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Elite Texas OT recruit Felix Ojo includes Notre Dame football in his top eight

Kyle Kellyby:Kyle Kelly•about 9 hours•

ByKyleKelly

Felix Ojo 7 copy 1.jpg
Mansfield (Texas) Lake Ridge 2026 OT Felix Ojo.

The Notre Dame football program is one of eight teams still standing for elite four-star offensive tackle Felix Ojo from Mansfield (Texas) Lake Ridge. 

On Thursday, the 6-foot-7, 274-pound Ojo announced his top eight schools in college football recruitment with On3 national recruiting reporter Hayes Fawcett. The Fighting Irish, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Ohio State and Texas are still contenders for the top 50 recruit in the 2026 class. 

According to the On3 Industry Ranking — a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services — Ojo is the No. 46 overall player, No. 5 offensive tackle nationally and No. 8 player in Texas in the high school junior class. 

Of the eight schools Ojo is considering closely, Notre Dame was his most recent scholarship offer. Irish offensive line coach Joe Rudolph offered him Jan. 27 after stopping by high school. 

Though Notre Dame was the 45th school to offer Ojo, he told Blue & Gold on Jan. 29 that the Irish had a great shot to take a spot on his upcoming top schools’ list. He stayed true to his word. 

“It’s because of the way Coach Rudolph approached me and this recruitment,” he said. “We’ve had one-on-one conversations. He will develop me I know if I do go there. I have a genuine shot to compete for a starting job when I get there. Coach Rudolph’s demeanor as a person and coach sets them apart from many of the other schools that are recruiting me.” 

Notre Dame made Ojo’s top schools over schools like SMU, Alabama and Baylor, all of whom he has unofficially visited. Auburn, Colorado, Florida State, Nebraska, Oregon, Penn State, Southern Cal and Tennessee also missed the cut.

A look at Notre Dame football’s 2026 offensive line class

With about 10 months until 2026 signing day, the Irish have already secured three verbal commitments on the offensive line.

Mechanicsburg (Pa.) Cumberland Valley four-star offensive lineman Tyler Merrill, the highest-ranked recruit on Notre Dame’s 2026 class commit list, was the most recent one. Merrill, the No. 84 overall player and No. 5 interior offensive lineman, pledged to the Irish on Jan. 30, five days after unofficially visiting campus for a junior day.

About a month before Merrill’s declaration, Davison (Mich.) High four-star prospect Ben Nichols announced in favor of Notre Dame on Christmas Eve. The 6-5, 315-pound Nichols is the No. 228 overall player and No. 16 interior offensive lineman nationally.

Allegan (Mich.) High three-star Sullivan Garvin was the first commit. He committed to Notre Dame on Dec. 5. The 6-6, 300-pound Garvin is the No. 406 overall player and No. 38 interior offensive lineman in the class.

Nichols and Garvin rank as the Nos. 3 and 7 players in Michigan, respectively, while Merrill is the No. 2 recruit in Pennsylvania.

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