Top 3 high school players Notre Dame can target for the class of 2026 ft. Jackson Cantwell

By Viraj Mali

Modified Jul 18, 2024 20:05 GMT

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The Notre Dame Irish football program has a lot of star high school athletes on its radar. The program has already extended multiple offers to many prospects from the class of 2026.

Four-star quarterback Noah Grubbs and three-star wide receiver Dylan Faison have already announced their commitment to Notre Dame. The program is ranked 11th nationally as per 247Sports and is in a prime position to improve its ranking going forward. Let's take a look at three prospects the Irish can sign to boost their squad for 2026.

Top 3 high school players for Notre Dame from the class of 2026

#3 Ryder Lyons

Ryder Lyons is a four-star recruit from Folsom High School and is one of the best prospects from the class of 2026. He has received offers from many top schools in the country, including the Irish. The Irish extended an offer to Lyons back in 2023, and the quarterback spoke about it afterward:

"Initially I was just insanely grateful and excited for the offer. For me, it’s just more motivation. I am always looking to find ways to get better and compete. I was for sure super fired up knowing how great of a school Notre Dame is." [H/T Irish Breakdown]

Lyons is ranked No.11 nationally and is the third-best quarterback in the country from the class of 2026, as per On3. He is also the second-best overall prospect from California.

#2 Kendre Harrison

Kendre Harrison, a five-star tight end from Reidsville High School has been on the radar of many top schools and has received an offer from Notre Dame, his dream school since the beginning. After receiving the offer from the program's offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Mike Denbrock, Harrison told Blue & Gold:

"When he told me, I legit cried. It felt like there was no way it was actually true."

Harrison is ranked as the 6th-best overall prospect from the class of 2026 and is the best tight end in the country, according to On3. He is also the best prospect from his home state of North Carolina.

#1 Jackson Cantwell

Notre Dame can target five-star offensive lineman Jackson Cantwell from the class of 2026. Cantwell is one of the best prospects in the country and has received a lot of offers from some of the best schools in the nation. Cantwell received a visit from the program's Joe Rudolph back in May this year.

"The visit was pretty good," Cantwell told the Irish Breakdown. "Coach Rudolph came in to see me during a 6 AM lift. I have been glad to get to chop it up with him over the phone and get to talk ball and talk about Notre Dame."

The five-star recruit is ranked as the No.4 overall recruit in the nation and is the second-best offensive tackle in the country, as per On3. He is also the best prospect from Missouri.