NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL RECRUITING: 4-Star DT Elijah Golden commits to the Irish
The 6'4' 278 pound defensive lineman from Cardinal Mooney High School in Sarasota, Florida, chose the Irish over a long list of big time programs including the Oklahoma Sooners, Alabama Crimson Tide, Michigan Wolverines, Ohio State Buckeyes, Penn State Nittany Lions, and many others.
From 247:
Green front-line defender with the materials needed to eventually emerge as a force at the point of attack. Might project best as a base end that can play over tackles and set the edge, but could kick further inside or even hang on the outside depending on how the body fills out in coming years. Tends to make the biggest impact with his engine as he will work vigorously to get through obstacles and then build speed in pursuit. Not exactly a precision rusher, but understands how to use his hands and can create an advantage on passing downs with his snap anticipation. Strong relative to his age, but needs to unlock more knockback power as that will help establish leverage more consistently. Finally started to show some signs of life with 10 sacks as a junior after being utilized in more of a reserve role as a sophomore. However, still far from a complete product and is the type of prospect that must keep making developmental strides if he's ever going to match the player that has turned heads in combine settings. Should be viewed as a future multi-year contributor for a College Football Playoff contender that has a chance to morph into a game-wrecker if it all comes together.
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Golden is the 27th commitment for Notre Dame's 2026 class and the 4th from the state of Florida. The Irish now have four recruits from three states (Florida, Texas, North Carolina) which is tops for their class. According to the 247 Composite Team Rankings, Notre Dame is now ranked #3 in the country behind the Georgia Bulldogs and USC Trojans.
POSITION
PLAYER
STATE
HT
WT
RIVALS
RIVALS INDUSTRY
247 SPORTS
247 COMPOSITE
ESPN
COMMIT DATE
WR
Dylan Faison
FL
5'11'
170
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
3/18/2024
QB
Noah Grubbs
FL
6'4″
190
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
6/1/2024
LB
Thomas Davis Jr.
NC
6'2″
205
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
11/12/2024
CB
Chaston Smith
TN
6'1″
175
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
12/1/2024
OL
Sullivan Garvin
MI
6'5″
300
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
12/5/2024
OL
Ben Nichols
MI
6'5″
315
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
12/24/2024
OL
Tyler Merrill
PA
6'5″
338
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1/30/2025
EDGE
Ebenezer Ewetade
NC
6'4″
220
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4/5/2025
EDGE
Rodney Dunham
NC
6'4″
227
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4/10/2025
OL
Gregory Patrick
MI
6'5″
285
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4/13/2025
WR
Bubba Frazier
GA
5'10'
165
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4/14/2025
S
Ayden Pouncey
FL
6'3″
180
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4/26/2025
LB
Kobe Clapper
OH
6'2″
215
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
5/2/2025
RB
Javian Osborne
TX
5'9″
195
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5/3/2025
DT
Tiki Hola
TX
6'3″
285
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5/10/2025
RB
Jonaz Walton
GA
5'9″
205
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5/14/2025
OL
Grayson McKeogh
PA
6'7″
280
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
6/18/2025
CB
Khary Adams
MD
6'1″
180
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
6/20/2025
S
Joey O'Brien
PA
6'4″
180
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
6/20/2025
TE
Preston Fryzel
OH
6'4″
220
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
6/23/2025
OL
Charlie Thom
CT
6'6″
275
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
6/24/2025
TE
Ian Premer
KS
6'5″
225
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
6/26/2025
WR
Kaydon Finley
TX
6'1″
200
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
7/4/2025
WR
Devin Fitzgerald
AZ
6'2″
205
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
7/5/2025
WR
Brayden Robinson
TX
5'8″
160
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
7/6/2025
S
Nick Reddish
NC
5'11'
185
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
7/11/2025
DT
Elijah Golden
FL
6'4″
278
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
8/9/2025
Notre Dame has built some fantastic depth along its defensive line over the years and the additions of Tiki Hola and Elijah Golden are on the right path of not only making sure that depth is secured — but the talent level of that depth increases.
Player/Class
Freshmen
Sophomore
Junior
Senior
Graduate
Quarterback
Noah Grubbs
Blake Hebert
C.J. Carr
Kenny Minchey
`
Running Back
Javian Osborne, Jonaz Walton
Nolan James
Aneyas Williams, Kedren Young
Jerimiyah Love
Jadarian Price, Gi'Bran Payne
Tight End
Preston Fryzel, Ian Premer
James Flanigan
Jack Larsen
Cooper Flanagan
Eli Raridon
Wide Receiver
Dylan Faison, Bubba Frazier, Kaydon Finley, Devin Fitzgerald, Brayden Robinson
Elijah Burress, Jerome Bettis Jr., Antavious Richardson
Cam Williams, Micah Gilbert, Logan Saldate
Jaden Greathouse, Kaleb Smith, Jordan Faison
–
Center
–
–
–
–
Ashton Craig
Guard
Sullivan Garvin, Tyler Merrill, Gregory Patrick
Cameron Herron
–
Joe Otting, Chris Terek
Billy Schrauth
Tackle
Ben Nichols, Grayson McKeogh, Charlie Thom
Will Black, Owen Strebig, Matty Augustine
Peter Jones, Anthonie Knapp, Styles Prescod, Guerby Lambert
Sullivan Absher, Charles Jagusah
Aamil Wagner
Defensive Tackle
Tiki Hola, Elijah Golden
Joseph Reiff, Davion Dixon
Sean Sevillano
Brenan Vernon, Devan Houstan, Armel Mukam
Donovan Hinish, Elijah Hughes
Defensive End
Ebenezer Ewetade, Rodney Dunham
Christopher Burgess, Gordy Sulfsted
Cole Mullins, Bryce Young, Loghan Thomas
Boubacar Traore
Joshua Burnham, Junior Tuihalamaka
Linebacker
Thomas Davis Jr., Kobe Clapper
Dominik Hulak, Ko'o Kia, Anthony Sacca, Madden Faraimo
Teddy Rezac, Bodie Kahoun, Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa
Drayk Bowen, Preston Zinter, Jaiden Ausberry
Jaylen Sneed
Safety
Ayden Pouncey, Joey O'Brien, Nick Reddish
Ethan Long, JaDon Blair, Brandon Logan
Taebron Bennie-Powell, Brauntae Johnson
Adon Shuler, Ben Minich, Luke Talich
–
Cornerback
Chaston Smith, Khary Adams
Cree Thomas, Dallas Golden, Mark Zachery
Karson Hobbs, Leonard Moore
Christian Gray
–
Specialists
–
Erik Schmidt
–
–
–
Totals
27/95 (27)
52/95 (25)
74/95 (22)
95/95 (21)
106/95 (11)
Golden is last big name on Notre Dame's big board (that we publicly know of right now). His commitment to this class likely means that the Irish will have their best recruiting class in at least 20 years — if not its best of the internet recruiting age. And oh by the way… Golden is fantastic. The Irish have consistently developed lower ranking players into stars and stud along the defensive line, but Golden has a much higher ceiling than they're used to in South Bend.
WELCOME TO ND ELIJAH!
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