Notre Dame has landed a 3‑star tight end, Preston Fryzel, for their 2026 recruiting class. The 6′4″, 220‑lb prospect from Central Catholic High School in Toledo chose the Irish over Iowa, Miami, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Auburn, and others
Preston is the 20th commitment in the 2026 class, helping Notre Dame maintain a #3 national class ranking (per 247 Composite) and marking the second recruit from Ohio in this cycle
Experts (like Jaime Uyeyama) believe Fryzel is underrated and could follow in the footsteps of Eli Raridon, potentially emerging as a top‑100 overall recruit. His size and skills have drawn comparisons to Iowa’s Sam LaPorta
Blocking and receiving tight ends with Fryzel’s frame and abilities fit well into Notre Dame’s offense. Though he may be the lone TE commit thus far, the Irish are expected to add another elite talent at the position
Notre Dame is aggressively building out its 2026 TE board:
- Ian Premer (No. 3 TE nationally; No. 44 overall)—scheduled a visit to Notre Dame on March 21
- Brock Harris, Eli Wilt, and Evan Jacobson are among other high-level prospects who’ve received offers or showed strong interest
- The Irish have also focused on athletes like Gavin Mueller, Mack Sutter, Isaac Jensen, Brayden Fogle, and Matthew Ludwig, indicating a strategy to take two TEs in this cycle
Notre Dame’s reputation as Tight End U—with alumni like Michael Mayer, Tyler Eifert, Kyle Rudolph, and Ken MacAfee—is a major lure for top talent. Players and analysts highlight:
- The rich history and strong track record since the 1970s
- ND’s ability to develop blockers who catch, and receivers who block—a dual-threat mold that matches modern tight end demands
- Coach Mike Denbrock’s personal recruiting pitch, which emphasizes fit in scheme, professional growth, and iconic program tradition
- More big TE commits likely – Watch for Ian Premer’s visit and other official/unofficial visits from Harris, Jacobson, Sutter, and others.
- Gridiron impact timeline – If Notre Dame adds another high‑rated TE alongside Fryzel, they could have a formidable TE duo arriving in 2026.
- Recruiting ripple effect – Landing top TE talent keeps ND competitive in recruiting overall, especially in the Midwest and Ohio Valley where they’ve traditionally thrived
Notre Dame’s securement of Preston Fryzel sets the foundation for a powerful tight-end class. While his ranking isn’t at “five-star” level now, his projected trajectory and physical traits align with ND’s development model. The real headline? Notre Dame is clearly preparing to take not just one, but two high-caliber tight ends in the 2026 class – reinforcing their identity as Tight End U.
Let me know if you’d like a deeper dive on individual TE prospects, how their skill sets fit the Irish offense, or comparisons with past Notre Dame TEs like Mayer or Eifert!
