Top-100 RB recruit Brian Bonner names Notre Dame to top five schools list
On Thursday, the Notre Dame football program learned its competition for one of its top running back targets in the 2026 cycle.
Valencia (Calif.) High four-star Brian Bonner announced his top-five schools with On3 national recruiting reporter Hayes Fawcett. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Bonner is down to Fighting Irish, Nebraska, Penn State, UCLA and Washington.
Bonner, a top-100 overall recruit in the class, narrowed his recruitment after announcing a top eight on Feb. 25. Georgia, Michigan and Stanford were on that list but did not make the cut on his most updated one.
Seventeen other Power Four programs have offered him a scholarship, including Southern Cal, Oregon, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Auburn. But like the Bulldogs, Wolverines and Cardinals, Bonner is no longer considering those schools.
According to the On3 Industry Ranking — a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services — Bonner is the No. 99 overall player, No. 7 running back nationally and No. 14 recruit in California in the 2026 class.
In On3’s rankings, spearheaded by director of rankings and scouting Charles Power and national scout Cody Bellaire, Bonner is the No. 9 prospect in the Golden State, No. 4 player at his position and No. 55 overall recruit in 2026.
Where does Notre Dame stand for top-100 running back recruit Brian Bonner?
The Irish offered Bonner a scholarship on Feb. 15, three days before they officially announced the hiring of new running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider. When Seider was at Penn State, he offered Bonner on June 5.
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Notre Dame’s collective interest in the top running back recruit out West comes after his remarkable junior season. In 11 games, he rushed for 1,493 yards and 25 touchdowns on 197 carries (7.6 yards per carry). He also caught 40 passes for 498 yards and 4 more scores.
The Valencia Vikings also used Bonner’s blazing speed on special teams. He returned 14 kicks for 443 yards, averaging 31.6 yards per return, and scored two kick return touchdowns.
On March 28, Notre Dame welcomed him to campus for the first time. The Irish made a notable move for him coming out of the trip.
“My experience at Notre Dame was great,” Bonner told On3 vice president of recruiting and transfer portal Steve Wiltfong. “They moved up my list a ton. My favorite thing about the Irish that stands out is the education I can receive.”
Bonner will return to South Bend on an official visit the weekend of June 20. He will also officially visit Washington (April 25), UCLA (May 15), Nebraska (June 6) and Penn State (June 13).
