and back side of plays. His play strength is very good, and he is a pancake machine. He has natural knee bend as a pass blocker, and I was impressed with his punch timing, as he showed good patience and did not overextend. Once engaged with a defender, he does a great job of sliding his feet and mirroring. He likes to chop down the arms of the defender right before they go to lean on him which knocks them off balance, and he usually takes that opportunity, to lay on top of them to ensure no ball pursuit. The Good Olubobola has some of the prototypical tools to excel in a Power/Gap scheme. He has good pop off the snap, especially on down blocks, staying low and washing his assignment down the line of scrimmage. He keeps a solid base under him in pass protection and has good feet for his size. He has the combination of strength and athleticism that would allow him to be able to play the blindside but also kick inside if need be. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Things I'll be Watching Next Season Olubobola knows he can win with power and he is not shy about it, but there are times where it would benefit him to play with more technique as opposed to raw strength. I would like to see him stay engaged with defenders and continue driving instead of just trying to ragdoll them. On occasion he allows his hands to get outside of defenders shoulder pads and he gets a little grabby which could draw some flags at the next level. During his senior season, I hope to see him asked to work in space a little more often, getting out as a lead blocker on screens and also climbing to the second level and taking on linebackers/safeties in the run game. He has put enough athleticism on film that I believe those are things he can do, it just seems he has not been asked to do so very often. His angles and depth on his kick step are not bad, but I would love to see continued development in this area as well. Landing players that are top five at their given position has almost become commonplace under the current Notre Dame regime, and Olu Olubobola is the latest example of the elite recruiting outfit the Fighting Irish have become. Anthonie Knapp was a true freshman starting at left tackle for what would be a national championship runner up year in 2024, and Olubobola may be extended that same opportunity when he gets to South Bend if all things go well during his senior campaign. Joe Rudolph has to be excited about his potential and the type of talent he will have at his disposal for years to come. The earned title of Offensive Linemen U will not be changing hands any time soon and defenses across the country should be on notice. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Notre Dame Women’s Basketball and Head Coach Niele Ivey have landed their first 2027 commitment, and it is a major addition via Forward Eve Long. Photo via Eve Long/IG (@eve_long023) Long, a 6-3 F, holds 37 offers, according to 247 Sports. On Wednesday, she announced her decision to commit to Notre Dame over UCLA and UConn. In the 2027 SportsCenter NEXT Super 60 Rankings, Long ranks as a five-star prospect, listed as the #5 overall recruit, #1 F, and #1 player from Kansas. Coming out of the Sunflower State, Long attends Olathe South High School and also plays for Southwest Select on the 3Stripes Select Circuit (had a 52-point game last month). She also notably competed and won gold with the USA U16 National Team at the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup. Long impressed in the event, earning a spot on the All-Star Five as one of the top players in the tournament, as she averaged 11.8 points (60% FG%), 4.0 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game across six contests. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Long carried over her strong summer into a dominant 2025-26 high school season at Olathe South. After averaging 32.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game and leading the team to a 20-5 record, Long was awarded the 2025-26 Gatorade and MaxPreps Kansas Girls Basketball Player of the Year honors. Additionally, she was named to MaxPreps’ Junior All-American Second Team. While also becoming Olathe South’s all-time leading scorer, she set a single-game scoring record with 44 points this past winter. In general, Long is the prototypical modern-day positionless big. There is a lot to like about her game, starting with her elite offensive bag. The Kansas native is able to score at all three levels and possesses good handles and footwork. Her rim-running ability should open up new facets of Coach Ivey’s offense that we have not been able to see before during her tenure. Lastly, on offense, Long demonstrates good court vision as a distributor with an adept basketball IQ. Defensively, her premium length and mobility contribute to her dominance around the rim, specifically with rebounding and blocking shots. Additionally, she is able to guard multiple positions, allowing for seamless switches. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Who do you think is next to join Eve Long in the 2027 Notre Dame Women’s Basketball recruiting class? Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

*Updated on May 16th, 2026 The Fighting Irish are once again putting together an elite class on the defensive side of the football, with plenty of tremendous talent still on the board. Photo by The Irish Tribune Here are some names to keep an eye on going forward in the class of 2027. Please see our commitment tracker to stay up to date with Fighting Irish commits Edge Chris Whitehead (5-star) 6-4.5 230lbs out of Lloyd C. Bird High School in Chesterfield, Virginia. He is ranked by 247Sports 34th overall nationally and 4th overall at the Edge position. He holds 34 D1 offers. Abraham Sesay (4-star) 6-5 215lbs out of Downingtown East High School in Exton, Pennsylvania. He is ranked by 247Sports as 50th overall nationally and 7th overall at the Edge position. He holds 28 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on April 18th, 2026 (unofficial) Official visit set for June 19th Wyatt Smith (4-star) 6-6 235lbs out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is ranked by 247Sports as 78th overall nationally and 11th overall at the Edge position. He holds 27 D1 offers. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Defensive Line Brayden Parks (4-star) 6-3 305lbs out of Brother Rice High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247Sports as 172nd overall nationally and 19th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 40 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame for the annual Junior Day Event on the weekend of March 19th-21st, 2026 Santana Harvey (4-star) 6-5 220lbs out of Lakeland High School in Lakeland, Florida. He is ranked by 247Sports as 284th overall nationally and 35th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 34 D1 offers. Luke Starcevic (4-star) 6-5 250lbs out of Kindred High School in Kindred, North Dakota. He is ranked by 247Sports as 265th overall nationally and 14th overall as an athlete. He holds 23 D1 offers. Linebacker Kaden Henderson (5-star) 6-1.5 218lbs out of Jesuit High School in Tampa, Florida. He is ranked by 247Sports as 24th overall nationally and 1st overall at the linebacker position. He holds 47 D1 offers. Visitied Notre Dame on April 18th, 2026 (unofficial) Named Notre Dame as a member of his Top 5 schools (3/6/2026) Toa Satale (4-star) 6-3 200lbs out of Miliani High School in Miliani, Hawaii. He is ranked by 247Sports as 63rd overall nationally and 4th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 32 D1 offers. Noah Glover (4-star) 6-1 205lbs out of Battlefield High School in Haymarket, Virginia. He is ranked by 247Sports as 207th overall nationally and 18th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 29 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame for the annual Junior Day Event on the weekend of March 19th-21st, 2026 Roman Igwebuike (4-star) 6-3 220lbs out of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247Sports as 149th overall nationally and 13th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 45 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on April 18th, 2026 (unofficial) Set to visit Notre Dame on June 12th-14th Named Notre Dame as a member of his Top 5 schools (5/7/2026) Mikahi Allen (4-star) 6-1 220lbs out of Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, New Jersey. He is ranked by 247Sports as 195th overall nationally and 15th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 28 D1 offers. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Cornerback Tavares Harrington (4-star) 6-3 175lbs out of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247Sports as 124th overall nationally and 15th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 42 D1 offers. Named Notre Dame in his Top 10 (3/11/2026) Visited Notre Dame on April 18th, 2026 (unofficial) Committing on May 22nd, 2026 Athletes Xavier Sabb (5-star) 6-1 180lbs out of Glassboro High School in Glassboro, California. He is ranked by 247Sports as 31st overall nationally and 2nd overall as an athlete. He holds 24 D1 offers. Marcus Fakatou (5-star) 6-6 275lbs out of Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, California. He is ranked by 247Sports as 32nd overall nationally and 2nd overall at the defensive line position. He holds 36 D1 offers. Official Visit to Notre Dame set for June 15th Tee Walden Jr. (4-star) 6-2.5 165lbs out of Collierville High School in Collierville, Tennessee. He is ranked by 247Sports as 125th overall nationally and 6th overall at the ath position. He holds 37 D1 offers. Announced Notre Dame as a member of his Top 10 schools on (4/6/2026) Brayton Feister (4-star) 6-3 230lbs out of Archbishop Hoban High School in Akron, Ohio. He is ranked by 247 Sports 132nd overall nationally and 7th overall at the ath position. He holds 31 D1 offers. Matthew Gregory (4-star) 6-1 170lbs out of Owen J Roberts High School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 107th overall nationally and 17th overall at the ath position. He holds 26 D1 offers. Announced Notre Dame as a member of his Top 7 schools on (5/14/2026) Cade Cooper (4-star) 6-3 192lbs out of Malvern Prep High School in Malvern, Pennsylvania. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 339th overall nationally and 43rd overall at the wr/ath position. He holds 24 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on March 28th, 2026 Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Follow @bruce_straughan on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

*Updated May 16th, 2026 Notre Dame just secured two five-star commits in the same week for the first time since... last cycle. The Fighting Irish have begun to heat up on the recruiting trail and show no signs of slowing down. Here are some names to keep an eye on going forward in the class of 2027. Please see our commitment tracker to stay up to date with Fighting Irish commits. Wide Receiver Julius Jones (4-star) 5-10 175lbs out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 72nd overall nationally and 12th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 44 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on April 10th-12th, 2026 (unofficial) Official visit to Notre Dame set for June 11th-13th Osani Gayles (4-star) 5-11.5 185lbs out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 48th overall nationally and the 8th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 30 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on April 9th-10th, 2026 (unofficial) Named Notre Dame in his Top 5 on 5/6/2026 Trenton Yancey (4-star) 5-10.5 190lbs out of Duncanville High School in Duncanville, Texas. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 233rd overall nationally and 31st overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 39 D1 offers. Named Notre Dame in his Top 10 on 3/4/2026 Visited Notre Dame on April 18th, 2026 (unofficial) Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Offensive Line Layton von Brandt (4-star) 6-6.5 281lbs out of Appoquinimink High School in Middleton, Delaware. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 64th overall nationally and 5th overall at the offensive tackle position. He holds 22 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on November 8th, 2025 (unofficial) Visited Notre Dame April 10-12th, 2026 (unofficial) Albert Simien (5-star) 6-4 280lbs out of Sam Houston High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 13th overall nationally and 2nd overall at the interior offensive line position. He holds 24 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame for the annual Junior Day Event on the weekend of March 19th-21st, 2026 Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Follow @bruce_straughan on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Notre Dame bolstered its DL recruiting in a big way on Friday afternoon, when David Folorunsho announced his commitment to the Fighting Irish. Photo via David Folorunsho/IG (@david.folorunsh0) Folorunsho committed to Notre Dame over Miami, Texas Tech, Michigan, and Georgia. The consensus four-star ranks as the #37 overall recruit, #3 DL, and #1 player in Illinois, according to Rivals Industry Ranking. The 6-4, 280-pound DL was born in Nigeria, where he lived for 10 years before moving to the United States. Out of Chicago, Folorunsho attends St. Patrick High School, coached by former Notre Dame DB Tom Zbikowski. The Irish presence goes deeper at St. Patrick’s with President Dan Santucci, former Notre Dame OL and teammate of Zbikowski. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Folorunsho, following in the footsteps of Zbikowski and Santucci, feels like a natural fit as Notre Dame’s newest pledge. This past fall, the DL recorded 27 tackles, 8 TFLs, 2 sacks, and a forced fumble, while also playing OL. What pops most from Folorunsho’s film is his elite athleticism, given his size. He is twitchy, has good sideline-to-sideline speed, and is versatile enough to play off the edge if needed. This, mixed with his powerful moves, projects Folorunsho as a disruptive menace in college. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Folorunsho becomes Notre Dame's 17th commit of the 2027 class and the 3rd DL to join. This commitment also marks the Irish’s first addition out of Illinois. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Flip season has commenced, perhaps a bit earlier than expected, with the commitment of former UCLA pledge OT Jackson Hill. Photo via Jackson Hill/IG (@therealjhill50) Hill stands at a towering 6-7 and 310 pounds, ranking as a three-star and the #80 OT prospect, according to Rivals Industry Ranking. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! The newest Irish pledge hails from Los Angeles, where he attends Chaminade College Prep in West Hills. Junior Season Mix Hill possesses a great frame for a college-level OT. His background as a catcher in baseball is evident in his flexibility and mobility. The California native flashes as a great run blocker who loves to finish off his opposition. Hill is viewed as a “high upside” prospect with some footwork and strength development required to unlock the next level in his game. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Notre Dame’s 2027 class now stands at 16 commits, with Hill’s pledge marking the first from California. He also becomes the third OL to join the class, and the second this week, following Oluwasemilore Olubobola’s announcement on Tuesday. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

The tension between Notre Dame and the ACC continues to fester as it appears the two parties' relationship is nowhere close to being repaired. After a messy winter, the discussions surrounding Notre Dame and its ACC affiliation seemed to have quieted down. In the midst of those discussions, Notre Dame fans were even calling for Notre Dame to consider backing out of the deal with the ACC. Instead, Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua decided to dampen these talks, reinforcing the idea that Notre Dame and the ACC were in a good place. Although Notre Dame may still be happy with their current arrangements, it does appear that the ACC and the people inside of it may have a different perspective. On3's Brett McMurphy recently released a story regarding the ACC's feelings towards Notre Dame, which has only refueled the fire that took over the college football media cycle for a week just a few months ago. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! In that piece published by On3, a source said when talking about Notre Dame, "is the guy that walks in the house, opens the fridge, eats all the food, then (screws) the wife, kicks the dog, doesn't pay the mortgage and walks out without any skin in the game." Also featured in the article was a quote from an ACC AD that read, "there's a widespread perception that we're all getting used and we're sick of it." Looking at this from the ACC side of things, they are likely upset due to Notre Dame's deal that allows them to play five ACC teams a year, while still being able to keep their independent schedule. To many, this seems like Notre Dame is getting the best of both worlds without having to risk playing in a conference championship game or playing a full conference schedule. Many people in the ACC may also not be happy with Notre Dame calling out the conference so publicly following the CFP selection show. This most likely rubbed a lot of people in the ACC the wrong way. From the Notre Dame perspective, it seems like the ACC deal benefits the ACC as much as it has benefited Notre Dame. Firstly, Notre Dame Football may not be in the ACC, but almost every sport Notre Dame offers is a part of the ACC. That means Notre Dame has a vested interest in the ACC and its future. To add to that, Notre Dame often gives those other sports a very competitive team in the ACC, like Lacrosse and Soccer. Secondly, from a money perspective, every other ACC school benefits from playing against Notre Dame in football. Going back to Bevacqua's point from a press conference following the 2025 season, he stated that when Notre Dame has visited an ACC school since 2014, they have sold out 90% of the time. That is a 67% increase from any other ACC game during that same time. So, while Notre Dame does benefit from the ACC deal, every other ACC school benefits from it too. Notre Dame Football brings in a crowd to every school it visits, which only makes more money for that school. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle While it is more than likely that Notre Dame will sit tight in the ACC deal for the upcoming future, quotes like the ones given to On3's McMurphy only add to the tension that has grown between the two parties. Notre Dame is heading into another season where the ACC has lacked the ability to give Notre Dame quality opponents, frustrating many Irish fans. Is it time for Notre Dame to reconsider the deal, and is there any conference that would be willing to strike a similar deal? Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

In one of the more fascinating recruitments in recent Irish history, Notre Dame has secured the commitment of OT Oluwasemilore “Olu” Olubobola. Photo via Oluwasemilore Olubobola/IG (@o.olub) The 6-7, 295-pound OT chose Notre Dame over Nebraska, Texas A&M, Miami, and others, with 42 listed offers according to 247 Sports. The Irish were one of Olubobola’s latest offers, receiving the offer on March 19th, and it appears his recent Blue and Gold Game visit was enough to give Notre Dame an advantage. 247 Sports Composite lists Olubobola as a five-star prospect, ranking as the #15 overall recruit, #3 OT, and #1 player in New Jersey in the class of 2027. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Olubobola, a native of Jersey City, attends St. Peter’s Prep. He primarily played LT this past fall and participated in the 2026 Under Armour All-American Game. The St. Peter’s LT has elite length, featuring an 86-inch wingspan, and is still filling out his frame. Olubobola showcases great twitch ability and quick feet, both of which contribute to his success as a feared run-blocker. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Olubobola marks Notre Dame’s 15th commit of the 2027 class, joining James Halter as OL part of the group. Additionally, the New Jersey native’s pledge is the second out of The Garden State, joining EDGE Aidan O’Neil. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

*Updated May 9th, 2026 Notre Dame is red hot on the recruiting trail at the moment, and if things continue to trend in the right direction, the Fighting Irish might have another historic class on their hands. Here are some names to keep an eye on going forward in the class of 2027. Please see our commitment tracker to stay up to date with Fighting Irish commits. Wide Receiver Julius Jones (4-star) 5-10 175lbs out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Indiana. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 72nd overall nationally and 12th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 44 D1 offers. Unofficial visit to Notre Dame set for April 10th-12th Official visit to Notre Dame set for June 11th-13th Osani Gayles (4-star) 5-11.5 185lbs out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 48th overall nationally and the 8th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 30 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on April 9th-10th (unofficial) Named Notre Dame in his Top 5 on 5/6/2026 Trenton Yancey (4-star) 5-10.5 190lbs out of Duncanville High School in Duncanville, Texas. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 233rd overall nationally and 31st overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 39 D1 offers. Named Notre Dame in his Top 10 on 3/4/2026 Unofficially set to visit Notre Dame on April 18th Quentin Burrell (4-star) 6-3 175lbs out of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports 83rd overall nationally and 14th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 39 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame 4/1/2026-4/2/2026 Named Notre Dame in his Top 4 on April 15th Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Offensive Line Oluwasemilore Olubobola (5-star) 6-6 295lbs out of St. Peter's Prep in Jersey City, New Jersey. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 15th overall nationally and the 3rd overall at the Offensive Tackle position. he holds 42 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on April 25th for the Blue-Gold game Is currently favored to land with the Fighting Irish Layton von Brandt (4-star) 6-6.5 281lbs out of Appoquinimink High School in Middleton, Delaware. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 64th overall nationally and 5th overall at the offensive tackle position. He holds 22 D1 offers. Unofficially visited Notre Dame on November 8th, 2025 Unofficially visited Notre Dame April 10-12th, 2026 Albert Simien (5-star) 6-4 280lbs out of Sam Houston High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 13th overall nationally and 2nd overall at the interior offensive line position. He holds 24 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame for the annual Junior Day Event on the weekend of March 19th-21st Cameron Wagner (4-star) 6-6 300lbs out of St. Joseph-Ogden High School in St. Joseph, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 345th overall nationally and 36th overall at the offensive tackle position. He holds 20 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame for the annual Junior Day Event on the weekend of March 19th-21st Named Notre Dame in his Top 4 on April 15th Commitment date set for 5/11/2026 Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Follow @bruce_straughan on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

After years of less-than-stellar play at the quarterback position, Notre Dame has finally set itself up for long-term success inside the QB room. Let's take a look at how Marcus Freeman has transformed this room. Photo via Maysum Hassanali Notre Dame has been a consistently strong football team for years now, but they have always struggled to find that game-changing QB. During the Brian Kelly era, Notre Dame had some solid players at the position, but they never had a QB that elevated a good regular season team into a championship contender. Towards the end of the Kelly era, it was clear that the QB room was not up to Notre Dame's standards. This was an extremely frustrating time for Notre Dame fans. The rest of the team seemed strong at almost every other position, so why could they never have a QB good enough? The problems in the QB room were given to Freeman when he took over as head coach, presenting him with a very challenging problem to fix right away. While it took a few years of bridge QB's and recruiting classes, it may be safe to say that Notre Dame no longer has a QB problem. With a huge uptick in recruiting success and player development in the Freeman era, there seems to be more than enough talent in the QB room right now, with even more on the way in 2027 and beyond. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Obviously, the talent in the room starts with the star QB, CJ Carr. The spotlight has been on him ever since he committed to Notre Dame, and during his first season as a starter, he did not disappoint. While he was still prone to mistakes, he looked the part of a future first-rounder. It has been a long time since Notre Dame has seen a quarterback who throws a ball as well as Carr does. He is a clear step up in the talent department, which makes a world of a difference. Carr is the elevator of talent that the program has been searching for. With him, the Fighting Irish could be a real threat to win the National Championship. Carr is not the only player to get excited about when it comes to the future of the position. Behind Carr, Notre Dame has some real talent in the room that could have a chance to start or provide the team with real depth at the position in the coming years. Underclassmen Blake Hebert and Noah Grubbs had a very solid spring camp, showing many that Carr is not the only capable QB on the roster. While they both won't be able to start for Notre Dame in the future, it is good to have depth and healthy competition in the room. That has not always been the case in South Bend, a testament to Freeman's elite recruiting. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Speaking of recruiting, the long-term future at QB looks as exciting as ever. Teddy Jarrard, who reclassified into the 2026 class, looks to be the next in line to replace Carr as a potential elite-level starter. Jarrard has that wow-factor that can be hard to find. Ranked as one of the best QB's in the class, he is a precise passer with a beautiful throwing motion. Although he is not a dual-threat option, he does have decent athleticism that allows him more time to find players downfield, much like Carr. Just recently, Freeman and company landed a big-time commitment from four-star prospect Wonderful Monds IV from Vero Beach, Florida. As another reclassified player, Monds IV will now be a part of the 2027 class. As a 2028 prospect, he was considered to be one of the top QBs in the class. While his ranking dropped when he made the move to the 2027 class, it does not change the immense amount of talent he possesses. As a true dual-threat, Monds IV is going to give offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock a very different look at the position. Standing at 6'2" and 225 lbs, Monds IV is a powerful athlete who can really hurt defenses with his legs. With this, he also has a big arm that has the potential to take the top off the defense. While he does throw the ball hard, he does put excellent touch on his deep balls, showing his versatility as a passer. While it is Carr's team after he beat out Kenny Minchey last off-season, Monds IV and Jarrard could have a very similar situation in their future once Carr heads to the NFL. Notre Dame has come a long way from the days of Drew Pyne, Tyler Buchner, and Jack Coan. While those players had their moments, and some Irish fans may even hold those players in a special place in their hearts, they limited the ceiling of the offenses they were a part of. They were not players who could elevate the talent around them; instead, they were likely elevated by the talent around them. Now, Notre Dame is building a room full of talented players who give Denbrock and Freeman options. Carr is likely to head to the NFL after next season, but with the talent already in the room and with more coming in, Carr's replacement may not be very far behind. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook / Instagram / X / Threads / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!