Notre Dame signee Will Black ranked as No. 4 prospect in final 2025 On300

After a season that saw them make the College Football Playoff, Notre Dame is bringing in one of the nation’s best recruiting classes as well.

Marcus Freeman’s latest crop ranks No. 12 nationally, and it is headlined by one of the best players in America: five-star offensive lineman Will Black. The Wallingford (Conn.) native was ranked as the No. 4 overall prospect in the country on Thursday in On3’s final 2025 recruiting rankings, cementing his status as the nation’s top offensive tackle.

Black, who moved to the United States to attend boarding school prior to his junior season, shot up the rankings over the summer and has remained there after a strong senior campaign. He closed out his high school career with an invite to the Navy All-American Bowl, where he was one of the top performers, according to On3’s Charles Power.

“He was very consistent over the week and stood out in 11-on-11 periods, culminating in a strong showing in Saturday’s game. The Irish pledge worked out of position at right tackle for the East team. And he looked increasingly comfortable as the week wore on. At 6-foot-7 and around 300 pounds, Black has an elite combination of size and movement skills. His reactive quickness and ability to effortlessly work to the second level as a run blocker project very well to the next level. We saw this on display during Saturday’s game. Black looked to hold up the best of the offensive tackles on either team.

… The Canada native got reps on both sides of the line and was particularly good while working at left tackle – his more natural spot. Black will need to add strength, but Fighting Irish signee showed high-end traits and upside in San Antonio.”

Black will look to continue the elite OL play in South Bend

He becomes the latest in a recent string of top-notch offensive line to play their college years for the Fighting Irish and will look to be a bookend tackle for Marcus Freeman and Co.

He chose the Irish over Michigan, Alabama, Georgia and the Nittany Lions among others.

Freeman and offensive line coach Joe Rudolph struck a chord with Black throughout his recruiting process. And those budding relationships helped him pull the trigger on his pledge last winter.

“I’ve built a great relationship with the coaches (Rudolph and Freeman) and I really believe in them and think they can develop me into the best player I can be,” Black told On3 at the time. “Notre Dame is known for producing offensive linemen. The academics at Notre Dame are great and set you up for life after football. They have a great culture at Notre Dame and I believe I’m a great fit there.”