Notre Dame gets good news on 2026 recruits Joey O'Brien, Evan Jacobson, and Kaydon Finley
There is plenty going on the recruiting trail for Notre Dame football, and over the course of the last few days, its been a busy one.
Multiple offers have been sent out to different classes, but that wasn't the only news that the Irish received. With 16 commitments in the 2026 cycle, Notre Dame has one the country's best at the current moment.
For it to finish off near the top, they'll have to add multiple more players and keep the one's they have committed now. There is some good news and bad, so find out the latest on Notre Dame football's recruiting efforts.
(Note: All rankings are via the 247Sports Composite.)
2026 safety Joey O'Brien
This is a big visit for the Irish, as the 6-foot, 3-inch and 185-pound star is the No. 65 overall prospect. O'Brien is set to make his commitment on June 20th, and as of right now, he doesn't have any other trips planned. It's a battle between Oregon, Clemson, Penn State and Notre Dame, and we'll find out soon where the talented safety lands.
2026 tight end Evan Jacobson
The Wisconsin tight end changed up his schedule, as Mike Singer reports that Auburn and Florida State are out, and replaced by Notre Dame and Iowa State. You have to like how this one is playing out for the Irish, as the 6-foot, 7-inch and 220-pounder has the potential to be very good. Jacobson, the No. 274 ranked player, has already taken visits to Texas A&M, Missouri and Stanford, but still needs more time to make up his mind.
2026 defensive tackle Alister Vallejo commits to Michigan
While the Irish have multiple guys committed on the defensive line, they don't have a true interior player in that group yet. Vallejo has good size at 6-foot, 3-inches and 310-pounds and Notre Dame would have loved to beat out Michigan in this one, but you can't win them all.
2026 wide receiver Kaydon Finley
Singer again reporting that Finley will make a commitment on July 4th, less than a month from now. The 6-foot and 200-pound receiver will be on campus for his official visit this weekend, so the Irish will have a final chance to show him why South Bend is the best option. The nation's No. 110 player still has an official to Texas for next weekend, so this one is far from over.
What to make of this
Losing Vallejo isn't ideal, but they do have Tiki Hola committed at the moment. It's his size that separates him, and it'll be hard to find a replacement for that. The O'Brien news is very encouraging, especially considering the timing of the situation. It does seem like Notre Dame has some ground to make up, but they could push themselves to the top after this weekend. Same goes for the Finley verbal date, and Jacobson's change of plans, as they can also be viewed as good developments for the Irish.
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