While most Notre Dame football faithful had their attention zeroed in on the 2025 NFL Draft, it turns out Marcus Freeman and company were busy adding yet another high profile target to a 2026 recruiting class that is now easily one of the best in the country.
Not 10 minutes after defensive tackle Rylie Mills was selected in the draft, the Fighting Irish grabbed a commitment from one of the best defensive backs in the 2026 class. And in the process, one has to wonder if the Blue and Gold will be able to creep inside the Top 5.
Notre Dame football stays red hot with commitment from four-star Ayden Pouncey
The Notre Dame football team is in fact, already inside the Top 5 for 247Sports after safety Ayden Pouncey announced his commitment to the Irish. That he pulled the trigger on draft day might be a bit of foreshadowing, should he be able to continue the run he’s had in high school, all the way through college.
AYDEN POUNCEY GAME WINNING PICK.
— Overtime (@overtime) June 9, 2024
SFE ARE OFFICIALLY OT7 SEASON 3 CHAMPS. pic.twitter.com/2uzYQmwnsv
For the Irish, it’s yet another in what has been an impressive string of commitments in April. When the month started, there were some recruiting services that had them outside the Top 10. Since April began, they’ve managed to grab one high profile target after another.
Pouncey came into focus as the guy who might be next just last week when he took an unofficial visit and predictions started rolling in for him to end up in South Bend. The 4-star defensive back is considered the No. 11 safety, the No. 18 player in the state of Florida and the No. 140 player in the 2026 class according to 247Sports Composite Rankings.
He had offers from power schools like Florida State, Nebraska and Georgia. But during his visits he talked often about how important it was that the Notre Dame football program offered a real tangible path to success after his playing days were over.