Al Washington has been on quite the heater for the Notre Dame football team. The defensive line coach scored his second big victory of the 2026 recruiting cycle on Thursday afternoon as the Fighting Irish were able to pull in Rodney Dunham.
The Irish entered the day knowing that they were considered the front runner for the 5-star lineman out of North Carolina. In fact, after his announcement, Dunham made it clear that he had decided on Notre Dame the day after he last took a visit to South Bend.
Notre Dame football lands five star lineman Rodney Dunham
Also, the event after he made his pick, he said that Washington was the big reason why he picked the Irish saying that he felt as thought he could talk to what will be his position coach about football, but also "just about life" and he felt as though he had really found a way to make a connection.
BREAKING: Five-Star EDGE Rodney Dunham has Committed to Notre Dame, he tells me for @on3recruits
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) April 10, 2025
The 6’4 230 EDGE from Charlotte, NC chose the Fighting Irish over Georgia & South Carolina
“Thank you Jesus✝️”https://t.co/Upi6IKFVXj pic.twitter.com/vkBoma42Rl
The Notre Dame football staff is obviously ecstatic about landing the defender, being the highest ranked signing or commitment, according to 247Sports since defensive back Kyle Hamilton.
Dunham is obviously also the highest ranked commit of the 2026 class for the Irish as On3 has him ranked as the No. 3 Edge in the class and the No. 19 player overrall.
Dunham's commitment follows one from Ebenezer Ewetade earlier this month that is making this defensive line class especially look pretty special for Marcus Freeman and company.
The Notre Dame football team is in line to score at least one more big body to its front in the next few weeks as it's expected that Texas lineman Tiki Hola will commit to the Golden Domers when he makes his official announcement on May 10.