In a seismic recruiting victory that has sent tremors across the college football landscape, Notre Dame has landed the monstrous commitment of Texas defensive tackle Tiki Hola, one of the most coveted interior defenders in the 2025 class. The Bastrop High School standout—an unrelenting force in the trenches—announced his pledge to the Fighting Irish, choosing the golden domes of South Bend over recruiting powerhouses such as USC, Georgia, Texas, LSU, and Michigan.
This isn’t just another addition to the class. This is a statement. And the message is crystal clear: Notre Dame is ready to dominate the trenches again.
A Courtship Years in the Making
Notre Dame’s recruitment of Hola wasn’t a last-minute dash but rather a carefully orchestrated pursuit. The saga began in 2023 when Hola visited campus for the Irish’s emphatic 45-7 shellacking of Wake Forest. That trip planted the seed. But it was the university’s famed “Pot of Gold Day” in March 2024—when elite offers are extended en masse—that officially ignited the spark. Hola received his scholarship offer, and within days, he was back in South Bend, soaking in the atmosphere, bonding with coaches, and envisioning himself in blue and gold.
He would return two more times—an unmistakable sign of mutual interest building toward an inevitable, thrilling conclusion.
The Al Washington Factor
One of the unsung heroes of this recruiting conquest is Notre Dame’s defensive line coach Al Washington, whose connection with Hola reportedly went beyond Xs and Os. Washington painted a vivid picture of Hola’s future in Notre Dame’s system—not just as a player, but as a cornerstone.
That vision, coupled with Notre Dame’s commitment to academic and athletic excellence, sealed the deal.
The Beast from Bastrop
Standing a menacing 6-foot-3 and tipping the scales at 300 pounds, Hola is a wrecking ball of a defender with nimble footwork, raw power, and relentless energy. His junior campaign was pure carnage: 102 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 2 recoveries—earning him Defensive MVP and first-team All-State honors at the 5A level.
Recruiting analysts see him as a Top 150 national prospect, with 4.5-star upside that could project him into the Top 50-75 range. ESPN currently pegs him at No. 150 nationally and the No. 12 defensive tackle in the country.
Star-Studded Class Growing Stronger
Hola becomes the 15th commitment in Notre Dame’s 2025 recruiting class, joining a lineup that reads like a future All-American roster: QB Noah Grubbs, RB Javian Osborne, WRs Dylan Faison and Bubba Frazier, OLs Tyler Merrill, Ben Nichols, Gregory Patrick, and Sullivan Garvin, EDGE rushers Ebenezer Ewetade and Rodney Dunham, LBs Thomas Davis Jr. and Jakobe Clapper, and DBs Ayden Pouncey and Chaston Smith.
With Hola’s commitment, Notre Dame has snagged a rare mix of size, skill, and football IQ that could anchor its defensive front for years. This commitment doesn’t just fortify the line—it supercharges it.
The Fighting Irish faithful can rejoice. The gold rush is real—and Tiki Hola might just be the diamond at the center of it all.
