Notre Dame football just reminded the college football world why it continues to thrive as an independent powerhouse. The Fighting Irish landed their best recruiting class in over a decade-ranking No. 5 nationally for the 2026 cycle, per 247Sports-with 30 total commitments, including four 5-stars and a staggering 20 4-stars. That’s not just a good haul-that’s elite territory.
Head coach Marcus Freeman and his staff have built serious momentum on the trail, and this class is proof that Notre Dame isn’t just keeping up with the big boys in the SEC and Big Ten-they’re out-recruiting many of them. It’s also a reminder that the Irish don’t need a conference logo on their jerseys to attract top-tier talent. When you’re pulling in a class like this, the results speak for themselves.
But even success comes with a price.
Notre Dame’s recruiting dominance didn’t just turn heads among fans and analysts-it caught the attention of NFL teams, too. And it cost the Irish two of their most valuable assets on the defensive side of the ball: cornerbacks coach Mike Mickens and linebackers coach Al Washington. Not only were they key developers on the field, but they were also two of the most effective recruiters in the country.
In fact, both coaches earned national recognition from Steve Wiltfong, a prominent recruiting analyst, who ranked Mickens and Washington among the top 10 recruiters in the 2026 class. Mickens topped the list, and for good reason.
He helped land two elite 5-star defensive backs in Khary Adams and Joey O’Brien, and added high-upside 4-stars like Ayden Pouncey and Chaston Smith. That’s a secondary haul that any program in the country would envy.
Mickens had been with Notre Dame for five seasons, helping mold the Irish secondary into one of the most respected units in college football. Many fans saw him as a natural candidate for defensive coordinator after Al Golden left for the Bengals.
But instead, Mickens made the leap to the NFL, taking a job with the Baltimore Ravens as their new defensive passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach. It’s a big move-and a big loss for the Irish.
Washington, meanwhile, played a key role in building out Notre Dame’s linebacker corps. He helped secure 5-star Rodney Dunham, the No. 7 overall player in the 2026 class, along with 4-star Thomas Davis Jr.
That kind of production earned him the No. 9 spot on Wiltfong’s recruiter rankings. Like Mickens, Washington was poached by the pros, joining the Miami Dolphins as their new linebackers coach.
Replacing two coaches of that caliber is no easy task. Notre Dame has already moved to fill the void, hiring Aaron Henry to take over for Mickens.
Henry brings a strong resume, and early signs suggest Brian Jean-Mary is trending toward filling Washington’s role. Both are respected coaches with recruiting chops-but they’ll be stepping into some big shoes.
This is the double-edged sword of success in college football: when you recruit and develop at a high level, the NFL comes calling. But if there’s a silver lining for Notre Dame, it’s that Freeman and his staff have built a culture-and a recruiting operation-that can withstand this kind of turnover. The 2026 class is the latest proof of that.
Notre Dame may have lost two of its top recruiters, but it hasn’t lost its edge. The Irish are still recruiting with the best of them-and they’re doing it on their own terms.