Notre Dame Makes Top 5 for Edge Rusher, Drops Out of QB Race

Irish target Mekai Brown trims list, while QB Davin Davidson commits elsewhere

Apr. 7, 2026 at 2:39pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting the explosive movements and energy of a football player, with sharp geometric shapes and planes in vibrant colors like navy, green, and red.Notre Dame's pursuit of top-tier defensive talent like Mekai Brown reflects the program's ongoing efforts to build an elite roster for the future.Vero Beach Today

Notre Dame has made the top 5 for highly-touted 2027 edge rusher Mekai Brown, but has missed out on quarterback Davin Davidson, who is set to announce his commitment on Thursday to a different school.

Why it matters

Landing elite defensive talent like Brown is crucial for Notre Dame to continue building a championship-caliber roster, while securing top quarterback prospects is key to the program's long-term success. The outcomes of these recruitments will impact the Fighting Irish's outlook for the 2027 season and beyond.

The details

Brown, a consensus 4-star and top-50 national prospect, announced a top 5 of Notre Dame, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and USC. The Irish are the only school in his final group he has not yet visited, but that will change on April 25 during Notre Dame's spring game weekend. Meanwhile, quarterback Davin Davidson, who the Irish offered in February, is set to commit on Thursday to Auburn, Florida, Georgia, or Kentucky, with the Gators holding the edge in predictions.

  • On April 7, 2026, edge rusher Mekai Brown announced his top 5 schools.
  • On April 9, 2026, quarterback Davin Davidson will announce his college commitment.

The players

Mekai Brown

A 4-star, top-50 national edge rusher prospect in the class of 2027 who has Notre Dame, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and USC as his finalists.

Davin Davidson

A 4-star quarterback in the class of 2027 who will announce his commitment on April 9, with Auburn, Florida, Georgia, and Kentucky as his finalists.

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What they’re saying

“Somewhere that feels like home. It is down to the point where every one of these schools could put me in the league. It's not like a huge drop off with any of them.”

— Mekai Brown, Edge Rusher Prospect

“He really likes my play style and my upside, how much I can be used in their defense. He made me feel really special. He seems like a good guy, a real good coach, and I'm excited to keep this going.”

— Mekai Brown, Edge Rusher Prospect

What’s next

Notre Dame will host Mekai Brown for a visit during the school's spring game weekend on April 25. If the visit goes well, the Irish could have an opportunity to book an official visit with Brown during one of their premier official visit weekends in June.

The takeaway

While Notre Dame missed out on quarterback Davin Davidson, the Fighting Irish remain in the mix for elite edge rusher Mekai Brown, a key position of need. Securing a commitment from Brown would be a major boost for the Irish's 2027 recruiting class.