Latest news with #ElijahGolden
Reuters
2 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Four-star DT Elijah Golden commits to Notre Dame
August 9 - Notre Dame added to its already long line of recruits for the class of 2026 with the commitment of four-star defensive tackle Elijah Golden on Saturday. A top-200 overall prospect at 247Sports and On3, Golden chose the Fighting Irish over the likes of Alabama, Oklahoma, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and Virginia Tech, among some 41 other offers Golden considered. The 6-foot-4, 275-pounder out of Cardinal Mooney High School in Sarasota, Fla., is the latest addition to Notre Dame's list of now-27 verbal commits that are expected to land Marcus Freeman's among the top-five recruiting classes in the nation. According to The Athletic, should the class of 2026 haul hold, it could represent Notre Dame's highest-rated class since 2013. Golden joins three other defensive linemen committed to the class of 2026: five-star defensive end Rodney Dunham, four-star defensive end Ebenezer Ewetade and three-star defensive tackle Tiki Hola. --Field Level Media
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL RECRUITING: 4-Star DT Elijah Golden commits to the Irish
On Saturday, 4-Star defensive lineman Elijah Golden announced his commitment to Marcus Freeman and the 2026 Notre Dame Football recruiting class. 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. View Link 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!
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Notre Dame's 2026 recruiting class ranking moves up following Elijah Golden's commitment
It has been a great 2026 recruiting cycle for Notre Dame football, and it got even better on Saturday as they received a commitment from Florida defensive lineman Elijah Golden. The Irish now have twenty-seven commitments, and with the addition of Golden, they moved up two spots from the No. 5 overall class to the No. 3 unit in the 247Sports Composite Team Rankings. Just two teams sit above Notre Dame at the moment in Georgia and USC, but both of them have at least four more commitments than the Irish do. It very much seems like the class is now full, but in recruiting you never know what is next. While many of the current commitments have voiced that they are firm with the Irish, things could change between now and when the first signing period happens in December. Looking a bit deeper into the rankings, Notre Dame has one of the best average-per-recruit, as they are at 92.4, a number that is better than both teams ranked above them. Just a few schools are higher in the top-10, with Oregon, Alabama, and LSU being just above the Irish in that metric. Regardless, this will go down as one of the best Notre Dame football recruiting classes in history, but this very well could be the norm as head coach Marcus Freeman has completely turned the program around. Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions. Follow Mike on X: @MikeFChen
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Notre Dame football adds top 2026 DL Elijah Golden to its elite recruiting class
Notre Dame football has been on the winning end of multiple battles in the 2026 recruiting cycle, and it looks like they put the finishing touches on the class on Saturday. Elijah Golden, a 6-foot, 4-inch and 275-pound defensive lineman, committed to the Irish over Alabama, Oklahoma and Virginia Tech. The addition now brings Notre Dame's 2026 class total to 27 commitments, one that ranks among the best classes in the country according to the 247Sports Team Composite. The newest commit for the Irish is a good one, as Golden ranks as the No. 162 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite. He's the second interior defensive line verbal to go along with Tiki Hola. This was a big recruiting win for Notre Dame, as they needed a pair of tackles to go with its elite edge rushers in Rodney Dunham and Ebenezer Ewetade. This very well could be the best Notre Dame recruiting class of the modern era, but we'll have to wait until they all sign to be able to make that claim. Either way, this collection of recruits should help the Irish continue to be one of the top teams in the nation. Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions. Follow Mike on X: @MikeFChen This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Notre Dame football adds top 2026 DL to its elite recruiting class
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Notre Dame social media reacts to 2026 DL Elijah Golden committing to the Irish
Bang! 💪🏼☘️ On Saturday, Notre Dame football scored another big recruiting win, as they got a verbal commitment from 2026 Florida defensive lineman Elijah Golden. The Irish now have twenty-seven commits in the cycle, a collection of talent that is considered the No. 3 overall group nationally by the 247Sports Composite Team Rankings. This has been head coach Marcus Freeman's best class since he took over the program, and it could be sign of things to come. Any time Notre Dame lands a commitment, social media has been a great place to see the excitement in Irish Nation. Check out below the best comments after Golden made his verbal pledge to the Irish. Golden was meant to be It almost seemed like fate that a prospect with the last name of Golden was considering Notre Dame, and ultimately picked the Irish. It doesn't always work out this way, but it did in this situation. Golden is a terrific prospect that has tons of potential. Golden played the hat game The moment four-star DL Elijah Golden announced his commitment to Notre Dame ☘️The hat drop had me laughing 😂IG: TheElijahGolden98https:// If you didn't see Golden's announcement, he initially picked up an Oklahoma hat, before discarding it and announcing for Notre Dame. It's always frustrating to be on the Sooners end of a commitment, but their loss is clearly the Irish's gain. Party in South Bend ☘️☘️☘️ Auman has done a great job in his first recruiting cycle as Notre Dame's Director of Recruiting, and he deserves plenty of credit for this class. He made the right choices in which prospects to go after, and did very well with closing on those who took official visits. Auman should be celebrating. The motto Choose Hard - Live Easy 🤙🏾☘️ After every commit, the former Notre Dame star goes to social media and posts this statement. Tagovailoa-Amosa understands the Irish way, and he's proof that life after football can be done in South Bend. Like Auman, he should be very happy with the results of his efforts in recruiting Golden. Making history Notre Dame hosted 12 uncommitted prospects on official visits in June. It's picked up commitments from 11 of them sure I've seen anything like that in 25 years on the beat. The closing percentage for June visitors has been elite, pretty much says that if you made a visit to South Bend during the month, most likely you were becoming a member of the Irish recruiting class. Golden was the last of the group to make his decision, and it was worth the wait. An elite group of defensive lineman for the Irish Notre Dame has one of the nation's top defensive line classes, adding four-star Elijah Golden to its terrific 2026 class. Golden now joins Ebenezer Ewetade, Tiki Hola and Rodney Dunham to make up one of the top defensive line classes nationally. There's talent all over, and these four could all have significant impacts in their Irish careers. They'll be disrupting opposing offenses for the new few years. Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions. Follow Mike on X: @MikeFChen
