Ranking the most important Notre Dame 2026 recruiting targets remaining on the board for the Fighting Irish staff

Head coach Marcus Freeman and the Notre Dame program are cleaning up right now on the recruiting trail. The 2026 recruiting class is coming together quickly, and there are only a few spots remaining. With such a deep understanding of the targets still on the board, there are some more important than others. 

Here is my ranking of the most important remaining targets for the Fighting Irish. It might be a small list in the 2026 class, but it is a very important group of players. 

1. WR Kaydon Finley - Aledo (Texas) High School 

There is no more important player left on the board for Notre Dame in the 2026 class than Finley. A Texas legacy, Notre Dame is hoping to hear great news on July 4th over the Longhorns and Texas A&M. Finley is the type of hight floor-ceiling wideout the team needs desperately. 

2. DT Elijah Golden - Sarasota (Fla.) Cardinal Mooney

The Notre Dame 2026 defensive line class is tremendous, especially on the edge. The interior defensive line still needs a player that can create penetration, and make some big plays. That’s what Golden projects best at, already sitting at 6-3 and 270 pounds. There isn’t a decision date set, but I feel good about the Irish right now. 

3. WR Brayden Robinson - Red Oak (Texas) High School

Some view Robinson as a luxury in this wide receiver class, but I certainly don’t. A diminutive pass catcher at 5-8 and 160 pounds, Robinson is lightning in a bottle. He is the type of wide receiver that Notre Dame needs more of. Robinson is going to be selecting between the Fighting Irish, Miami, and Arizona on July 6th. 

4. TE Evan Jacobson - Waukee (Iowa) High School

With Ian Premer and Preston Fryzel already committed in the class, Notre Dame has already hit their preceded number of tight end commits in this class. That makes Jacobson a bit of a luxury, but he is a really talented one. With how the current tight end room has some long term questions, I would personally take a third tight end in this class.

5. S Nick Reddish - Charlotte (N.C.) Independence

 The Fighting Irish already hold commitments from Joey O’Brien and Ayden Pouncey, both of whom could potentially play safety on the next level. With how deep the safety room is right now, Notre Dame could stick where they are now and be more than fine. They do, however, like Reddish a lot. 

6. WR Devin Fitzgerald - Phoenix (Ariz.) Brophy Prep 

If Finley and Robinson both do commit to Notre Dame, Notre Dame would be completely set at wide receiver if they choose to be. Fitzgerald, however, picks between the two and looks highly likely to commit to the Fighting Irish. He would be the lowest ranked wide receiver in the class for me, but brings intriguing size and catch radius to develop.