It’s safe to say that 2026 has been one heck of a roller coaster ride for Notre Dame football commit Jackson Hill. After flipping from UCLA and pledging to the Fighting Irish, it’s a safe bet that the 3-star offensive lineman was on top of the world. After suffering an in-game injury that could have far-reaching implications beyond this season, he’s most likely feeling pretty low.
On Sunday night, Los Angeles Times reporter Eric Sondheimer reported that Hill underwent knee surgery and is expected to miss the rest of the season. The end of the season also means that the offensive lineman’s high school career is over. Now the big worry is that Hill’s freshman year with Notre Dame might already be over as well.
The 6-foot-6.5, 300-pound Hill is considered one of the best offensive tackles in the country and the No. 33 player in the state of California in the 2027 class. He was one of the crowning jewels of O-line coach Joe Rudolph’s latest haul, joining the likes of Oluwasemilore Olubobola, Albert Simien, James Halter, and Richie Flanigan.
The victory by Notre Dame in the recruiting fight for Hill was especially sweet because the Fighting Irish were able to flip him away from UCLA, a school that was just 30 miles away from his home. In the end, geography was overcome by how Hill felt about the culture fit.
“Notre Dame came around, and it was right in the middle of the recruiting season. It was kind of out of nowhere. The recruiter came by, and he said Notre Dame wanted me to visit, and we booked last-minute flights,” Hill told Rivals after he flipped to the Irish. In the end, Hill visited South Bend and realized his personality meshed well with Rudolph and his charges.
Notre Dame commit Jackson Hill’s injury is also a hit to his development
Outside of just how long the recovery from this knee surgery will take, the injury is also a blow to the development of a monster-sized prospect who is still pretty new to the sport. Hill had never played football before his freshman year at Chaminade Preparatory School. Before then, he’d focused most of his attention on playing baseball.
Just two games into his senior year, Hill clearly has a mountain of talent, but the lost season will almost certainly be a bit of a hit in development. He can sit, learn, and be coached while he recovers, but none of that can replace facing opponents in the trenches.
Jackson Hill’s roller-coaster year took a heck of a hit over the weekend. The goal now will be to heal up and get ready for the start of his career with Notre Dame, and hope he can shrug off the injury setback quickly.
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