One of high school football’s top talents has officially taken Notre Dame off his list.
Felix Ojo, a consensus top-10 recruit and one of the premier left tackle prospects in the 2026 class, announced via social media that he’s no longer planning to visit Notre Dame. Ojo was scheduled to be on campus Thursday but canceled, with growing signs pointing to a future at Texas, potentially teaming up with Arch Manning.
The news deals another recruiting blow to the Irish as they continue to navigate a competitive 2026 cycle.
Notre Dame has built a strong legacy of developing elite offensive linemen who’ve gone on to thrive in the NFL — names like Quenton Nelson, Zack Martin, Ronnie Stanley, and most recently, Joe Alt stand out as prime examples.
However, this week brought a setback to that tradition. Felix Ojo, one of the top offensive tackle prospects in the 2026 class, announced on social media: “I will no longer be visiting Notre Dame on the 10th,” signaling his likely decision to remove the Irish from his list of potential schools.
While programs such as Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Texas Tech, and Michigan are still in the mix, Texas is widely considered the frontrunner. Ojo, a dominant lineman from the Dallas area, would be just a short drive from Austin — and could potentially protect Arch Manning’s blindside from day one.
Ojo is widely regarded as one of the best high school players in Texas, alongside quarterback Keisean Henderson, who’s already committed to Houston. Should Ojo commit to Texas, it would mark one of the program’s biggest recruiting wins since landing Manning.
For Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame, missing out on Ojo is a tough blow, especially following their strong 2024 season that saw them reach the National Championship before falling to Ohio State. With several top players like Riley Leonard, Benjamin Morrison, Xavier Watts, Mitchell Evans, Jack Kiser, and Howard Cross heading to the NFL Draft, Freeman now turns his attention to other elite offensive line prospects like Jackson Cantwell and Immanuel Iheanacho to help reload the roster.
