Five-star EDGE Rodney Dunham commits to Notre Dame football

Charlotte (N.C.) Myers Park class of 2026 five-star EDGE Rodney Dunham has announced his commitment to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He made the news public at his high school on Thursday afternoon.

“I’d always go on a visit and compare each school to Notre Dame and say it doesn’t give everything Notre Dame has,” Dunham told On3’s Steve Wiltfong about his decision. “There is only one place like Notre Dame and it’s Notre Dame. I grew up and realized the cold doesn’t matter. I have to play in the cold some day. Then I picked the school for me.

Dunham visited Notre Dame last spring, shortly after receiving his scholarship offer from the Irish on Pot of Gold Day. Though he didn’t return to South Bend until 11 months later, it did not take Notre Dame long to recapture its early momentum. He was in town March 21 for a trip that went incredibly well and directly led to his commitment.

The 6-4, 225-pounder picked the Fighting Irish over finalists Duke, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee. The likes of Alabama, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State and Oregon were also on his long scholarship sheet.

Notre Dame’s coaching staff was key in the Fighting Irish landing Dunham, who ranks as the nation’s No. 19 overall player and No. 3 EDGE according to the 2026 On3 Industry Ranking. Head coach Marcus Freeman, defensive line coach Al Washington and defensive line analyst Nick Sebastian all played important roles in getting Dunham on their commit list.

“He seems to be just a genuine person,” Dunham’s father, Rodney Sr., recently told Blue & Gold’s Kyle Kelly about Freeman. “Very genuine. He speaks what he believes, and that’s very important.

“Head coaches like to have like-minded assistants. Al’s a very genuine, down-to-earth guy. He seems to be a good family man. The thing that stood out most is that he’s a teacher. He’s extremely detailed. 

“We sat in on one of the meetings. I’ve been in some other team room meetings, and Coach Washington is extremely detailed. Down to every twitch, every move. That’s really good. A great guy who’s genuine and open.” 

Dunham is Notre Dame’s ninth commitment in the 2026 class and second defensive line verbal, joining Garner (N.C.) South Garner’s Ebenezer Ewetade, who committed to the Irish last Saturday and ranks as the No. 128 overall player and No. 18 EDGE according to the 2026 On3 Industry Ranking.

Going back to the 2004 cycle and using the On3 Industry Ranking, Dunham’s current ranking (No. 19 national, No. 3 EDGE) is the highest of a Notre Dame player listed as an EDGE or defensive lineman since 2011 when the Irish signed Aaron Lynch (No. 16 national, No. 3 EDGE).

Lynch, Ishaq Williams and Stephon Tuitt signed with Notre Dame that year and were all On3 Industry Ranking five-star prospects. The Irish have not signed a five-star defensive line/EDGE prospect since then. Dunham currently ranks as one, but there’s no guarantee he’ll keep five-star status by the end of the cycle.

The Rodney Dunham file

During his junior campaign in 2024, Dunham posted 39 tackles, including 10 stops for loss, 5 sacks, 16 quarterback hurries and a forced fumble and fumble recovery. He had a strong season in 2023 too, recording 54 stops (16 for loss), 6 sacks, 20 quarterback hurries, 3 interceptions, 3 passes batted down and a field goal block.

Dunham, who is already committed to playing in the 2026 Navy All-American Bowl, was The Charlotte Observer’s 2024 preseason football defensive player of the year in Mecklenburg County.

He was named to the 2024 and 2023 Southern Mecklenburg 4A All-Conference Team. He was also a member of HighSchoolOT’s All-Region team for 2024.

His first scholarship offer came from East Carolina in April 2023. He was in Durham to see the Fighting Irish beat Duke back that fall, and Notre Dame was his fifth scholarship offer for Pot of Gold Day last March.

Dunham is also an outstanding baseball player and has been clocked throwing in the 90 mph range as a right-handed pitcher. The following is from HighSchoolOT from Dunham’s sophomore baseball season: Dunham pitched in seven games with Myers Park’s varsity baseball team, finishing with a 3-0 win-loss record and a 1.75 ERA. He had 10 strikeouts, 10 walks, and gave up six hits. Myers Park finished with a 20-6 overall record after losing to Charlotte Catholic in the second round of the NCHSAA 4A West playoffs.

His older brother, Emiere Scaife, played tight end and quarterback at Georgia State.