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Notre Dame priority recruit drops a commitment update, and it could be bad news for the Fighting Irish

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Ryan Roberts | Last updated Jul 17, 2025 2:26 PM ET

With the recruiting trend that head coach Marcus Freeman and the Notre Dame staff have been on in the 2026 class, everyone knows who the potential final piece for an elite group is. Sarasota (Fla.) Cardinal Mooney defensive tackle Elijah Golden has been a player the Fighting Irish have valued heavily for a very long time, and they have seemingly been in a great spot for several weeks.

With a commitment date set for July 26th, Golden was going to pick between Notre Dame, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Virginia Tech. The Crimson Tide had been making things interesting, but the momentum was very firmly on the side of the Fighting Irish. Sources on that side have been very optimistic about their chances to close down the stretch.

There was a bit of news on Thursday, and it might not be so good for Notre Dame. 247Sports national recruiting analyst Tom Loy reported that Golden has pushed back his commitment date to August 9th at 3:30 PM Eastern time.

Update:

Top247 DL Elijah Golden is pushing back his commitment, one that was scheduled for July.

He will now announce AUGUST 9 at 3:30 PM ET.

The announcement will still air live on the 247Sports YouTube Channel.

* Alabama
* Notre Dame
* Oklahoma
* Virginia Tech

VIP:… pic.twitter.com/O6kTOvlPYG
— Tom Loy (@TomLoy247) July 17, 2025

This isn't necessarily a death sentence for Notre Dame's chances with Golden, but anytime commitment dates are pushed back, that isn't great news for the assumed leader. That now gives a team like Alabama the chance to make a late push. In the wonderful world of recruiting, things can change quickly. The Fighting Irish will need to hold on down the stretch.

Golden is currently rated as the No. 113 overall player and No. 16 defensive lineman in the 2026 recruiting class according to the 247Sports rating. That ranking also has Golden rated as the No. 13 player in the state of Florida, a hotbed for talent each and every year. The 247Sports Composite ranking also has him pegged as the No. 184 overall player and No. 26 defensive lineman in the class.

After playing high school football for IMG Academy in 2023, Golden played at Cardinal Mooney as a junior this past season. In 11 games that he played, Golden managed to collect 61 total tackles, 29 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks. Golden also had eight more quarterback hurries and a pass breakup for the defense.

The recruiting rankings are impressive, as is his offer list, and production. At 6-3 and 275 pounds, Golden also has the ideal frame to eventually develop into a playmaking three technique on the next level. His combination of raw size, movement skills, and upside is impressive.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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