Marcus Freeman and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are preparing for fall camp, which typically starts at the end of July. Freeman responded to Notre Dame being left out of the 2025-26 College Football Playoff by bringing in four five-star recruits for the 2026 recruiting class, the most consensus five-star recruits brought to South Bend in 247Sports history.
Edge Rodney Dunham (No. 7 overall), tight end Ian Premer (No. 22), cornerback Khary Adams (No. 23) and safety Joey O'Brien (No. 27) will need time to develop as true freshmen, but the 40-year-old head coach brought in the highest average-ranked recruits (92.71) in the 247Sports transfer portal rankings, with the Georgia Bulldogs placing second (90.56).
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Freeman brought in a pair of Ohio State Buckeyes receivers (Quincy Porter and Mylan Graham), a pair of cornerbacks (Michigan Wolverines' Jayden Sanders and Colorado Buffaloes' DJ McKinney) and three defensive linemen (Oregon Ducks' Tionne Gray, Pittsburgh Panthers' Francis Brewu and Alabama Crimson Tide's Keon Keeley). The 2024 Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year has been popular with young student-athletes due to his leading with integrity.
In fact, the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award is a prestigious award given to the head coach who not only succeeds on the field but also stresses the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity. On Thursday, the Fighting Irish went to Instagram to announce that Freeman was named to the Dodd Trophy preseason watch list.
Later that day, the Fighting Irish posted a graphic of linebacker Jaiden Ausberry deadlifting with the quote, "The sky has no limits. Neither should you. — Usain Bolt." In the Instagram caption, Ausberry provided a quote about overcoming fear and doubt, to work hard and stay confident and to always chase your goals.
"'Anything is possible as long as you have belief in yourself,' Ausberry was quoted by Notre Dame as saying. 'And never let fear or doubt limit you. This quote reminds me to always work hard, stay confident and keep chasing my goals no matter the obstacles.' Wise Words | @jaidenausberry #GoIrish☘️"
Notre Dame opens the 2026 college football season with a Week 1 Shamrock Series matchup at Lambeau Field in Green Bay against the Wisconsin Badgers on Sunday, Sept. 6, with kickoff at 7:30 p.m. ET.
