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Newsstand: Top-100 four-star CB recruit in the 2027 class visits Notre Dame on Sunday

Kyle Kellyby:Kyle Kelly•06/23/25•

ByKyleKelly

Ace Alston 1 copy 1
Ashton Alston (Photo by Chad Simmons/On3)

One of the top defensive back prospects in the 2027 class wrapped up his summer recruiting travels at Notre Dame on Sunday.

Cincinnati Anderson four-star cornerback Ashton Alston told Blue & Gold he was in South Bend for an unofficial recruiting visit. It marked the 5-foot-11, 175-pounder’s third time checking out the Fighting Irish.

Alston was one of about 95 high school sophomores to receive a Notre Dame scholarship offer during the program’s St. Patrick’s Day-themed Pot of Gold Day recruiting event on March 17. He visited the campus about three weeks later, on April 11, and came away impressed by how Notre Dame could help him excel on and off the field.

“What made Notre Dame stand out was the culture, environment and brotherhood,” Alston told Blue & Gold on April 18. “What I fell in love with is what they have planned for you after the NFL — like, what they can do for you outside of football.

“Education is very important to me. Notre Dame is a great place where I can get a great education. Then, when I’m done with football, I can do something else with my life.”

According to the On3 Industry Ranking — a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services — Alston is the No. 70 overall player, No. 8 cornerback nationally and No. 2 player in Ohio in the 2027 class.

Alston reports scholarship offers from 30 other Power Four programs, including Ohio State, Tennessee, Oregon, Southern Cal, Alabama, Michigan, LSU, Penn State and Texas A&M. After last weekend’s visit, the Irish appear well-positioned to be one of his top schools moving forward.

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Another top 2027 class defensive back, La Verne (Calif.) Damien four-star safety Gavin Williams, was also at Notre Dame on Sunday. The Irish also offered him on Pot of Gold Day. 

The Irish defensive backs spent time with defensive backs coach Mike Mickens on Sunday.

Irish right tackle Aamil Wagner is one of the top returning offensive linemen in college football. 

Notre Dame Quote of the Weekend

“We went with our heart, and our heart said, ‘Notre Dame.’ Joey made the decision, but Mom and I backed him up. We felt like we made the right one.”

— Joe O’Brien, the father of Wyndmoor (Pa.) La Salle College four-star safety Joey O’Brien, who verbally committed to the Irish on Friday.

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