Irish trending for a five-star? Five things we learned about Notre Dame recruiting in March

A slew of early spring visitors has helped the Notre Dame football program build some fan-desired momentum on the recruiting trail during the month of March. It has not produced any immediate pledges. However, the Fighting Irish are getting close to bolstering their 2026 recruiting class because of their efforts last month.

Here is a look at how it could happen with five things we learned about Notre Dame football recruiting in March.

Notre Dame makes major move for a five-star recruit

On March 21, the Irish hosted Charlotte (N.C.) Myers Park recruit Rodney Dunham, the No. 19 overall player and No. 3 EDGE in the 2026 class. It was the 6-foot-4, 215-pound Dunham’s first trip to South Bend since last spring. 

Between Dunham’s first and last Notre Dame visits, he made at least 10 other unofficial visits across six other schools. However, the Irish quickly recaptured his attention during his return trip and began trending on the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM) for the No. 3 prospect in North Carolina. 

“It could potentially be a good fit,” Dunham’s father, Rodney Dunham Sr., told Blue & Gold. “They have a great academic program that he’s interested in. That’s why Notre Dame is a finalist on the list.” 

On March 25, Dunham revealed an April 10 commitment date. He’ll choose between Duke, Georgia, Notre Dame, South Carolina and Tennessee. 

Irish trending upward for top-100 recruit in Texas

The Irish also welcomed Forney (Texas) High four-star running back Javian Osborne — No. 97 overall player and No. 8 running back in 2026 —  to town the same week as Dunham. Osborne’s March 18 visit was the first time the 5-9, 195-pounder saw Notre Dame. He left campus with the Irish leading the charge in his recruitment. 

“Man, it’s so different,” Osborne told Blue & Gold on March 21. “It’s so different from every other school because of its prestige and history. Especially being in the stadium, the history of it. Just seeing the different accolades of the coaches and stuff. Honestly, it’s different and probably the best, I think, hands down, the best visit I’ve been on.” 

On Monday, Osborne announced he’s down to Notre Dame and Michigan. Blue & Gold has logged a pick in the RPM for the Irish to secure his pledge. 

Notre Dame’s Pot of Gold Day a major hit with 2027 class recruits

Since Marcus Freeman became head coach, the Irish have waited until March 17 to extend most scholarship offers to high school sophomores. They call their St. Patrick’s Day-themed recruiting blitz “Pot of Gold Day.” This year, it was bigger than ever. 

About 95 2027 class recruits reported a new Notre Dame offer, surpassing last year’s total by at least 10 new offers. The Irish have already received interest from six newly offered recruits by hosting them on campus in March. Blue & Gold expects at least seven others on campus by the end of the month. 

Irish announce the addition of three new recruiting staffers 

Before the Dame began spring practice on March 19, it announced several updates to its football personnel, including three new additions: Jourdan Blake, Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa and Ariella Ellis. Blake and Ellis are new faces on campus, while Tagovailoa-Amosa earned a spot on the staff four years after his Irish playing career concluded. 

Blake, who served as assistant director of high school relations at Colorado, is Notre Dame’s new director of player personnel. Ellis takes over as director of on-campus recruiting after serving as director of football operations at Virginia State. Tagovailoa-Amosa left his defensive graduate assistant position at LSU to become Notre Dame’s director of recruiting advancement. 

In addition to the trio of new hires, the Irish promoted Carter Auman from assistant to the general manager to director of recruiting. Director of on-campus recruiting Becca Sites is now the director of recruiting operations. 

Linebacker recruiting is starting to take shape 

In the 2026 class, Notre Dame has already received a verbal commitment from one linebacker recruit: Matthews (N.C.) Weddington four-star Thomas Davis Jr. He is the On3 Industry Ranking’s No. 166 overall player, No. 9 linebacker nationally and No. 9 prospect in North Carolina. 

The Irish also remain well-positioned for Cincinnati St. Xavier three-star Kobe Clapper, the No. 19 recruit in Ohio and No. 28 linebacker in the country in the class. He returned to Notre Dame on Friday after last visiting for the program’s junior day recruiting event Jan. 25.

Irish linebackers coach Max Bullough extended to new offers despite the potential Davis and Clapper tandem. Plano (Texas) HSAA’s Jordan Davis and Chandler (Ariz.) Hamilton’s Beau Jandrea both announced scholarships from Notre Dame in March. 

Jandrea, a three-star prospect who ranks as the No. 11 recruit in Arizona and No. 59 linebacker in America, expressed immediate interest in the Irish and scheduled an unofficial visit to South Bend for April 19. Davis is also working to get to South Bend. He is also a three-star who is the No. 110 player in the Lone Star State and No. 62 safety in the nation.