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Sherrone Moore's Michigan offers four-star DL Elijah Golden to the class of 2026: Reports
Four-star defensive line Elijah Golden is gradually becoming one of the most promising prospects in the 2026 class. He has already captured the interest of major college programs, including Ohio State, Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Notre Dame, Oregon and Virginia Tech, among others.
Coach Sherrone Moore's Michigan entered the race on Thursday by extending an offer to Golden for the 2026 class. The prospect shared the news on X:
"#AGTG I am blessed to receive an offer from my dream college @UMichFootball @UMichCoachEspo @AJPearson_IV @SamPopper_ @TomLoy247 @dzoloty @JohnGarcia_Jr @ChadSimmons_ @BrandonHuffman @CraigHaubert @DemetricDWarren @adamgorney @Coach_SMoore."
The Wolverines already have four-star quarterback Brady Hart and three-star cornerback Brody Jennings committed to their 2026 class, making Golden a key target to bolster their future defensive line.
Though Elijah Golden is still far from making his commitment decision, he has clear goals for his upcoming season.
"My goal for this season is to get 10+ sacks, 30+ tackles, and make MaxPreps 1st team All-American team," Golden told SI. "I’ve been doing a bunch of weights, training, and working on my technique."
The elite 6-foot-4, 260-pound prospect is currently ranked as the No. 22 player in the nation, the No. 3 defensive lineman in the 2026 class and the No. 2 prospect in Florida, according to 247Sports. On3 ranks him as the No. 38 defensive lineman in the class and the No. 83 prospect in Florida.
Notre Dame among frontrunners to earn the commitment of Elijah Golden?
Elijah Golden plans to make his college decision before his senior season and Notre Dame stands out as a frontrunner to secure his commitment. Golden first received an offer from Notre Dame on Pot of Gold Day.
His journey with the program began with a visit to South Bend last summer and he has since returned multiple times, including a visit on April 20 for the Blue-Gold Game.
During his latest visit to Notre Dame’s campus last month, Golden had the opportunity to delve deeper into what the university offers. He explored the facilities and consulted with academic advisors.
“Definitely. Notre Dame is going to develop you on the field and help you with life after football,” Golden told Blue & Gold. “There’s very good connections there, and it’s family at Notre Dame.”
Golden's interactions with the defensive line coaches Al Washington and Nick Sebastian, as well as head coach Marcus Freeman, have left an impression. Freeman’s vision of building a program driven by strong offensive and defensive lines aligns perfectly with the prospect's skills and aspirations.
“They stand very high on my list. They’re up there. Every time I go there, I have a blast. I have fun being there. The atmosphere and environment is really good."
Beyond football, Golden also enjoyed the Chick-fil-A in the Duncan Student Center at Notre Dame, which surpassed any he had experienced with other programs.
According to On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, the Fighting Irish have a 26.9% chance of earning Elijah Golden's commitment to the 2026 class. The program currently has quarterback Noah Grubbs and wide receiver Dylan Faison committed to the class.
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