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Four-star EDGE Zavion Griffin-Haynes includes Notre Dame in top 11

Kyle Kellyby:Kyle Kelly•about 10 hours•

ByKyleKelly

Zavion Griffin-Haynes 5 copy 1.jpg
Rolesville (N.C.) High 2026 EDGE Zavion Griffin-Hayes. (On3)

Rolesville (N.C.) High four-star EDGE Zavion Griffin-Haynes publicized his interest in Notre Dame — and the schools it is battling in his recruitment — on Tuesday. 

Griffin-Haynes, the On3 Industry Ranking’s No. 227 overall player and No. 27 EDGE in the 2026 class, announced a top 11 schools list with On3 national recruiting reporter Hayes Fawcett. It featured Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Miami, NC State, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Texas. 

The 6-foot-6, 220-pound Griffin-Haynes, also the No. 14 player in North Carolina, was previously committed to the Tar Heels from Sept. 8 to Nov. 26. However, he decommitted after they moved on from coach Mack Brown. 

Meanwhile, the Fighting Irish hardly wasted any time getting involved. About a week later, on Dec. 4, defensive line coach Al Washington offered Griffin-Haynes a scholarship. Then, Washington and head coach Marcus Freeman stopped by his high school during the January recruiting contact period. 

“They had energy,” Griffin-Haynes told Blue & Gold on Feb. 18. “We had personal talks, and there is a lot we can relate to. It’s more than just football. This is a decision that could last a lifetime.” 

His interest in the Irish parlayed into him scheduling his first trip to South Bend. On Monday, Blue & Gold recruiting insider Mike Singer reported Griffin-Haynes will unofficially visit Notre Dame on April 11. 

While he’ll see most of his other favorites in the spring, only Florida and Georgia have been able to secure official visits from him. He’ll be in Athens the weekend of June 6 and then in Gainesville the weekend of June 13. The Irish will look to add him to an official visit slate that already includes 27 recruits. 

Notre Dame dominant recruiting North Carolina under Freeman 

Under Freeman, the Irish have regularly excelled in recruiting the top prospects in North Carolina. Freeman signed six high school recruits from the Tar Heel State in his first three cycles. 

It began in the 2023 cycle when Notre Dame added two offensive linemen: Belmont (N.C.) South Point four-star Sullivan Absher and Pfafftown (N.C.) Reagan three-star Sam Pendleton. They ranked as the state’s Nos. 8 and 16 players, respectively, in the On3 Industry Ranking. 

Absher was also the No. 270 overall player and No. 18 offensive tackle nationally in the class, while Pendleton ranked No. 431 overall and No. 34 interior offensive lineman. Pendleton transferred to Tennessee this offseason after losing his starting job with the Irish midway through the season. 

Then, in 2024, Notre Dame cleaned up in Charlotte, signing Charlotte Christian teammates, four-stars wide receiver Micah Gilbert and EDGE Bryce Young, and Charlotte Catholic three-star tight end Jack Larsen. They ranked as the On3 Industry Ranking’s Nos. 1, 8 and 17 players in the state, respectively. 

Young — the son of former Irish All-America defensive lineman Bryant Young — is the highest-ranked recruit in the group, checking in at No. 56 overall and the No. 8 EDGE in the country. Gilbert was the No. 230 overall player and No. 41 wide receiver, and Larsen finished as the No. 519 overall and the No. 32 tight end. 

In 2025, the Irish beat out Michigan and Penn State for Winston-Salem (N.C.) Mount Tabor four-star safety JaDon Blair. He was the No. 114 overall player, No. 11 safety in America and No. 5 recruit in North Carolina. 

Notre Dame is already off to a hot start in the 2026 class. On Nov. 12, Matthews (N.C.) Weddington four-star linebacker Thomas Davis Jr. pledged to the Irish. The 6-2, 210-pound thumper is the No. 9 recruit in the Tar Heel State, the No. 11 linebacker in the nation and the No. 168 overall player all in 2026. 

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