2026 Master Thread

[NDohio]

How can you go wrong with a name like Jett! Notre Dame Building An Early Bond With Elite Athlete Jett Washington And he's the nephew of the late great Kobe Bryant to boot!

Kobe Bryant's nephew is an elite HS athlete — but his future is in football not basketball

Washington is a top-100 football prospect in the 2026 cycle who led Bishop Gorman (Nev.) High School to a state title in basketball.

www.nytimes.com

Notre Dame and Oregon sit at the top of his list of suitors in football. UCLA and Texas A&M are next. Alabama and Ohio State haven’t offered yet, but he talks to their coaches regularly. USC, his dream school, is one program he’s eagerly waiting to hear from.

“Jett likes Notre Dame and Oregon because of their history, especially Notre Dame,” Washington’s father, Jerrod, said after he watched his son play in the OT7 Tournament. “Notre Dame had (NFL All-Pro safety) Kyle Hamilton a couple years ago. They know how to work a 6-4 safety.”

 

[Irish#1]

Kobe Bryant's nephew is an elite HS athlete — but his future is in football not basketball

Washington is a top-100 football prospect in the 2026 cycle who led Bishop Gorman (Nev.) High School to a state title in basketball.

www.nytimes.com

Notre Dame and Oregon sit at the top of his list of suitors in football. UCLA and Texas A&M are next. Alabama and Ohio State haven’t offered yet, but he talks to their coaches regularly. USC, his dream school, is one program he’s eagerly waiting to hear from.

So we lead until USC offers. lol

 

[BobbyMac]

Building profiles and updating Post 1 this weekend. Any requests of offered prospects like Jett Washington or some offer worthy guys like Vance Spafford?

Vance Spafford, Mission Viejo , Wide Receiver

Multi-sport athlete that also runs track and played lacrosse. –––– TRACK -Posted a 10.69 (1.2) in the 100-meter dash and a 22.14 (1.1) in the 200-meter dash...

247sports.com

 

[NDMatt91]

Building profiles and updating Post 1 this weekend. Any requests of offered prospects like Jett Washington or some offer worthy guys like Vance Spafford?

Vance Spafford, Mission Viejo , Wide Receiver

Multi-sport athlete that also runs track and played lacrosse. –––– TRACK -Posted a 10.69 (1.2) in the 100-meter dash and a 22.14 (1.1) in the 200-meter dash...

247sports.com

Offer worthy: Brian Bonner (RB), Noah Clark (DT)

 

[rtrn2glory]

Wow those are crazy stats for a sophomore at a program like that

 

[domer13]

Building profiles and updating Post 1 this weekend. Any requests of offered prospects like Jett Washington or some offer worthy guys like Vance Spafford?

Vance Spafford, Mission Viejo , Wide Receiver

Multi-sport athlete that also runs track and played lacrosse. –––– TRACK -Posted a 10.69 (1.2) in the 100-meter dash and a 22.14 (1.1) in the 200-meter dash...

247sports.com

This is what I have in my first spreadsheet, not sure how accurate it is. I think most of these guys were offered?

 

[Irish du Nord]

This is what I have in my first spreadsheet, not sure how accurate it is. I think most of these guys were offered?

View attachment 3055904

I would swap Whyce and Blade in terms of position projection (though I’m not certain how big Blade will end up). I’d put Brock Harris and Simeon Caldwell in light green as well. The sites have also hinted at Jordan Thomas being a name to watch but I’m not sure if that’s the current info.

 

[BobbyMac]

Visiting Apr 4

 

[calvegas04]

In for the BBQ

Kaydon Finley
Thomas Davis Jr.
Jakob Weatherspoon
Cincere Johnson
Chancellor Barclay

 

[ND7983]

ND having the grill & chill on Thursday instead of on a weekend is another bad decision.
Multiple kids have already dropped off the list this week. Many others have noted that their family couldn’t make it because of the timing (during the week).
The Midwest is loaded in 2026 with top prospects & ND has 14 uncommitted 2026 kids coming, one committed (Grubbs), and 8 2025 committed players, with ZERO 2025 uncommitted prospects.

Now look at Michigan. They have their BBQ on the weekend. And it’s practically the same travel to Michigan as it is to ND.
Here is their list:
(They have 37 uncommitted 2026 prospects alone).

2025 Targets

WR Jerome Myles — Top 100
WR Andrew Marsh — Top 100
CB Jayden Sanders — On300

2026 Targets

RB Javian Osborne — Top 100
RB Savion Hiter — Top 100
RB Shahn Alston — Top 100
WR CJ Sadler — Top 100
WR Tristen Keys — Top 100
WR Travis Johnson — On300
WR Payton Cook — On300
WR Mason James — On300
WR Tyreek King — On300
WR Jaylen Pile — Three-star
TE Jack Janda — Three-star
TE Lincoln Keyes — Three-star
OL Greg Patrick — Top 100
OL Tyler Merrill — Top 100
OL Leo Delaney — Top 100
OL Zaden Krempin — On300
OL Canon Pickett — On300
OL Marky Walbridge — On300
OL Felix Ojo - Four-star
OL George Haseotes — Three-star
DL Jermaine Kinsler — On300
DL Gabe Hill — On300
DL JJ Finch — Three-star
DL King Liggins — Three-star
EDGE Shaun Scott — Four-star
EDGE Luke Wafle — Four-star
EDGE Jacob Alexander — Three-star
LB Kenneth Goodwin — Four-star
LB Kaden Carter — NR
LB Cameron Melvin — NR (No offer)
DB Andre Clarke — On300
DB Chaston Smith — On300
DB Joey O'Brien — On300
DB Jordan Thomas — Four-star (Maybe)
DB Craig Tutt — Four-star
DB Jaziel Hart — Three-star
ATH Jayden McGregory — On300

2025 Commits

QB Carter Smith
RB Jasper Parker
TE Andrew Olesh
TE Eli Owens
WR Jacob Washington
OL Avery Gach
DL Nate Marshall
DL Bobby Kanka
EDGE Julius Holly
LB. Chase Taylor
DB Kainoa Winston

2026 Commits

QB Brady Hart

2027 Targets

QB Trae Taylor
RB Elijah Kimble
WR Dakota Guerrant
TE Holden Niemi
OL William Tobin (No offer)
EDGE Jaxon Holly
LB Antwoine Higgins
ATH Anthony Cartwright
ATH Darryl Flemister

2028 Targets

QB Donald Tabron

 

[Blazers46]

ND having the grill & chill on Thursday instead of on a weekend is another bad decision.
Multiple kids have already dropped off the list this week. Many others have noted that their family couldn’t make it because of the timing (during the week).
The Midwest is loaded in 2026 with top prospects & ND has 14 uncommitted 2026 kids coming, one committed (Grubbs), and 8 2025 committed players, with ZERO 2025 uncommitted prospects.

Now look at Michigan. They have their BBQ on the weekend. And it’s practically the same travel to Michigan as it is to ND.
Here is their list:
(They have 37 uncommitted 2026 prospects alone).

2025 Targets

WR Jerome Myles — Top 100
WR Andrew Marsh — Top 100
CB Jayden Sanders — On300

2026 Targets

RB Javian Osborne — Top 100
RB Savion Hiter — Top 100
RB Shahn Alston — Top 100
WR CJ Sadler — Top 100
WR Tristen Keys — Top 100
WR Travis Johnson — On300
WR Payton Cook — On300
WR Mason James — On300
WR Tyreek King — On300
WR Jaylen Pile — Three-star
TE Jack Janda — Three-star
TE Lincoln Keyes — Three-star
OL Greg Patrick — Top 100
OL Tyler Merrill — Top 100
OL Leo Delaney — Top 100
OL Zaden Krempin — On300
OL Canon Pickett — On300
OL Marky Walbridge — On300
OL Felix Ojo - Four-star
OL George Haseotes — Three-star
DL Jermaine Kinsler — On300
DL Gabe Hill — On300
DL JJ Finch — Three-star
DL King Liggins — Three-star
EDGE Shaun Scott — Four-star
EDGE Luke Wafle — Four-star
EDGE Jacob Alexander — Three-star
LB Kenneth Goodwin — Four-star
LB Kaden Carter — NR
LB Cameron Melvin — NR (No offer)
DB Andre Clarke — On300
DB Chaston Smith — On300
DB Joey O'Brien — On300
DB Jordan Thomas — Four-star (Maybe)
DB Craig Tutt — Four-star
DB Jaziel Hart — Three-star
ATH Jayden McGregory — On300

2025 Commits

QB Carter Smith
RB Jasper Parker
TE Andrew Olesh
TE Eli Owens
WR Jacob Washington
OL Avery Gach
DL Nate Marshall
DL Bobby Kanka
EDGE Julius Holly
LB. Chase Taylor
DB Kainoa Winston

2026 Commits

QB Brady Hart

2027 Targets

QB Trae Taylor
RB Elijah Kimble
WR Dakota Guerrant
TE Holden Niemi
OL William Tobin (No offer)
EDGE Jaxon Holly
LB Antwoine Higgins
ATH Anthony Cartwright
ATH Darryl Flemister

2028 Targets

QB Donald Tabron

Yeah, my first thought on scheduling like this is just being or of touch with peoples lives. Maybe the staff doesn’t like working summer weekends.

 

[ND7983]

Yeah, my first thought on scheduling like this is just being or of touch with peoples lives. Maybe the staff doesn’t like working summer weekends.

The 2026 class is one that ND needs to take advantage of.
Every now & then it works out where a lot of elite talent just happens to be in the Great Lakes/Midwest region, & 2026 is that.
ND needs to get as many of these kids as possible.
Unfortunately, Michigan is the one taking advantage of the situation.
There are a dozen or so uncommitted 2026 kids in the region that aren’t coming to ND’s grill & chill.
But Michigan has 3 times as many uncommitted kids coming to theirs.
Moore isn’t the recruiter Freeman is.
This is all timing. Kids are already in school activities now during the week & their parents work on Thursday.

 

[calvegas04]

The staff wants weekends off

 

[ND7983]

Another cancellation, one of the only offensive kids coming, Finley, cancelled.

What has the offensive staff done since the spring?
How about McCullough?
ND has had two RB commits for almost a year, and yet I haven’t seen 1 RB in 2026 talked about ND being on? None have visited & none are coming to the grill & chill.

There are now 3 total offensive 2026 uncommitted players visiting. 2 OL & 1 TE.
No WRs or RBs.

You won’t hear it on the various sites, because it’s taboo to question Freeman, but this event is turning into a disaster.
This is the big 2026 recruit showcase. ND, by their own decision, wanted it to be about 2026 kids, not 2025.
Well, they are have 12 verified, uncommitted 2026 kids show up.
That’s horrendous.

 

[Rockin’Irish]

Another cancellation, one of the only offensive kids coming, Finley, cancelled.

What has the offensive staff done since the spring?
How about McCullough?
ND has had two RB commits for almost a year, and yet I haven’t seen 1 RB in 2026 talked about ND being on? None have visited & none are coming to the grill & chill.

There are now 3 total offensive 2026 uncommitted players visiting. 2 OL & 1 TE.
No WRs or RBs.

You won’t hear it on the various sites, because it’s taboo to question Freeman, but this event is turning into a disaster.
This is the big 2026 recruit showcase. ND, by their own decision, wanted it to be about 2026 kids, not 2025.
Well, they are have 12 verified, uncommitted 2026 kids show up.
That’s horrendous.

Do you have any insight on why it is scheduled for Thursday rather than on one of the weekend days? I agree, the thought process of NOT having an event like this on the weekend is puzzling.

 

[MacIrish75]

Well, I didn’t have panic on my to-do list at work today, but between the Shamrock uniform and this crap…here we are.

 

[EvilleIrish]

ND having the grill & chill on Thursday instead of on a weekend is another bad decision.
Multiple kids have already dropped off the list this week. Many others have noted that their family couldn’t make it because of the timing (during the week).
The Midwest is loaded in 2026 with top prospects & ND has 14 uncommitted 2026 kids coming, one committed (Grubbs), and 8 2025 committed players, with ZERO 2025 uncommitted prospects.

Now look at Michigan. They have their BBQ on the weekend. And it’s practically the same travel to Michigan as it is to ND.
Here is their list:
(They have 37 uncommitted 2026 prospects alone).

2025 Targets

WR Jerome Myles — Top 100
WR Andrew Marsh — Top 100
CB Jayden Sanders — On300

2026 Targets

RB Javian Osborne — Top 100
RB Savion Hiter — Top 100
RB Shahn Alston — Top 100
WR CJ Sadler — Top 100
WR Tristen Keys — Top 100
WR Travis Johnson — On300
WR Payton Cook — On300
WR Mason James — On300
WR Tyreek King — On300
WR Jaylen Pile — Three-star
TE Jack Janda — Three-star
TE Lincoln Keyes — Three-star
OL Greg Patrick — Top 100
OL Tyler Merrill — Top 100
OL Leo Delaney — Top 100
OL Zaden Krempin — On300
OL Canon Pickett — On300
OL Marky Walbridge — On300
OL Felix Ojo - Four-star
OL George Haseotes — Three-star
DL Jermaine Kinsler — On300
DL Gabe Hill — On300
DL JJ Finch — Three-star
DL King Liggins — Three-star
EDGE Shaun Scott — Four-star
EDGE Luke Wafle — Four-star
EDGE Jacob Alexander — Three-star
LB Kenneth Goodwin — Four-star
LB Kaden Carter — NR
LB Cameron Melvin — NR (No offer)
DB Andre Clarke — On300
DB Chaston Smith — On300
DB Joey O'Brien — On300
DB Jordan Thomas — Four-star (Maybe)
DB Craig Tutt — Four-star
DB Jaziel Hart — Three-star
ATH Jayden McGregory — On300

2025 Commits

QB Carter Smith
RB Jasper Parker
TE Andrew Olesh
TE Eli Owens
WR Jacob Washington
OL Avery Gach
DL Nate Marshall
DL Bobby Kanka
EDGE Julius Holly
LB. Chase Taylor
DB Kainoa Winston

2026 Commits

QB Brady Hart

2027 Targets

QB Trae Taylor
RB Elijah Kimble
WR Dakota Guerrant
TE Holden Niemi
OL William Tobin (No offer)
EDGE Jaxon Holly
LB Antwoine Higgins
ATH Anthony Cartwright
ATH Darryl Flemister

2028 Targets

QB Donald Tabron

Well this is depressing to read.

 

[ND7983]

Do you have any insight on why it is scheduled for Thursday rather than on one of the weekend days? I agree, the thought process of NOT having an event like this on the weekend is puzzling.

I actually did ask someone, and they gave me an all over the place answer that didn’t answer the question.
ND thought they would be pretty much complete with the 2025 class, & this was their big 2026 recruit showcase.
It’s obviously a dud.
I asked a second person, but they are a big, big Freeman guy, so I just got excuses from him.

So to answer your question, I asked two people & neither gave me a concrete answer.

 

[NDFAN2008]

Having it on a Thursday doesn’t make sense people can’t just call off work unless they give notice ahead of time.

 

[ND7983]

I’m going to go on my lunch time run, which will calm me down a bit & clear my thoughts, then when I come back I will give my opinion (based on a conversation I had with someone else who also is concerned) on the situation.
It will be more opinion, based on facts we know, but it isn’t inside info or anything.

 

[EvilleIrish]

When are we allowed to question Marcus as a recruiter?

 

[calvegas04]

When are we allowed to question Marcus as a recruiter?

Last season

 

[Blazers46]

I feel like this weekday thing was an issue last year.

 

[Blazers46]

When are we allowed to question Marcus as a recruiter?

But Brian Kelly

 

[JD Irish]

Not a single composite 5-star recruit has signed since Jaylen Sneed, who is now a junior. That is two full recruiting cycles and none in the current cycle that signs in December. Sneed is the only composite 5-star on the roster.

 

[Irish5Saint]

Last season

2024’s class was great. The staff did an awesome job projecting guys who would have huge ranking bumps.

 

[lcaps20]

When are we allowed to question Marcus as a recruiter?

Really?

 

[NDpendent]

I got tied into ND recruiting on another level when it appeared we were going to steal Dante Moore from Michigan and then added CJ Carr. I followed the 23, 24 and 25 classes very closely. But honestly am loosing interest in recruiting with this 26 class.
I'm just ready to watch some Notre Dame football in a month.

 

[EvilleIrish]

Really?

Well for starters this class has a decent shot to finish outside the top 10 and our WR situation is hovering at a G5 level.

 

[lcaps20]

Well for starters this class has a decent shot to finish outside the top 10 and our WR situation is hovering at a G5 level.

We were talking about a top 5 finish 3 weeks ago when it appeared we'd hit on all the receivers, along with adding NOB and Fairmo.

The WR board obviously collapsed on itself, but other than that very little changed. I guess you can get upset on trading Taylor for Balir? There is still 4 months and an entire senior season for HS kids before early signing day. I'd suggest waiting until then for the concern on Freeman's recruiting.