Alright, now don’t blink, ’cause what’s brewing in South Bend isn’t your regular old Midwest slow-cook. Nah, Marcus Freeman’s got this thing on high heat, flipping the Notre Dame recruiting stove to full blast while your favorite Big Ten bullies—yeah, we talkin’ Michigan and Penn State—out here catching smoke. It isn’t even signing day yet, but the Irish? They’re stacking blue chip recruiters like poker chips, flipping four-star dogs from the SEC, and pulling up on blue-chippers coast to coast like it’s nothing. Freeman ain’t just making noise—he’s out here starting a recruiting riot.

The first shot? That’d be Ebenezer Ewetade. You probably haven’t heard that name unless you keep your ear to the recruiting streets, but the 6’4″, 240-pound edge rusher from South Garner (NC) just told Bama and Georgia to hold his Gatorade while he committed to Notre Dame. That’s right—Freeman just jacked a top-tier pass rusher outta SEC territory. Steve Wiltfong ain’t even wait a full 24 hours before dropping two more predictions in favor of the Irish—tight end Evan Jacobson and wideout Bubba Frazier are leaning hard toward South Bend now. That’s three major positions getting ND heat in a matter of days.

Oh, but Marcus Freeman ain’t done. He’s on the edge of pulling off something filthy this week: five-star Rodney Dunham Jr.—No. 3 edge rusher in the nation—is about to announce, and guess who’s trending? Yup. Notre Dame. Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina are still in the mix, but that campus visit last month? Had the man locked in. Picture this—Dunham and Ewetade bookending a D-line? That’s straight-up illegal in 28 states.

Marcus Freeman is flipping the script on the Big Ten early. Word is that Notre Dame is front-running for safety Joey O’Brien, but Penn State, Oregon, and Michigan are still lurking around. O’Brien balled out at OT7, and now he’s a verified must-get. But you know what? ND is already ahead. Same story with Javian Osborne, a four-star back outta Forney, Texas. Michigan thought they had him, but ND slid right into the lead. It’s like Freeman’s ghosting blue bloods and pulling up with receipts.

Even the receiver room’s turning into a track team. Bubba Frazier, Kaydon Finley, Brayden Robinson—Freeman’s going full Madden Create-A-Team mode. If Notre Dame closes all three, they might just build the fastest wideout core in the country. And don’t sleep on Tiki Hola, the 6’3” D-lineman who’s choosing between SMU and Notre Dame on May 10. With another visit to South Bend lined up this week, you don’t need Google Maps to see where that commitment’s headed.

Notre Dame 2026 recruiting class

Let’s get one thing straight—this 2026 class ain’t no lucky run. Nah, this is strategic warfare. The Irish are sitting at No. 8 in the On3 rankings with a nasty blend of size, speed, and swagger across all positions. With 8 commits and 91.14 total points on the board, Freeman’s laying down the foundation for a monster future.

At the heart of it? Noah Grubbs, the 6’4″ flamethrower from Lake Mary, Florida. The QB committed back in June and instantly became Freeman’s unofficial co-recruiter. He’s got the arm talent, clean footwork, and big-boy poise—basically everything you need to command a locker room. And he’s already building chemistry with the class around him.

Now, let’s talk beef. 4-star Tyler Merrill and Ben Nichols bring serious thump to the O-line—Merrill’s out here moving like a snowplow at 338 pounds, while Nichols is just mean with his hands. Add in Sullivan Garvin, another Michigan native with real bite, and you’ve got the type of wall that keeps defensive lines up at night. This trio’s not just protecting Grubbs—they’re setting the tone for the whole damn team. And we aren’t even on defense yet. Thomas Davis Jr., son of NFL vet Thomas Davis Sr., is a certified thumper at linebacker. He committed in November, and he’s already looking like a leader on that side of the ball. Ewetade, of course, gives the D-line that twitchy edge presence. If Dunham Jr. joins him? Man, just cancel third downs for opposing offenses.

The secondary’s also getting that Freeman love. Chaston Smith, a dawg from Tennessee, brings physicality and high IQ to the corner. He’s the kinda DB that doesn’t just play coverage—he erases wideouts. And let’s not forget Dylan Faison, the slick route-runner from Florida with burners. He’s gonna be a nightmare for DBs. Get him the ball in space, and it’s wrap city.

Bottom line: Marcus Freeman’s recruiting masterclass ain’t dipping even after Chad Bowden dipped to USC. ND’s cooking something nasty for 2026, and the rest of the country better wake up before it’s too late. Freeman’s not trying to keep up with Penn State and Michigan. He’s about to leave ‘em in the dust. So go ahead, circle signing day. But just know—Notre Dame’s already winning.