Notre Dame has prioritized Charlotte (N.C.) Myers Park pass rusher Rodney Dunham for the 2026 class from the start. Now a five-star in the On3 Consensus rankings, Dunham is carefully evaluating his top programs.
On Sunday, he narrowed his choices to five schools: Notre Dame, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Duke, with a summer commitment in sight.
Defensive line coach Al Washington continues to battle the perception that Notre Dame struggles to land five-star talent. While Bryce Young was seen as a likely commitment, Dunham presents a bigger challenge.
Securing Dunham would be a major recruiting win, reinforcing Notre Dame’s growing presence in North Carolina. A consensus four-star across all major platforms, he’s ranked as high as No. 9 overall and the No. 2 EDGE defender for 2026 by 247Sports.
At 6-foot-4 and 228 pounds, Dunham has drawn offers from elite programs, including Ohio State, Texas, Alabama, LSU, Michigan, and Auburn. In 2024, he tallied 29 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, five sacks, 16 QB hurries, a forced fumble, and a blocked kick.
A standout baseball player as well, Dunham is considering playing both sports in college.
