Meet the Notre Dame Fighting Irish class of 2026 commitments

Get to know the class of 2026 prospects committed to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in this feature from Blue & Gold.

We have provided background info on each of the commits below (in chronological order from the newest pledge to the oldest) and will continue to update this article each time Notre Dame lands a new commitment.

Davison (Mich.) High OL Ben Nichols

Height: 6-5
Weight: 315
Commitment date: Dec. 24, 2024
On3 Ranking: No. 207 NATL, No. 17 IOL and No. 2 player from Michigan

Notre Dame’s second offensive line pledge in the 2026 class comes from a strong, massive prospect who projects on the interior for the Fighting Irish. Nichols announced his pledge to the Fighting Irish over Wisconsin, Tennessee and Penn State. The likes of Ohio State, Alabama, Florida State and Iowa were also on his offer sheet. The Irish offered him back on March 17 on Pot of Gold day and prioritized the four-star prospect the entire way.

The Michigan High School Football Coaches Association (MHSFCA) named him to its Division 1 first team in 2024. He was also first-team All-Region in Division 1, Region 2. MLive named him to its first team, Flint-Area Dream Team. 

Allegan (Mich.) High OL Sullivan Garvin

Height: 6-6
Weight: 300
Commitment date: Dec. 5, 2024
On3 Ranking: No. 25 IOL and No. 5 player from Michigan

Garvin is the first offensive lineman in the 2026 recruiting cycle to select the Irish. Garvin’s public commitment came 18 days after he visited campus for the Irish’s victory over Virginia Nov. 2024, and he gave the Notre Dame staff indication it wouldn’t be long before they’d received his pledge. Indiana, Washington, Kansas, Purdue and Cincinnati were among the other schools that offered him a scholarship.

Garvin is coming off a junior season where he earned first-team Southwestern Athletic Conference honors. The year before, he captured a spot on the honorable mention list. Garvin claimed a spot on the Michigan Division 5, Region 1 all-region team in 2024. He was also a team MVP, team captain and did not surrender any sacks. 

Chattanooga (Tenn.) McCallie School CB Chaston Smith

Height: 6-1
Weight: 170
Commitment date: Dec. 1, 2024
On3 Ranking: No. 241 NATL, No. 17 CB and No. 7 player from Tennessee

Heading into his decision date, the feeling was that he was choosing between Clemson and Texas A&M, so his selection of Notre Dame was a very welcomed surprise. Smith only visited South Bend once, and it was to see the Fighting Irish dismantle Florida State Nov. 2024. Other programs that offered Smith included Ole Miss, Tennessee, Michigan, Oregon, Auburn, Alabama, Southern Cal, Penn State, LSU, Florida, Wisconsin and Missouri. 

Smith only only played in four games as a junior before suffering a season-ending ankle injury. In those outings, he compiled 5 solo tackles, 2 pass breakups and 1 interception. Smith’s older brother, Penny, trains him. He played his collegiate football at Jacksonville State after transferring from UT-Chattanooga.

Matthews (N.C.) Weddington LB Thomas Davis Jr.

Height: 6-2
Weight: 210
Commitment date: Nov. 12, 2024
On3 Ranking: No. 30 LB and No. 23 player from North Carolina

Notre Dame has been rolling in the past couple years landing commitments from the sons of former NFL athletes, and Davis Jr. adds to that in the 2026 cycle. Notre Dame badly wanted the talented prospect in its class and was thrilled to add him shortly after he visited for the Florida State game Nov. 2024. Oregon, USC, Ohio State, Clemson, Michigan and Penn State are among the schools on Davis’ long offer list.

He is the son of former NFL linebacker Thomas Davis Sr. The elder Davis played for Georgia before playing 16 years in the NFL for the Panthers, Chargers and Washington Football Team. He was a three-time Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro in 2015.

Lake Mary (Fla.) High QB Noah Grubbs

Height: 6-4.5
Weight: 195
Commitment date: June 1, 2024
On3 Ranking: No. 23 QB and No. 52 player from Florida

Notre Dame locked in an early quarterback commitment from a top target at the position in the 2026 class. And when Grubbs eventually enrolls at Notre Dame, he’ll do so as one of the most productive quarterbacks in the history of Florida high school football. Grubbs committed to the Irish before his junior season over the likes of Florida, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio State and a handful of others.

During his sophomore season in which he helped Lake Mary to a 10-2 record in 2023, Grubbs completed 208 passes on 354 attempts for 3,670 yards with 49 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He added four rushing scores as well. The Orlando Touchdown Club and the Orlando Sentinel named him its 2023 Offensive Player of the Year.

Grubbs set the following Lake Mary school records in 2023: single-game passing touchdowns (8), single-game passing yardage (528), single-season passing touchdowns (49), single-season passing yards (3,677), most passes completed in a single game (31), single-season completions (207) and attempts (356) and is the school’s all-time leader in average yards per game (306.4).

Boca Raton (Fla.) Saint Andrew’s School WR Dylan Faison

Height: 5-11
Weight: 170
Commitment date: March 18, 2024
On3 Ranking: No. 112 WR and No. 84 player from Florida

Faison locked in his Notre Dame commitment a day after earning a scholarship offer from the Fighting Irish. His older brother is Jordan Faison, a receiver for ND and star on the men’s lacrosse team. Dylan will also play football and lacrosse for the Fighting Irish. He’s considered a five-star lacrosse recruit and had a strong junior season on the gridiron hauling in 59 receptions for 809 yards with 9 touchdowns, plus 29 rushes for 96 yards with 2 scores on the ground.