Notre Dame Strikes Gold on National Signing Day

(Photo: Chad Ryan)

National Signing Day for the class of 2026 delivered a major win in South Bend. All 27 committed players officially signed with Notre Dame—zero decommitments, a rarity in modern college football and a testament to Marcus Freeman’s momentum on the trail.

The Irish finished with the No. 4 class nationally, according to 247Sports, and this group is more than just highly ranked—it’s exceptionally balanced and historically stable. Based on 247Sports star ratings, Notre Dame’s 2026 class features 3 five-stars, 16 four-stars, and 8 three-stars, making it the deepest and most complete haul of the Freeman era.

It is also constructed with remarkable positional balance: 1 quarterback, 2 running backs, 6 wide receivers, 2 tight ends, 7 offensive linemen, 5 defensive linemen, 3 linebackers, 2 cornerbacks, and 3 safeties. Even more impressive, an unprecedented 24 of the 27 signees will enroll early, giving the Irish a massive head start on integrating nearly the entire class for spring football.

Below is a look at several of the headliners:

Rodney Dunham — Five-Star EDGE

Dunham chose Notre Dame over Georgia, Tennessee, and Duke. The 6’4, 227-pound pass rusher from Charlotte, North Carolina is ranked the No. 3 EDGE and No. 12 overall player in the class.
Prep highlight (senior season): Recorded 8 sacks and 13 tackles-for-loss.

Ian Premer — Five-Star Tight End

Premer picked the Irish over Kansas, Iowa State, and Kansas State. At 6’5 and 220 pounds, the Kansas native is rated the No. 2 TE and No. 21 overall prospect.
Prep highlight (junior season): 1,000+ receiving yards; dominant in red-zone scoring.

Joey O’Brien — Five-Star Safety

O’Brien selected Notre Dame over Oregon, Penn State, and Clemson. The 6’3, 185-pound defender from Pennsylvania is the No. 2 safety and the No. 31 overall recruit.
Prep highlight (junior season): 6 interceptions; ball-hawk with excellent range.

Khary Adams — Four-Star Cornerback

Adams committed to the Irish over Michigan, Penn State, Oregon, and South Carolina. The 6’2, 175-pound prospect from Maryland is the nation’s No. 1 cornerback and No. 24 overall player.
Prep highlight (junior season): Shut down top Maryland WRs; elite press coverage.

Ayden Pouncey — Four-Star Safety

Pouncey, a 6’2.5, 160-pound playmaker from Florida, chose Notre Dame over Michigan, Florida, and LSU. He ranks as the No. 8 safety and No. 81 overall prospect.
Prep highlight (junior season): Track-level speed; multi-sport standout with strong defensive instincts.

Javian Osborne — Four-Star Running Back

Osborne committed to Notre Dame over Michigan. The 5’10, 200-pound Texas running back is the No. 10 RB and No. 111 overall player.
Prep highlight (senior season): Rushed for 2,015 yards, averaging 8.1 yards per carry.

Notre Dame didn’t just sign an elite class—they signed a committed one. Being the only Power Four program without a single decommitment in this cycle underscores the strength of Freeman’s culture and the trust recruits have in the program’s direction.

For Irish fans, this is a class to celebrate—one that blends top-end star power with depth and early impact opportunities. It is one of the most impressive recruiting achievements of the Freeman era, and all signs point to Notre Dame continuing to stack elite classes in the years ahead.

Notre Dame 2026 Signing Class