Notre Dame has its sights set on a top-five national recruiting class in the 2026 cycle, and the Fighting Irish are doing a stellar job on the defensive line.
On Saturday, Notre Dame scored a verbal pledge from 2026 four-star defensive lineman and top-100 national prospect Elijah Golden. The 6-foot-4, 275-pound Golden, who put forth an All-American junior season for his high school program in Florida, picked the Fighting Irish over Alabama, Oklahoma and Virginia Tech.
Golden told 247Sports national analyst Tom Loy that he chose Notre Dame “due to my relationship with the whole staff. They all know me and I know them. I’ve been there a lot. I love spending time with the coaches. I have a great bond with them. I feel very good about this commitment.”
With the pledge by Golden, Notre Dame is up to 27 verbal commits in the 2026 class. Currently, Notre Dame’s 2026 cycle is No. 3 overall via the industry-generated 247Sports Composite.
National analysts say that the Fighting Irish’s group of 2026 pledges on the defensive line ranks among the best in the country. Beyond Golden, Notre Dame has scored commitments from five-star edge Rodney Dunham, four-star edge Ebenezer Ewetade and four-star defensive lineman Tiki Hola.
In the 2026 class, ESPN ranks Golden at No. 85 overall and No. 9 at defensive end. The 247Sports Composite places him at No. 162 nationally and No. 23 at defensive lineman.
Golden is a standout rising senior at Cardinal Mooney High School in Sarasota, Fla. As a junior in the 2024 campaign, Golden tallied 61 tackles, 29 tackles for a loss and 10 sacks. He was named by MaxPreps to its 2024 junior All-America second team.
Last year, Cardinal Mooney went 12-1 overall and advanced to the semifinals of the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) 2A state playoffs.
In preseason rankings ahead of the 2025 campaign, Cardinal Mooney is No. 83 nationally and No. 13 in the Sunshine State, according to MaxPreps.
Golden will join a Notre Dame program, led by head coach Marcus Freeman, that is faring well these days. The Fighting Irish, an independent in college football, reached the College Football Playoff national title game in 2024.
When the preseason Coaches top-25 poll was disclosed last week, Notre Dame landed at No. 5 nationwide. The Fighting Irish opens the 2025 campaign at No. 10 Miami on Sunday, Aug. 31.
