Notre Dame Fighting Irish News: 5-Star Flip, Love’s Honors, and Ivey’s 2026 Power Play
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are making headlines across multiple sports, signaling that their commitment to excellence is unwavering as the 2025 and 2026 recruiting cycles heat up. With calculated ambition, South Bend has become the epicenter of one of the boldest recruiting offensives in recent memory—an effort targeting Penn State’s five-star cornerstone, celebrating rising football star Jeremiyah Love, and watching women’s basketball head coach Niele Ivey double down on a court-shaking 2026 recruiting power move.
The 5-Star Flip Attempt
At the center of the football drama is Notre Dame’s pursuit of five-star linebacker Kameron Davis, a Penn State commit and the keystone of the Nittany Lions’ 2025 class. Davis, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound hybrid defender out of Georgia, is known for his sideline-to-sideline speed and ferocious tackling instincts. Penn State celebrated his commitment in May, but Notre Dame has quietly been building a strong relationship behind the scenes.
Sources close to the program say defensive coordinator Al Golden recently visited Davis’ high school and extended an offer that’s “impossible to ignore.” Notre Dame’s pitch includes early playing time, a legacy of All-American linebackers, and the academic pedigree that South Bend prides itself on. While Davis remains publicly committed to Penn State, whispers among recruiting insiders suggest the Irish may have gained ground—especially after Davis liked and shared recent Notre Dame practice footage on social media.
Jeremiyah Love Garners Recognition
Meanwhile, sophomore running back Jeremiyah Love is quickly becoming the face of the Fighting Irish offense. After rushing for over 800 yards and tallying 9 touchdowns as a freshman, Love was recently named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List, given to the nation’s top running back.
His explosive speed and mature field vision have drawn comparisons to former Irish greats like Josh Adams and C.J. Prosise. Head coach Marcus Freeman spoke glowingly about Love’s offseason work ethic: “Jeremiyah’s done everything we’ve asked and more. He’s not just preparing to start—he’s preparing to dominate.”
Notre Dame fans are already buzzing with expectations, especially given the team’s challenging early-season schedule that includes home matchups against Michigan and USC. Love is expected to be a central figure in both contests.
Niele Ivey’s Hoops Power Move
In women’s basketball, head coach Niele Ivey is making a powerful statement about the program’s future. Ivey recently hosted Skylar Whitman, the No. 2 overall recruit in the 2026 class, on an official visit that insiders described as “red carpet treatment.”
Whitman, a 6-foot-1 combo guard from Texas, is widely considered a generational talent with elite ball-handling, court vision, and a lethal jumper. Ivey reportedly spent the entire weekend personally guiding her tour—highlighting Notre Dame’s history of backcourt dominance and pointing to the WNBA success of former Irish stars like Arike Ogunbowale and Jewell Loyd.
Whitman left South Bend visibly emotional, telling reporters, “This place feels like it was built for me.”
