BREAKING: Notre Dame football beats out Alabama, Penn State for 4-star OL
On Thursday, four-star interior offensive lineman Tyler Merrill announced his commitment to Notre Dame, marking a significant win for the Fighting Irish on the recruiting trail. Merrill, a top-100 recruit from Mechanicsburg, PA, is part of the 2026 class and chose Notre Dame over several powerhouse programs, including Alabama, Clemson, and Penn State, which is just down the road from his hometown.
Merrill shared a brief message for Notre Dame fans following his commitment: “Go Irish.” Standing at 6’5″ and weighing 320 pounds, he is ranked as the No. 61 player in the 2026 class, the No. 5 interior offensive lineman, and the No. 2 recruit in Pennsylvania. He currently attends Cumberland Valley High School.
This commitment comes on the heels of Notre Dame’s loss in the national championship game, giving the team a positive recruiting boost. It’s especially sweet that Merrill picked the Irish over Penn State, one of the teams Notre Dame defeated during their College Football Playoff run.
While it’s still early to dive into 2026 recruiting rankings, Notre Dame’s 2026 class is off to a strong start, sitting at No. 5 nationally with seven commitments, including five four-stars and two three-stars. Though the 2025 recruiting cycle is still underway, this early success bodes well for the future.
Currently, Notre Dame is wrapping up an impressive 2025 class, ranked No. 2 nationally with 14 four-star and 10 three-star commitments. With several recruits still to announce their decisions, it’s expected that Notre Dame’s ranking won’t change much, regardless of the outcomes.