Two Dakotas standouts plan Notre Dame visits

Rare Northern Plains push for Fighting Irish football recruiting

Feb. 26, 2026 at 4:34pm

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Two high school football standouts from North Dakota and South Dakota are planning to visit the University of Notre Dame in the spring, as the Fighting Irish look to expand their recruiting footprint in the Northern Plains region.

Why it matters

Notre Dame has traditionally focused its recruiting efforts on the Midwest and East Coast, but this visit from players in the Dakotas represents a rare push into the Northern Plains area, which is not typically a recruiting hotbed for the program.

The details

The two recruits planning visits to Notre Dame are a quarterback from North Dakota and a defensive back from South Dakota. Both players have received scholarship offers from the Fighting Irish and are considering the school as a potential college destination.

  • The recruits are planning their visits to Notre Dame for the spring of 2026.

The players

North Dakota quarterback

A highly touted high school quarterback from North Dakota who has received a scholarship offer from Notre Dame.

South Dakota defensive back

A talented defensive back from South Dakota who has also been offered a scholarship by the University of Notre Dame.

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What’s next

If the visits go well, Notre Dame could look to further expand its recruiting efforts in the Dakotas and the Northern Plains region in the coming years.

The takeaway

Notre Dame's decision to recruit players from North and South Dakota represents a strategic shift for the program, as they look to uncover talent in less traditional recruiting areas and diversify their player pipeline.