Defensive Lineman Elijah Golden Commits To Notre Dame

Notre Dame has added yet another major player to its 2026 recruiting class by landing a commitment from Sarasota (Fla.) Cardinal Mooney defensive lineman Elijah Golden. Adding Golden to the class is the perfect way to close out what is an elite defensive line haul. Notre Dame beat out Alabama, Oklahoma and Virginia Tech to land this big time defensive tackle.

Golden has been a top Notre Dame target for over two years, with defensive line coach Al Washington making him a top priority all the way back to the summer of 2023. That is when Golden made his first visit to campus, and it was clear coming out of that trip that Notre Dame wanted him as part of the 2026 class. Washington stayed patient and played the long game with Golden, and it has paid off with the Cardinal Mooney standout becoming the final important piece to an elite 2026 defensive line class that includes elite ends Rodney Dunham and Ebenezer Ewetade, and talented Texas big man Tiki Hola.

When Golden first became a top Notre Dame target he was playing at IMG Academy, but he transferred to Cardinal Mooney for the 2024 season. The 6-4, 270-pound lineman was a star for the Cougars. Golden finished his junior season with 61 tackles, 29 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.

Golden earned a 5.0-star upside grade on the Irish Breakdown board. He's also ranked as the No. 85 overall player in the country according to ESPN and he's ranked No. 113 overall on the 247Sports rankings.

Landing Golden gives Notre Dame 27 commits in the 2026 class. He joins Dunham, Ewetade, Hola, Florida quarterback Noah Grubbs, Texas running back Javian Osborne, Georgia running back Jonaz Walton, Texas wide receivers Kaydon Finley and Brayden Robinson, Georgia wide receiver Bubba Frazier, Arizona wide receiver Devin Fitzgerald, Florida wide receiver Dylan Faison, Iowa tight end Ian Premer, Ohio tight end Preston Fryzel, Michigan offensive linemen Ben Nichols, Gregory Patrick and Sullivan Garvin, Pennsylvania offensive linemen Tyler Merrill and Grayson McKeogh, Connecticut offensive lineman Charlie Thom, North Carolina linebacker Thomas Davis Jr., Ohio linebacker Jakobe Clapper, Pennsylvania safety Joey O'Brien, North Carolina safety Nick Reddish, Maryland cornerback Khary Adams, Tennessee cornerback Chaston Smith and Florida cornerback Ayden Pouncey.

Golden received offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, Texas, Clemson, Florida State, Oklahoma, Michigan, Florida, Penn State, Texas A&M, Miami (Fla.), Oregon, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Washington, Michigan State, Auburn, Louisville, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Illinois, Pittsburgh, Colorado, Syracuse, West Virginia, Virginia, NC State, Indiana, Duke, Stanford, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest and Maryland.

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