The Notre Dame football team is fresh off a commitment from one of the best defensive lineman in the 2026 class with the pledge of Ebenezer Ewetade. It looks like they’re on the cusp of getting at least one more.
The Fighting Irish have recently been predicted as the front runner for a defensive lineman that would mean a win over the SMU Mustangs and more importantly, the USC Trojans. The idea that Marcus Freeman and company could win a recruiting battle over a team that has caused them plenty of pain over the last couple of months.
Things are looking up for the Notre Dame football team on the recruiting front though. And by all accounts the situation is only going to get better as we move further into the spring and then the summer. That includes a recent prediction for the Irish to land Tiki Hola. On3 analyst Mike Singer put in the prediction on Monday evening and Hola is expected to pull the trigger in just over a month.
The Bastrop, Texas defender ranks as the No. 377 overall player and No. 35 defensive lineman in America according to the 2026 On3 Industry Ranking.
Hola has said he will commit on May 10 Hola and the four-star prospect is expected to choose between Notre Dame, SMU and USC.
While the Trojans have been on a recruiting run of late, there is some talk inside the industry that USC is not actually that strong a contender for the 6-2.5, 285 pound prospect. It’s expected that his choice will eventually come down to the Irish and the Mustangs.
It’s worth pointing out that 247Sports analyst Eric Thomas has also put in a prediction, with his Crystal Ball also predicting Tiki Hola to end up a member of the Notre Dame football team.