Notre Dame football finds some brotherly love with latest commit

The Notre Dame football team entered Monday night with the top 2025 class in the 247Sports rankings with its 13 commits. They will exit the night with the top 2025 class in those rankings and a 14th commit. And it’s only January 15.

Commit number 14 is none other than Josiah “Ko’o” Kiah, who gave his pledge to the Fighting Irish after a weekend visit that apparently went perfectly. It can’t have hurt that he was able to check out South Bend with his older brother in tow.

Kahanu Kia is officially back after a two-year mission trip, and he’s ready to pick up where he left off. He’ll also now have the peace of mind of knowing that his brother - who is a linebacker just like the elder Kia - will be following in his footsteps.

Of course, getting to play with his brother is obviously a nice bonus for the 3-star prospect, but he made it clear in his visit that it was his relationship with the coaches and the Notre Dame football program itself that really sold him.

"Their pitch is that Notre Dame is a special place that's incomparable to anywhere else,” Kia told Rivals’ Adam Gorney right after he committed.

Notre Dame football wins recruiting battle for Honolulu linebacker

One of the most interesting things about reeling in this particular commitment is that Kia visited South Bend during a period of time when most of the midwest is facing record low temperatures.

Despite that fact, the 3-star linebacker picked Notre Dame football over plenty of West Coast programs who would have offered climates that were at least a little closer to what he’s used to in Honolulu.

Arizona, Arizona State, Cal and USC had all come calling for the talented prospect. However, none of them could convince him to head anywhere else but Notre Dame.