Notre Dame’s 2023 recruiting class is starting to look like the backbone of the 2026 offense. With explosive receivers, high-upside linemen, and key returners from injury, this group is poised to take on a leadership role in South Bend-both in production and presence.
Veteran Receivers Ready to Lead
Let’s start with the headliners: Jordan Faison and Jaden Greathouse. These two wideouts aren’t just returning starters-they’re proven playmakers who bring a combined 162 receptions, 2,248 yards, and 18 touchdowns back into the fold. That’s the kind of production you don’t just replace-you build around it.
Faison, in particular, stepped into the spotlight last season. After finally getting a full, healthy run in the starting lineup, he delivered.
His 49 catches for 640 yards and four touchdowns made him the team’s leading receiver. He averaged 13.1 yards per catch, showing he’s not just a possession guy-he can stretch the field and keep defenses honest.
Greathouse, meanwhile, had a frustrating 2025 campaign hampered by a nagging hamstring injury. But when he was healthy, the talent was undeniable.
He closed out the 2024 season with a bang, racking up 233 yards and three touchdowns across the Orange Bowl and the National Championship Game. Now entering his redshirt junior year, the 6'1", 212-pound Texas native is healthy and ready to remind everyone why he was such a highly touted recruit.
Together, Faison and Greathouse form a veteran duo that can stabilize a young but talented receiver room. They’ve been there, made the plays, and now they’re being asked to lead.
Trench Talent Emerging
Notre Dame’s offensive line tradition is well-known, and the 2023 class is doing its part to keep that legacy alive.
Charles Jagusah is the name to watch here. The 6'5", 325-pound guard was penciled in as a starter last season before a broken arm derailed his 2025 campaign.
But when he’s been on the field-even in limited action-he’s flashed the kind of upside that gets offensive line coaches excited. Bowl games, the Orange Bowl, the National Championship-those aren’t small stages, and Jagusah held his own.
If he stays healthy this offseason, expect him to step into the starting lineup and potentially become one of the Irish’s most dominant linemen.
At center, Joe Otting stepped in last year after Ashton Craig went down with a knee injury. Otting took over midway through the season and is expected to hold down the starting job through the offseason and possibly into the early part of the year until Craig is back. The experience Otting gained in 2025 could pay dividends in 2026, especially in terms of communication and cohesion along the line.
Tight end Cooper Flanagan is another returning player with something to prove. The 6'6", 247-pound target suffered an Achilles injury during the 2024 playoffs and was on track to return in 2025 if Notre Dame had made the College Football Playoff.
That didn’t happen, so Flanagan’s comeback tour starts now. He’s the early favorite to win the No. 1 tight end role, and if he’s back to full strength, he gives the Irish a big-bodied, reliable option in the passing game.
Depth with Upside
No successful offensive line rotation survives on five guys alone, and Notre Dame has depth pieces from the 2023 class who could push for starting spots-or at the very least, provide valuable insurance.
Sullivan Absher has been a jack-of-all-trades for offensive line coach Joe Rudolph. Last offseason, he worked across multiple positions, from left guard to right tackle.
When captain Billy Schrauth went down with an MCL injury, Absher stepped in and started the entire month of November. He’ll be in the mix for the now-vacant left guard spot.
Even if he doesn’t win it outright, his versatility and experience make him a high-floor option.
Christopher Terek is another name to know. At 6'5", 326 pounds, he brings size and strength to the competition at guard. Entering his redshirt junior season, Terek hasn’t seen a ton of game action, but he’ll have a shot to crack the two-deep or even earn a starting nod depending on how things shake out in camp.
Class Outlook: Foundation Set
What makes this 2023 class special is its balance of proven production, high ceilings, and positional versatility. Faison and Greathouse are the established veterans in the receiver room-reliable targets who can move the chains and hit the home run.
Jagusah, if healthy, has the potential to be one of the best linemen in the program. Otting has already shown he can handle the center role under pressure.
Flanagan could be the security blanket every quarterback dreams of. And guys like Absher and Terek round out a group that gives Notre Dame flexibility and depth in the trenches.
In short, this class doesn’t just fill holes-it raises the floor and the ceiling for Notre Dame’s 2026 offense.
The Irish may have some young talent waiting in the wings, but it’s the 2023 group that’s setting the tone. They’ve battled injuries, stepped up in big games, and now they’re ready to lead. If Notre Dame is going to make a serious run this season, this class will be right at the heart of it.