Rodney Dunham’s decision didn’t stir up much suspense ahead of his Thursday commitment announcement. The four-star edge rusher locked in April 10 as his commitment date, just three days after wrapping up a two-day unofficial visit to Notre Dame.
That said, his choice still carried plenty of significance. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound junior from Myers Park High School in Charlotte, N.C., made it official on Thursday by announcing his verbal commitment to Notre Dame via YouTube.
Dunham selected the Irish over a final group that included Duke, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee. His March visit to South Bend — his second trip to Notre Dame — effectively ended any lingering uncertainty about his decision.
“It really wasn’t that hard,” Dunham admitted.
“Notre Dame checked all the important boxes. That’s what this whole process was about — finding the right fit. What excites me most is how well they can develop me to reach the NFL. Plus, I’ll get a great education, build strong career connections, and have good job opportunities after football.”
As a junior last season, Dunham tallied 39 tackles, including 10 for loss and 5 sacks across 10 games. Also a talented baseball player, pitching and playing outfield, he has yet to return to the diamond this spring due to injury.
Rivals rates Dunham as the No. 11 edge defender and No. 127 overall prospect in his class. He’s now the second edge rusher to join Notre Dame in less than a week, following the commitment of four-star Ebenezer Ewetade, whom Rivals ranks as the No. 15 edge and No. 218 overall in the 2026 cycle.
The “edge defender” position, newly introduced by Rivals for the 2026 class, can include defensive ends or outside linebackers, depending on scheme. Notre Dame last landed two Rivals250 defensive ends in one class in 2024: Loghan Thomas (No. 197) and Bryce Young (No. 221).
“Dunham has exceptional first-step explosiveness,” said Rivals national recruiting analyst Sam Spiegelman. “He’s a dynamic, twitchy athlete who can play with his hand in the dirt or from a two-point stance. With his 6-foot-4 frame and great closing speed, he consistently disrupts plays in the backfield.”
“He’s a force in run defense, great at setting the edge, and offers tremendous upside as a pass rusher — where his NFL potential really shines. Even though he’s coming off an injury from November, he’s expected to be at full strength for his senior season at Myers Park. We see him as a player who could finish as one of the elite edge defenders in this class.”
Dunham’s commitment boosts Notre Dame to nine pledges in the 2026 cycle, improving their class ranking from No. 12 to No. 7. Impressively, all but one of the Irish’s commits are rated as four-stars, with six ranked inside the Rivals250.
Notre Dame is gaining momentum after a stretch of over two months without a new commitment. Defensive line coach Al Washington might keep the streak going, as four-star defensive tackle Tiki Hola is set to announce his decision on May 10 and is expected to visit campus this weekend.
“I feel like I really belong there,” Dunham previously shared about Notre Dame. “It’s a great school with a strong football program. I enjoyed my time on campus, and Coach [Marcus] Freeman is a great person and coach. Seeing him run practice was impressive.”
“They’re recruiting me hard, keeping in touch every day about how I’ll fit into the team and the school — both athletically and academically. It’s a great place with great people and great football.”
Leave a Reply