Latest news with #RodneyDunham
USA Today
17-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Five-star DL commits to Notre Dame over Georgia
Five-star DL commits to Notre Dame over Georgia The Georgia Bulldogs lost out on a major recruit to a familiar foe as of recent. Five-star edge rusher Rodney Dunham commited to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish last week. Dunham is a class of 2026 five-star recruit from Charlotte, North Carolina. The 6-foot-4, 227-pound edge rusher plays high school football and baseball at Myers Park High School in Charlotte. With the Myers Park Mustangs, he racked up 55 tackles, 16 TFLs, 20 pressures, and seven sacks in his sophomore season. As a junior, he totaled 39 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 16 quarterback hits, five sacks, a forced fumble and fumble recovery. The Bulldogs were in the thick of things and the last visit until the Fighting Irish sealed the deal for him. Dunham is the 33rd best prospect in the nation, the fourth-best edge, and the third-best recruit from North Carolina. Georgia will be very involved in this recruiting class to beef up the defensive line. As of recent they are the leader in the recruiting battle for four-star OL/DL PJ Dean. Head coach Kirby Smart and Georgia football have the No. 24 recruiting class in the country right now with six total commitments. Three-star junior college defensive lineman Seven Cloud recently shut down his recruitment and reaffirmed his commitment to Georgia. Head coach Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame have the nation's fourth-best recruiting class. The Fighting Irish have 11 total commitments and Dunham is their highest ranked commitment.
USA Today
14-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Notre Dame football recruiting update following the Blue-Gold game
Notre Dame football recruiting update following the Blue-Gold game While Notre Dame football played its annual Blue-Gold spring game this past weekend and still has a few more practices left, they took full advantage of the environment and it payed off on Sunday with a commitment from offensive lineman Gregory Patrick. It wrapped up a huge recruiting week for the Irish, as they also added edge rushers Rodney Dunham and Ebenezer Ewetade in the 2026 class. The group now stands at 10 total commitments and ranks as the No. 6 collection nationally according to the 247Sports Composite Team Rankings. While it was just Patrick joining the fold this weekend, many more prospects will join later in the cycle. Find out below a recap of what else happened this weekend in Notre Dame football recruiting. Running back Javian Osborne While we knew that Osborne was selecting between Notre Dame and Michigan, what we didn't know was when. On Friday it was announced that the 5-foot, 10-inch and 195-pound back will make his choice on May 3rd. Osborne was in South Bend this weekend, and it could end up being his home for a few years. Defensive end Tiko Hola Hola is nearing a decision as well, and was also on campus this weekend. He's a priority recruit for the Irish, as he's also considering SMU and USC. At 6-foot, 2-inches and 285-pounds, he's exactly the type of prospect that Notre Dame likes on the interior defensive line. It's a very positive development that he visited this weekend, as the remaining trips he has scheduled are all official visits, with the final one to South Bend. Defensive end commitment Rodney Dunham Not only did Dunham pick the Irish this week, he was on campus as well. It is great to see him buying into the program, and helping to recruit his potential classmates. The brotherhood is strong for Notre Dame, and that doesn't look like it will end anytime soon. Wide receiver Brayden Robinson The Texas receiver also took a trip to see Notre Dame this weekend, as they are inside his top-four teams. Robinson also recently visited Miami, so it looks like those are the teams to beat in his recruitment. He's set to make his commitment on July 20th, which comes a month after he finishes with his official visits. Wide receiver Monshun Sales This is a huge development, as Sales is viewed as a national prospect in the 2027 class that resides in Notre Dame's backyard. Getting him on campus early and often will be a key for the Irish to win out in his recruitment for the in-state star. It looks like it's going very well at the moment. Defensive lineman Richie Flanigan The younger brother of James Flanigan (signed tight end) and father Jim, Notre Dame football runs in the family's blood. It looks like another could be on the way, as the 2027 defensive tackle returned 'home' for a visit this weekend. Don't be surprised to see the Richie joining the family tradition in the future. Wide receiver Gordon Sellars This is a big visit for Sellars, as he had already made a commitment date prior to getting the Irish offer. It was tempting enough for him to come and visit before making a decision, and if he postpones it to a later date, you know the Notre Dame coaching staff did a great job selling the program to him. Sellars could be the difference maker at receiver that the Irish are looking for.
USA Today
10-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Notre Dame social media reacts to Rodney Dunham committing to the Irish
Notre Dame social media reacts to Rodney Dunham committing to the Irish It was a big day for Notre Dame football, as 2026 edge rusher Rodney Dunham committed to the program. This was a big recruiting win for the Irish, as they fended off multiple SEC schools including Georgia for the verbal pledge. Notre Dame now has a class of nine commitments, one that ranks as the No. 7 overall class according to the 247Sports Composite Team Rankings. Dunham is right on the cusp of being a 5-star recruit, landing as the No. 33 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite Rankings. The 6-foot, 4-inch and 227-pound pass rusher ignited excited across social media. Here are some of the best responses to Dunham joining Notre Dame's 2026 recruiting class, starting off with the moment when he made his choice. The commitment I've watched plenty of these announcements and most of them typically drag out. Dunham didn't do that, as he quickly got to business and chose the Irish. No games, no hat dance, just a decision that will impact his life for at least the next 40 years. Tom Lemming It's safe to say that Lemming knows what he's talking about, and when he's calling Dunham an elite recruit, you go with his word. He gives a great, quick breakdown of what Irish fans will see when he arrives on campus. Nolan An avid Notre Dame fan, Nolan knows what is happening. The Irish are taking the momentum from last season and using it to their advantage on the recruiting trail. Dunham's commitment won't be the last from a top-level recruit in this class. Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa The new Notre Dame Director of Recruiting Advancement for the Irish knows this is a huge development, and celebrated accordingly. If this is the kind of impact that the former Irish player will have on the program, it looks like Marcus Freeman has made another home run hire. Future teammate Noah Grubbs Dunham might make future practices pretty difficult for Grubbs, but as the saying goes, iron sharpens iron. The future teammates will be part of what is becoming a banner class for the Irish, and these two could be foundational players for the coming seasons. Joseph Rymasz Joseph highlighted the correct parts of Dunham's commitment, the mental part of it. Not only will he get a great education in South Bend, he'll also get a chance to play football at the most competitive level in college. Four for 40, right? Running back target Javian Osborne Osborne has cut his list to two schools, Notre Dame and Michigan, and this could be a very positive development in his recruitment for the Irish. Relationships play a big part in the recruiting game, and this verbal has his attention. Future teammate Sullivan Garvin Like Grubbs, Garvin will have to face off against Dunham in practice, as they will only make each other better. The offensive line commit is extremely pro-Irish on his social media, so it shouldn't come to anyone's surprise that he's excited about his new future teammate. Future teammate Tyler Merrill Another offensive lineman that will have to battle Dunham in practice, Merrill welcomes home his newest teammate. It will be very interesting to hear about these two battling it out, but it's just about making each other better.
USA Today
10-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Notre Dame football lands elite pass rusher over multiple SEC programs
Notre Dame football lands elite pass rusher over multiple SEC programs Notre Dame football has been trending to add an elite pass rusher in North Carolina's Rodney Dunham, and that's exactly what happened on Thursday afternoon. The 6-foot, 4-inch and 227-pounder verbally committed to the Irish over Duke, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. Dunham becomes the No. 9 player in Notre Dame's 2026 class, one that is hovering right outside the top-10 according to the 247Sports Composite Team Rankings. It should not be understated how big Dunham's commitment to Notre Dame is, as they went up against major SEC players to get one of the top players in the class, as he ranks as the No. 33 overall prospect according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He very well could move up the rankings before they are finalized and become a 5-star. The Irish are becoming a recruiting powerhouse under head coach Marcus Freeman, and it doesn't look like it will be slowing down anytime soon.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Notre Dame lands commitment from elite EDGE Rodney Dunham
Notre Dame is laying the groundwork for another star-studded recruiting class in South Bend -- and just landed a marquee pass-rusher for the haul. Elite four-star EDGE defender Rodney Dunham committed to the Irish on Thursday from the Charlotte (NC) Myers Park High School gym. Advertisement The blue-chipper was in South Bend in late March, which lifted Notre Dame above South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia for the blue-chipper. "It wasn't much of a challenge," Dunham said of the decision. "Notre Dame checked off the important boxes," he continued. "That's what this whole thing was about -- finding the best fit, and it was important. What gets me excited is that they can develop me really well -- and I can go to the NFL from there. I can also get a pretty good degree and a good job from there and make new connections." Marcus Freeman and Al Washington led the charge for the Irish with Dunham, Rivals' No. 11-rated EDGE defender. Advertisement The connections with the staff and the program on and away from the field put Notre Dame in a tier of its own. "I feel like I fit in well over there. It's a nice school with a good football program. I enjoyed the visit there, the time on campus," Dunham explained. "Coach Freeman is a good guy, a great coach, and seeing how he ran practice was good to see. They've been recruiting me hard, contacting me every day about how I'm gonna fit on the team, in the school, and from an academic standpoint. I fit in well -- it's a great school with great people and great football." "When we talk, it's not just about football," Dunham added on his bond with Washington. "It's normal conversations. We can talk about whatever -- whenever. It's a real relationship. It's cool -- because he's my future coach. It's great to also have that personal connection as well." South Carolina and Tennessee were setting the pace in the four-star EDGE defender's recruitment for much of the fall before Notre Dame took a massive step forward during his March visit to South Bend. "Once I knew, I just knew ... After taking my visits and visiting all of the schools in my top five, it came easy. Early on I didn't know what I wanted from this," he said. "When I knew and realized, it came pretty easy."
