Long-term opportunity leads to TE committing to Notre Dame

Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman. Matt Cashore-Imagn Images

Long-term opportunity leads to TE Preston Fryzel committing to Notre Dame

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Jun 23, 2025 11:57 AM ET

Preston Fryzel is a three-star tight end recruit from Toledo, Ohio (Central Catholic). He's one of the top tight end recruits in the nation, and he boasts nearly 30 offers to his name.

Fryzel is coming off a run of official visits that saw him visit with Minnesota, Duke, Notre Dame and then Iowa. Miami was also pursuing him strongly.

He visited Notre Dame the weekend of June 13, which was less than a month after he received his offer from the Fighting Irish. He had taken an unofficial visit to South Bend earlier in June as well, so there was absolutely a full-court press put on by Marcus Freeman and his staff.

That paid off in a big way because Fryzel is now committed to the Fighting Irish, per On3's Hayes Fawcett.

BREAKING: Class of 2026 TE Preston Fryzel has Committed to Notre Dame, he tells me for @on3recruits

The 6’4 220 TE from Toledo, OH chose the Fighting Irish over Iowa & Miami

“The Golden Standard chose me, South Bend I’m Home Go Irish !! ☘️☘️”https://t.co/W1KsQcYM2I pic.twitter.com/qAweIaFV0y
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 23, 2025

According to 247Sports, Fryzel is the No. 23 tight end in the 2026 class. Notre Dame is obviously a great football fit for a top recruit, but part of the reason he decided to commit to the Fighting Irish was because of the long-term off-field opportunities they'll help him with as well.

"What stood out to me is how close the guys are to each other and how they prepare you for life after football," he told Allen Trieu of 247Sports after his official visit.

Fryzel checks in at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, which is elite size for a tight end not even in college yet. As a junior at Central Catholic, he caught 43 passes for 807 yards and 10 touchdowns, so he profiles as a strong receiving threat as well.

With his commitment, the Fighting Irish now have 20 recruits, and their 2026 class remains elite. Only USC and Texas A&M have higher-ranked 2026 recruiting classes.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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