Four-star LB Thomas Davis Jr. explains early commitment to Notre Dame

The Notre Dame coaching staff got the call it wanted Monday night from Matthews (N.C.) Weddington class of 2026 linebacker Thomas Davis Jr.. The four-star prospect picked up his phone to commit to the Fighting Irish.

He spoke with Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, defensive coordinator Al Golden, linebackers coach Max Bullough, general manager Chad Bowden and assistant general manager Carter Auman to inform them of his decision to commit.

“They were pumped up,” Davis told Blue & Gold.

Notre Dame offered Davis a scholarship back in March for its Pot of Gold day event, which falls annually on St. Patrick’s Day. The staff offers several dozen high school sophomore recruits on that day.

Davis visited South Bend a couple weeks after receiving the offer, and at that point, the Fighting Irish became the team to beat in his recruitment, but it was still early in his process. He returned to campus at the end of July for the staff’s annual “Grill and Chill” event for rising juniors, and Davis started to think about calling Notre Dame his home for his collegiate future.

Notre Dame trip No. 3 took place Nov. 9 when Davis, who ranks as the nation’s No. 177 overall player and No. 14 linebacker in America per the 2026 On3 Industry Ranking, saw the Irish destroy Florida State, 52-3. It was during that visit that he knew he wanted to pick the Irish.

“Sitting down and talking one-on-one with Coach Freeman,” Davis said when asked about the moment he realized he’d be committing. “It just felt right, felt like home. I’ve been wanting to commit for a while, but now I’m finally 100 percent.”

What was it about Notre Dame that made it “feel like home?”

“It’s just a family feeling,” he answered. “Being in the locker room and around the guys up there, you can tell the chemistry is great. There’s no individualism; it’s a real team. They have good things going on up there.”

Davis got his recruiting process started very early, receiving his first offer back in the spring of 2022, before he played a snap of football at the high school level. So, he had been going through the process longer than most in his class and was ready to make an early commitment.

“I want to be a leader in this class and help it to be the best class in the country,” he said.

Two of Davis’ cousins — defensive linemen Aiden and Andrew Harris — are also four-star prospects in the 2026 class. They’ve all taken some college recruiting visits together, and it’s possible that Davis could continue to hit some game day trips elsewhere and what not before he signs with Notre Dame. But he’s adamant that Irish fans have nothing to worry about.

“Regardless of where I go [on visits] with my cousins or anything like that, I’m locked in with Notre Dame,” he said. “There won’t be another school. I’m locked in.”

During his sophomore season in which he played a key part in Weddington winning the Class 4A North Carolina state championship, Davis totaled 92 stops (13.5 tackles for loss), 1 sack, 7 quarterback hurries, 1 interception, 8 pass break ups and 1 forced fumble in 2023.

“I’m a hard worker and respectful young man,” he said. “I’m going to do the best job I can to build up this class to the best.”

Notre Dame sees Davis as a versatile linebacker who can play all over its defensive front.

“It seems like when the moment gets bigger, Thomas plays better,” Weddington head coach Andy Capone said. “Sometimes, he seems to be in the right place at the right time. … But he puts himself in those situations because of his instincts. He’s never shied away from making a big play.” 

Davis is the son of former NFL linebacker Thomas Davis Sr. The elder Davis played 16 years in the NFL, mostly with the Carolina Panthers. He had a terrific pro career coming out of Georgia as a first-round draft choice, reaching the Pro Bowl three times and earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2015.