Notre Dame’s search for defensive talent may be getting a little more interesting, and it’s happening right in its own backyard.
Joshua Rogers, a 3-star defensive lineman in the 2028 class, left South Bend with a strong impression after getting an invite to Notre Dame’s home opener against Rice. The Fighting Irish still haven’t extended an offer, but the Indiana native made it clear the visit gave him plenty to think about.
"I like it a lot," Rogers recently told Irish Sports Daily. "I like the fit.
I like the idea of me playing in that kind of scheme that they have going for me in the four-man front." He added that obviously, the shutout and all the forced turnovers from Notre Dame definitely got his attention.
Rogers plays at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis and measures 6-foot-2, 255 pounds. Rivals lists him as the No. 759 player in the 2028 class, the No. 72 defensive lineman, and the No. 10 player in Indiana. 247Sports has not graded him, which fits the profile of a prospect who has stayed under the radar.
Even so, he’s not short on interest. His known offers include Boston College, Kansas, Miami (Ohio), Missouri, Purdue, San Diego State, Toledo, and UConn.
Missouri was the first Power Four program to jump in during his sophomore season, with Purdue and Kansas following soon after as his recruitment picked up. Among the schools involved, Missouri’s SEC presence stands out as the most notable.
On the field, Rogers has already put together a strong résumé. As a sophomore in 2025, he finished with 42 tackles, including 26 solo stops, 11 tackles for loss, five sacks, five quarterback hurries, and one fumble recovery in 10 games.
He ended the year as Brebeuf’s sack leader and had a two-sack outing in the Braves’ playoff win over Crispus Attucks. Through three games this season, MaxPreps shows him with 1.5 sacks and five quarterback hurries.
And if Notre Dame does eventually make the move, Rogers knows exactly what it would mean.
“It would mean a lot to me. Obviously, I'm from Indiana, so to get an opportunity to play at the best football school in the state is always awesome to me."
In Other News...
Notre Dame Just Sent A Strong Message In The Scheduling Debate
Notre Dame keeps adding to a nonconference slate that already carries more weight than most, and the latest move brings Nebraska back onto the schedule for the first time since 2001. The schools announced a two-game home-and-home series, with the first meeting set for Oct. 30, 2032, in Lincoln and the return game on Oct. 29, 2033, in South Bend. It is another notable addition for a program that has had to work to secure Power 4 opponents while protecting the kind of schedule its fans and playoff rsum demand.
The matchup also restores a familiar intersection between two storied brands that have not played often enough in recent years to lose its appeal. Nebraska has won the last three meetings, which gives the series a little extra edge before either side even gets to the field. For Notre Dame, it is the kind of scheduling decision that keeps the Irish in the national conversation, even as the sports calendar gets harder to manage. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Just Added A Future Matchup That Will Split Fans
Notre Dames future schedule picked up another big-name addition with Nebraska officially locking in a home-and-home series for the 2032 and 2033 seasons. The Cornhuskers will host the Irish on Oct. 30, 2032, then head to South Bend on Oct. 29, 2033, giving both programs another marquee non-conference matchup to circle well in advance.
The series, announced by Nebraska athletic director Troy Dannen, fits into the Huskers broader scheduling plans and gives Notre Dame another heavyweight opponent on the horizon. For Irish fans, it is the kind of intersectional series that will draw plenty of interest, even if the long runway means plenty can change before either game is played. [Read more 🡒]
Junior Tuihalamakas LSU Role Is Shifting Faster Than Notre Dame Fans Expected
Junior Tuihalamakas move from Notre Dame to LSU has already turned into a quieter sort of transition than some might have expected, with the former Fighting Irish defender mostly showing up on special teams through the Tigers first two wins of the 2026 season. He has seen only a handful of defensive snaps, but he has at least managed to get on the stat sheet with a tackle in limited action, a small early sign that he is working his way into the mix.
LSUs defensive line is still sorting itself out, with a group that includes multiple transfers and freshmen, so the path for Tuihalamaka is hardly fixed. For now, the role looks more like depth and support than a full-time defensive assignment, but that can change quickly over the course of a season as the Tigers keep reshaping their front. [Read more 🡒]