Notre Dame added a significant piece to its 2026 recruiting class on Saturday with a commitment from Ebenezer Ewetade, a standout EDGE from South Garner High School in Garner, North Carolina. While ESPN, Rivals, and 247Sports each rank Ewetade in the 200s nationally, On3 has a much higher opinion of him, placing him at No. 36 overall and the No. 6 EDGE in the country. Ewetade chose the Irish over powerhouse programs like Alabama and Georgia.
Thanks to Ewetade’s commitment and updated rankings from Rivals and ESPN on Monday, Notre Dame has climbed into the top 10 of the 2026 Industry Ranking Football Team Recruiting Rankings. The Irish now sit at No. 8 after spending recent weeks fluctuating between the 10th and 12th spots.
Although it’s still early in the 2026 recruiting cycle with nearly eight months until National Signing Day in December Notre Dame is positioning itself well. On3’s team ranking system, which aims to project where classes may ultimately finish rather than just ranking teams by volume of commits, currently favors Notre Dame’s trajectory.
If the Irish are able to land another top target, Rodney Dunham from Myers Park in Charlotte, North Carolina, later this week, their stock could rise even more. Dunham is a five-star prospect ranked No. 19 overall and the No. 3 EDGE nationally according to the On3 Industry Ranking.
Notre Dame now holds eight commitments for the 2026 cycle, including six four-stars and two three-stars. The highest-rated of the group is Tyler Merrill, an interior lineman from Cumberland Valley in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. He’s currently ranked No. 115 overall and No. 5 at his position.
This marks head coach Marcus Freeman’s fourth full recruiting class. Under his leadership, Notre Dame’s recent classes have ranked No. 10 (2023), No. 11 (2024), and No. 12 (2025), with the 2022 class partially assembled during his stint as defensive coordinator finishing at No. 6.
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