Defensive Tackle Tiki Hola Commits To Notre Dame

Notre Dame has landed yet another big time football player with Bastrop (Texas) High School standout Tiki Hola announcing his commitment to the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame beat out USC and SMU to land the talented defensive tackle.

Notre Dame has been recruiting Hola for about two years, with his first visit to campus coming in 2023 when he watched the Fighting Irish beat Wake Forest (45-7). In March of 2024, Hola was officially offered a scholarship by Notre Dame during its Pot of Gold push. A week later he made his second visit to campus, and since then Hola has made two more trips to campus as the Irish. Defensive line coach Al Washington established a strong rapport with Hola, selling his vision for how the Bastrop star fits in the Irish defense, and that played a major role in this decision.

The Texas defensive lineman is listed at 6-3 and between 270-285 pounds, but he checked in recently at 6-3 and 300 pounds. As a junior, Hola racked up 102 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, two sacks, forced three fumbles and recovered two fumbles. He earned Defensive MVP honors after putting together that dominant season. Hola also earned first-team All-State honors at the 5A level. Landing Hola gives Notre Dame the kind of physical, stout, disruptive big man that could help improve the Irish run defense.

Hola is ranked as a Top 150 caliber prospect on the Irish Breakdown board, but he has a 4.5-star upside grade, which is that of a Top 50-75 prospect. ESPN and Rivals both rank Hola as a four-star recruit, with ESPN ranking him as the nation's No. 150 overall player and No. 12 defensive tackle.

Hola also had offers from Georgia, Texas, LSU, Michigan, Oregon, Texas A&M, Miami (Fla.), Tennessee, Nebraska, TCU, Oklahoma State, Arizona State, Texas Tech, Baylor, Boston College, Arizona and Houston.

Hola is the 15th player to commit to Notre Dame. He joins Florida quarterback Noah Grubbs, Texas running back Javian Osborne, Florida wide receiver Dylan Faison, Georgia wide receiver Bubba Frazier, Pennsylvania offensive lineman Tyler Merrill, Michigan offensive linemen Ben Nichols, Gregory Patrick and Sullivan Garvin, North Carolina ends Ebenezer Ewetade and Rodney Dunham, North Carolina linebacker Thomas Davis Jr., Ohio linebacker Jakobe Clapper, Florida cornerback Ayden Pouncey and Tennessee cornerback Chaston Smith.