How Notre Dame’s Unstoppable June Surge Is Shaking Up the Recruiting World

Tight end Ian Premer’s commitment was huge because he would be the program’s highest-ranked tight end addition since Cane Berrong in the 2021 cycle. And, again, ND isn’t done. Wide receivers Kaydon Finley, Devin Fitzgerald and Brayden Robinson will announce their commitments later this week, and the Irish are firmly involved with all three pass-catchers.

• Notre Dame’s 2026 recruiting class is ranked No. 3 by ESPN after a huge June.

The latest praise for the Fighting Irish came courtesy of ESPN, which lauded Marcus Freeman and his staff for putting together an elite haul throughout the month of June. And the Irish aren’t done.ESPN currently has the ND 2026 class ranked No. 3, and it’s a haul that features 11 ESPN 300 pledges since April 1. This is recruiting in South Bend that hasn’t been seen since the peak Lou Holtz years.There’s a buzz swirling in the world of college football recruiting, and Notre Dame is firmly at the epicenter of it all. After a whirlwind month of June that saw the Fighting Irish make waves by snagging some elite talent, ESPN has now placed their 2026 recruiting class at an impressive No. 3 nationally. This isn’t just your average recruiting story — it’s a masterclass in persistence, strategy, and sheer recruiting savvy by Marcus Freeman and his crew. As the summer officially visits wrap up, the excitement is palpable; with 33 of the nation’s top 100 prospects still weighing their options, July promises another flurry of commitments. The Irish’s recent victories over powerhouse programs in landing cornerbacks, safeties, and a highly touted tight end signal a recruiting renaissance that harkens back to golden eras. And truth be told, the momentum isn’t just a flash in the pan — there’s more action to come, and South Bend is once again a hotspot for football’s next wave of stars. LEARN MORE

A very active recruiting period is coming to a close, and Notre Dame consistently made national headlines for the boatload of talent it was able to draw into its class of 2026.Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

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The Irish beat out Michigan, Oregon and Penn State for cornerback Khary Adams on June 20, then outlasted the Ducks, Nittany Lions and Clemson for safety Joey O’Brien on the same day. The 2026 defensive back class also includes top-200 safety Ayden Pouncey. At No. 28 overall, Adams is Notre Dame’s top-ranked commit.Thirty-three of the nation’s top 100 prospects are still uncommitted, but that won’t last forever with official visit season coming to a close. We are expected to see a ton of commitments in July, and there is no doubt Notre Dame was a recruiting winner in June.