The Notre Dame football program remains in the hunt for top 2026 recruit Felix Ojo, a four-star offensive tackle from Mansfield (Texas) Lake Ridge, as one of just eight schools still in contention for his commitment.
On Thursday, Ojo, who stands 6-foot-7 and weighs 274 pounds, revealed his top eight schools in his recruitment to On3 national reporter Hayes Fawcett. The Fighting Irish are in the mix alongside Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Ohio State, and Texas, all vying for the elite recruit. Ojo is currently ranked as the No. 46 overall player, the No. 5 offensive tackle nationally, and the No. 8 recruit in Texas for the 2026 class according to the On3 Industry Ranking, which aggregates data from major recruiting services.
Notre Dame’s involvement in Ojo’s recruitment comes on the heels of his most recent scholarship offer from Irish offensive line coach Joe Rudolph, who extended the offer on January 27 after visiting Ojo’s high school. Despite being the 45th school to offer him, Ojo quickly indicated that Notre Dame had a solid chance to make his final list. He credited his positive relationship with Coach Rudolph for the Irish’s strong position in his recruitment, stating, “It’s because of the way Coach Rudolph approached me and this recruitment. We’ve had one-on-one conversations. He will develop me, and I know if I go there, I have a genuine shot to compete for a starting job. Coach Rudolph’s demeanor as a person and coach sets them apart from many of the other schools recruiting me.”
Notre Dame’s inclusion on Ojo’s top list marks a significant step, as they edged out other programs like SMU, Alabama, and Baylor, all of which Ojo has visited unofficially. Schools like Auburn, Colorado, Florida State, Nebraska, Oregon, Penn State, Southern Cal, and Tennessee also failed to make the cut.
Looking ahead, Notre Dame has already secured three verbal commitments for their 2026 offensive line class, with more potentially on the way. The most recent commitment came from Mechanicsburg (Pa.) Cumberland Valley four-star offensive lineman Tyler Merrill, who pledged to the Irish on January 30 after an unofficial visit to campus. Merrill, ranked No. 84 overall and No. 5 among interior offensive linemen, is the highest-ranked player in Notre Dame’s 2026 class to date.
In December, Davison (Mich.) High four-star prospect Ben Nichols also committed to the Irish, becoming the second offensive line commitment for 2026. Nichols, a 6-5, 315-pound standout, is ranked No. 228 overall and No. 16 among interior offensive linemen. The first commit for the class was Sullivan Garvin, a three-star from Allegan (Mich.) High, who announced his commitment on December 5. Garvin, a 6-6, 300-pound prospect, is ranked No. 406 overall and No. 38 among interior offensive linemen.
With these additions, Notre Dame is building a formidable offensive line class for 2026, with Merrill, Nichols, and Garvin already establishing strong regional rankings in their respective states. As Ojo’s recruitment continues to unfold, the Fighting Irish remain a prime contender to add another key piece to their offensive line for the future.