Eight June-entry 2024 signees, a few incoming walk-on prospects, at least 10 prospects currently committed to Notre Dame, a long list of 2026 recruits – most with offers from Notre Dame, a few without – and some 2027-class athletes are expected to attend Notre Dame's spring game tomorrow.
Looking over the list of 2026 recruits on tomorrow's visitor list, I noticed a pair of exciting defensive prospects who caught my eye last month on Pot of Gold Day as Notre Dame loaded its offer board.
I took another look at both prospects – a pair of young recruits that Notre Dame fans should get familiar with – and put together some notes and takes below their highlights reels.
I recommend watching both reels. And keep in mind that both are only sophom*ores with two full years ahead of them at the varsity level.
While a few recruits previously on the visitor list have recently canceled, Irish Illustrated confirmed with both. These two noteworthy 2026 prospects will be at the Blue-Gold Game tomorrow.
TRENTON HENDERSON
- Position: Defensive Line*
- Size: 6-5, 225
- From: Pensacola (Fla.) Pensacola Catholic
- Notable offers: Florida State, Georgia, Notre Dame, Ole Miss
As the game evolves, position fit labels evolve with it. It wasn't long ago when roles on the defensive front were weak-side end, defensive tackle, and strong-side end within recruiting databases and elsewhere. Now it's edge and DL.
That's a little too vague for my taste.
When it comes to Pensacola (Fla.) Pensacola Catholic rising junior Trenton Henderson, listed 6-foot-4, 215 in his 247Sports profile and 6-foot-5, 225 pounds in his social media profile, if the labels returned to pre-2022, I would slot him at the strong-side end position.
That's why I placed an asterisk next to his listed position above.
Henderson is what Notre Dame is looking for upfront. Physically, he's put together similar to Boubacar Traore at the same stage of his varsity career. And he's a versatile defender, far from a see-ball-chase-ball youngster.
Henderson will play in a stance and alignment akin to Notre Dame's vyper position on one snap, and then he's lined up in the five-tech in a four-point stance on the next clip.
He's quite sudden off the snap, and he shows enough fast-twitch movement and looseness in his hips to beat blockers with speed and agility. But there's more. He's also skilled in using his long levers and baseline strength to keep opponents out of his body as he bulls and clubs his way to the backfield.
What impresses me the most is the range of his talent.
He flat-out harasses the backfield in pass rush but he's equally talented in defending the run. Additionally, he'll drop into coverage out of his two-point stance. When necessary, he'll flip his hips and track a running back down the sideline in his hip pocket. He's also shown sliding into the slot and applying man coverage receivers, tight ends, or running backs.
Similar to the rising junior reviewed below, I'm surprised Henderson doesn't have a higher number of scholarship offers. This is smart evaluation of a high-potential player at a position of need. And he appears to match up well with Notre Dame academically out of a private Catholic school.
NICHOLAS REDDISH
- Position: Safety
- Size: 5-11, 185
- From: Charlotte (NC) Independence
- Notable offers: Missouri, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest
Irish Illustrated put together a featured article on Nicholas Reddish shortly after he announced an offer from Notre Dame on Pot of Gold Day last month. The Charlotte product stood out as we combed through the long list of defensive backs added to the 2026 board.
He's a heady, quick-triggered, aggressive, hard-hitting safety with the combination of sharp diagnostic skills and excellent quickness required to create turnovers and break-up passes. Quick reads, great speed to the football, and an aggressive nature add up to punishing takedowns and getting hands on the ball.
Reddish is savvy enough to quickly, consistently, and efficiently commit to either striking or playing the ball without hesitation. That level of decision-making and ability from a sophom*ore tells me that Reddish could develop into one of the better safeties in the country by the time he's a senior.
While he appears to often be the single-high safety in his defense, he also drops down near or into the box, he operates well in the slot, and with that, I could see Reddish developing into a defender capable of playing safety or nickel. And that specific versatility is increasingly valuable in today's game.
A sharp young guy with a 3.75 GPA, Reddish has two older brothers who currently play college football, including 2024-class Composite four-star safety Quentin Reddish who enrolled at Virginia Tech in January. Nicholas (who goes by Nick) reached double-digit offers recently. But frankly, I'm surprised he hasn't logged double that number of scholarships.
As a sophom*ore, Reddish recorded 95 tackles, three tackles for loss, four interceptions, 10 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries. That's a lot of takedowns, disruptions, and turnovers from a young player. And he's also known as a talented baseball player.
After watching Sullivan Absher, Sam Pendleton, Jack Larsen, Bryce Young, and Micah Gilbert choose Notre Dame in recent years, I'm interested to see if the coaching staff can make Charlotte an annual resource, and if so, whether Reddish could be next.
**For my interview reporting with Nick Reddish from last month: Hard-Hitting Safety Nick Reddish Talks Notre Dame Offer
