Jackson Hill’s year has taken a harsh turn.
Not long after the 3-star offensive lineman flipped from UCLA to Notre Dame, he was riding high as one of the prized pieces in the Fighting Irish’s latest class. Now, after an in-game injury, the outlook has changed fast.
On Sunday night, Los Angeles Times reporter Eric Sondheimer reported that Hill underwent knee surgery and is expected to miss the rest of the season, which also brings his high school career to an end. The bigger concern is what that means for his first year at Notre Dame.
Hill is a massive presence up front at 6-foot-6.5 and 300 pounds, and he’s regarded as one of the top offensive tackles in the country as well as the No. 33 player in California in the 2027 class. He was among the headliners in offensive line coach Joe Rudolph’s group, joining Oluwasemilore Olubobola, Albert Simien, James Halter, and Richie Flanigan.
His commitment to Notre Dame stood out because he pulled away from UCLA, which was only 30 miles from home. Geography didn’t win out. Hill said the fit did.
“Notre Dame came around, and it was right in the middle of the recruiting season. It was kind of out of nowhere.
The recruiter came by, and he said Notre Dame wanted me to visit, and we booked last-minute flights,” Hill told Rivals after he flipped to the Irish. Once he got to South Bend, he saw a connection with Rudolph and the players around him.
The injury matters beyond the lost games, too. Hill is still relatively new to football, having not played the sport until his freshman year at Chaminade Preparatory School.
Baseball had been his main focus before that. He had only played two games into his senior season when the setback hit.
There’s no hiding the blow here: a promising, still-developing prospect now has to recover instead of stacking live reps in the trenches. For Notre Dame, the hope is simple enough - that Hill heals, gets back on track, and is ready to begin his career in South Bend.
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Notre Dame Still Waiting On A Big Answer At Wide Receiver
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The bigger issue is the uncertainty around when he can truly get back to full speed, even if the staff remains encouraged about his eventual return. Notre Dame has had other receivers step into larger roles in the meantime, but Porter was brought in to be part of the answer at a position group that still wants more clarity. For a team looking to settle its rotation, his timeline is one of the more important details left unresolved. [Read more 🡒]
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The same broader landscape is now drawing attention to DaeQuan Wright, the former Ole Miss tight end and ex-NFL player Kiffin is pursuing after Wright entered the transfer portal. It is an unusual situation even by modern college football standards, with players who have already moved into the pro game now exploring a return to campus, and Notre Dames connection to the issue is a direct one through Tuihalamakas departure and the precedent it represents. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dames Freshman Class Is Forcing A Big Early-Season Decision
Notre Dames freshman class arrived with the kind of reputation that makes every practice snap matter a little more, and the early returns have done nothing to cool the buzz. Ranked No. 1 nationally by Rivals/On3, the 2026 group is expected to help in meaningful ways this season, especially on special teams and along the defensive line, where depth and energy can quickly turn into real playing time.
Marcus Freeman has already pointed to freshmen such as Rodney Dunham and Ebenezer Ewetade as players who have stood out through spring and fall camps, which only sharpens the question of how quickly this group can be folded into the rotation. The new 5 for 5 rule gives Notre Dame more flexibility to get those players on the field without sacrificing eligibility, and that could make the staffs early-season choices even more consequential as the Irish try to balance development with immediate impact. [Read more 🡒]