Notre Dame has had one of the nation's top defenses for three seasons and strong recruiting was a big reason for that. The Irish staff needed another strong haul to keep things going and they did even more than that, as the staff landed arguably its best defensive haul since Marcus Freeman arrived.
One of my favorite ways to evaluate recruiting efforts is to take a multi-year view. It's good to understand what was landed before so we can have proper context of what the objectives and needs were in the current class. With that in mind, I've combined the 2025 and 2026 classes together to put together a two-year grade of Notre Dame's recruiting efforts.
Let's take a look at the two-year grades on defense.
DEFENSIVE END
Grade: A
Signees: Christopher Burgess Jr. (2025), Dom Hulak (2025), Joseph Reiff (2025), Rodney Dunham (2026), Ebenezer Ewetade (2026)
Notre Dame has certainly improved the defensive end position over the last two seasons, adding five players that earned a 4.0-star grade or better on the IB board. Rodney Dunham, Ebenezer Ewetade and Christopher Burgess Jr. all graded out as Top 100 players while Joseph Reiff and Dom Hulak were both Top 250 caliber prospects. The Irish landed good size, added more athleticism and it's a group that adds a great deal of versatility.
The 2025 class is mostly about power, with Burgess being the top prospect. He's a massive young defender that could eventually even more inside and become a Rylie Mills type interior player. If Burgess can develop from a technical standpoint he has a chance to be a true force on the edge, especially as a run defender, or as a playmaking interior player. Loads of talent with Burgess. Reiff is more of a power player as well and Hulak showed a major jump as a senior. It was a quality group all around, with Burgess having the most upside of the group.
The 2026 class adds the elite impact talent. Dunham and Ewetade both have legit five-star upside and give the defense a major boost in pass rushing skill. Dunham has some power to his game but he also has a tremendous burst off the edge. His game reminds me a lot of current Notre Dame standout Boubacar Traore. Ewetade has a truly elite first step off the edge as a pass rusher and has surprisingly good power for a skinnier player. Both players have strong dual-threat ability but their pass rushing potential is what truly sets that duo apart. You will be hard pressed to find a more talented one-two punch at defensive end anywhere in the country in the 2026 class.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Grade: B
Signees: Davion Dixon (2025), Gordy Sulfsted (2025), Tiki Hola (2026), Elijah Golden (2026)
Notre Dame needed an influx of talent and playmaking inside and these two classes provide that. There is work needed with all four prospects but I really like the tools and complementary skills of this group. It lacks a true "elite" Top 100 caliber player in the class, which drags the grade down a bit. But that doesn't mean this group doesn't bring a lot of value and doesn't improve the defensive tackle depth chart, because it does.
2025 signee Davion Dixon brings a lot of the beef that Notre Dame fans want more of and that the defense certainly needs more of. He's a natural 300-plus pound player and he was incredibly productive in high school. Dixon has been banged up since he arrived at Notre Dame but that doesn't mean he didn't arrive at Notre Dame as an important recruit. Gordy Sulfsted missed his senior season with a knee injury and that sapped him of much-needed development, but I still love his potential. He's a true boom-or-bust prospect, but his length, athleticism, playmaking ability and DNA are very, very intriguing.
Landing Texas standout Tiki Hola to kick off the 2026 class was huge, literally and figuratively. Hola is another 300-plus pound big man that brings legit playmaking ability to the interior. Yes, Hola is strong and powerful (and is still just 16 years old), but he's a quality athlete for his size and he was incredibly productive at the prep level. He could help Notre Dame early in his career. Florida star Elijah Golden had ridiculous production the last two seasons, registered 62 tackles for loss and 24 sacks. He's incredibly talented and has a great frame for the inside. His game needs work and he must put weight on his 275-pound frame, but his upside is as high as any defensive tackle to sign with Notre Dame in the last few seasons.
LINEBACKER
Grade: A-
Signees: Madden Faraimo (2025), Anthony Sacca (2025), Ko'o Kia (2025), Thomas Davis Jr. (2026), Jakobe Clapper (2026)
Notre Dame continues to restock the linebacker depth chart and the crown jewel of the last two classes was when it pulled off a signing day coup, landing Madden Faraimo in the 2025 class. Faramio has the combination of size, power and athleticism that Notre Dame covets at the position. He could be a dominant Mike linebacker, he could be an impact player at the Will position and he has the potential to be a game changer as part of the pass rushing unit in sub-package situations.
Anthony Sacca was another talented prospect to sign in the 2025 class. A borderline Top 100 recruit, Sacca began his prep career playing safety before growing into a linebacker. He's athletic and physical, although he's still learning the finer points of playing linebacker. If Sacca taps into his potential he could be an outstanding player for the Irish. Ko'o Kia is another versatile defender that brings some athletic tools and toughness to the position. The 2025 class earned an A- grade on its own.
In the 2026 class, the Irish landed smooth North Carolina linebacker Thomas Davis Jr., who has a lot of potential as a Mike linebacker. He's an incredibly smart football player and a quality athlete, but his upside is what I'm really intrigued by. The tools are certainly there for him to be a multi-year starter at linebacker for the Irish. Jakobe Clapper is an athletic and powerful linebacker that shows impressive speed and pop. I'm not sure what his best position is and he might be better suited as a sub-package player, but if he can get comfortable at Will he certainly has the athletic tools to make a lot of plays.
SAFETY
Grade: A
Signees: JaDon Blair (2025), Ethan Long (2025), Brandon Logan (2025), Joey O'Brien (2026), Nicholas Reddish (2026)
This is the ideal position group when looking at why two-year looks are so important. Neither class earned an A grade by themselves, but when you add them together they are absolutely an A group. When you add JaDon Blair and Joey O'Brien in back-to-back classes you have a tremendous foundation to build around. Blair is a long, physical and athletic playmaker that shined on both sides of the ball. He was my No. 2 ranked defensive prospect in the 2025 class and has legit ballhawking skills. A lot of those same things can be said for O'Brien, who was a dominant two-way player in high school. He spent most of his career playing cornerback, but as a senior he moved to safety and looked even better. They are both at least 6-4 and make a ton of plays on the football, and that kind of range is something Irish secondary coach Mike Mickens clearly covets.
In each class the lack of a second "elite" prospect is why neither class got an A grade, but when you look at the two year group you have a pair of elite, Top 50-caliber prospects, which is why this grade is so high.
But Blair and O'Brien aren't the only talented players to sign with Notre Dame. Ethan Long is another long playmaker (6-3) that brings a smooth skillset to the game. He was incredibly productive on the ball in high school, combining great range with instincts and a high football IQ. Brandon Logan is an explosive athlete that not only made a ton of plays in high school, he is also one of the best baseball prospects in the Midwest. Logan is a bit raw but he's incredibly athletic and has a high ceiling. Nicholas Reddish is another smooth, high football IQ player that can play safety and also projects well as a nickel in the Irish defense.
CORNERBACK
Grade: A+
Signees: Dallas Golden (2025), Mark Zackery IV (2025), Cree Thomas (2025), Khary Adams (2026), Ayden Pouncey (2026), Chas Smith (2026)
This is without a doubt the best cornerback class in the country over the last two seasons and no one will be able to convince me otherwise. Both groups earned A grades, four of the six signees graded out as Top 100 players and the other two just missed the cut. This is a group that adds length, athleticism, playmaking skills and incredibly versatility. Mike Mickens has proven himself to be the best cornerback coach and recruiter in the country.
The 2025 group was loaded, with Dallas Golden and Mark Zackery IV being arguably the best duo that Notre Dame had signed in quite some time, and that's even before you consider Cree Thomas. Golden was a dominant two-way player in high school and was the top ranked defensive recruiting in the 2025 class. He's a special talent that could play cornerback, nickel, safety, running back or wide receiver at the next level. Zackery is a long, athletic cover man with impressive playmaking skills, and he could play either cornerback spot for the Irish. Thomas would be a top cornerback in many Notre Dame classes in recent seasons thanks to his length and playmaking skills.
As good as the 2025 class was the 2026 class might be even better. Khary Adams is a five-star recruit and is ranked as the nation's No. 1 cornerback by Rivals/On3. He's long, exceptionally athletic and fast, and the scary thing is he still has a lot of room to grow his game. Ayden Pouncey had a tremendous senior season and has legit cover skills on the outside despite being 6-3. He's explosive and versatile enough to play safety or wide receiver for the Irish. Chas Smith is a borderline Top 100 recruit that would be the No. 1 cornerback in the country for the vast majority of programs.
The best part about this two-year haul besides the elite talent is the versatility. There's a chance we could see three or four of these players on the field at the same time down the road. This is the kind of haul that erases any gap that might have still existed between the Notre Dame secondary roster and that of the other top teams in the country.
OVERALL
Grade: A
This was truly an exceptional two-year haul for Notre Dame. Notre Dame landed impact players on all three levels of the defense. There was a Top 100 recruit (according to national services) along the defensive line, linebacker, cornerback and safety in these two classes. The Irish got bigger, longer, more athletic and filled up with playmakers. Defensive end and cornerback were Notre Dame's biggest problem areas on the recruiting trail for years, but in the last two cycles the Irish loaded up with big time playmakers at both positions.
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GRADE KEY
A — Elite / College Football Playoff caliber
B — Outstanding / Top 15 caliber
C — Solid / Borderline Top 25 caliber
D — Subpar / Not good enough
F — Disaster
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