Locked On Irish - Daily Podcast On Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football & Basketball

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National Recruiting Expert Adam Gorney Reveals How Marcus Freeman Built Notre Dame Into a Recruiting Powerhouse Again May 20, 2026

Show notes

Notre Dame football recruiting, Marcus Freeman, the Class of 2027, Champ Monds, elite recruiting battles, and the future of the Irish are all front and center in this loaded episode of Locked On Irish. Tyler Wojciak is joined by Rivals’ National Recruiting Director Adam Gorney to break down why Notre Dame is recruiting at an elite level under Marcus Freeman, how the Irish compare to programs like Georgia and Ohio State, the ceiling for Notre Dame’s 2027 class, the rise of Champ Monds, and some of the best recruiting stories from Gorney’s decades covering the sport. Plus, Tyler and Adam discuss which Notre Dame commits are underrated and how recruits nationally now view Notre Dame compared to previous eras.

(0:00) - Intro

(1:31) - How Freeman Has Elevated Recruiting

(14:09) - 2027 Class Intel

(25:31) - Best Recruiter on Staff & Past Stories

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Notre Dame Loses Layton Von Brandt to Auburn & More 24-Team CFP Concerns May 19, 2026

Show notes

Notre Dame football suffered a surprising recruiting loss when top-100 offensive tackle Layton Von Brandt committed to Auburn, and the debate over the proposed 24-team College Football Playoff continues to raise major concerns about the future of college football. Tyler Wojciak breaks down what happened with Von Brandt, why the Irish should still be fine on the offensive line, where Notre Dame could turn next in recruiting, and then brings in Spencer McLaughlin of Locked On College Football for a national perspective on why a 24-team CFP could devalue the regular season, make college football feel too much like the NFL or March Madness, and create major unintended consequences.

(0:00) - Intro

(1:13) - Layton Von Brandt Fallout

(12:46) - 24-Team CFP Concerns

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Notre Dame Recruiting Roundup With Brian Smith | Locked On Crossover May 18, 2026

Show notes

Notre Dame recruiting is surging as Marcus Freeman and the Irish continue stacking elite offensive linemen, defensive linemen, and top-100 talent while out-recruiting programs like Alabama, LSU, and Georgia in the trenches. Tyler Wojciak of Locked On Irish joins Brian Smith of The Portal to break down why Notre Dame’s recruiting strategy is working at such a high level, including the program’s emphasis on high school recruiting over the transfer portal, increased NIL investment, elite relationship-building, and long-term roster construction. The guys discuss what David Folorunsho’s commitment means for the 2027 class, whether Brayden Parks or Marcus Fakatou is the more important target, the latest on Tyler Alexander and Layton Von Brandt, Notre Dame’s linebacker recruiting questions, wide receiver recruiting challenges, underrated commits, potential surprises ahead, and how the national recruiting landscape is changing around college football.

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REACTION: Notre Dame Lands Elite DT David Folorunsho Over Miami May 15, 2026

Show notes

Notre Dame landed elite defensive tackle David Folorunsho over Miami and Texas Tech, giving Marcus Freeman and the Irish another massive recruiting victory while continuing to build one of the top 2027 recruiting classes and potentially one of the best defensive line hauls in program history. Tyler Wojciak breaks down why Folorunsho’s commitment is such a major statement for Notre Dame recruiting, how the Irish beat Miami in a heated battle for the Chicago standout, what makes Folorunsho one of the most explosive defensive tackle prospects in the country, where he fits into Notre Dame’s defensive future, and how this commitment impacts the rest of the Irish defensive line class moving forward.

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Mailbag! Notre Dame Lands Surprise Commit from 3-Star OL, ACC Future, Marcus Freeman Expectations, and the Ultimate Schedule May 15, 2026

Show notes

Notre Dame football recruiting continues to roll as the Irish add offensive lineman Jackson Hill, a developmental prospect who fits the exact mold of the tough, culture-driven offensive linemen Notre Dame has consistently developed into quality starters and leaders over the years. Tyler Wojciak explains why the Jackson Hill commitment makes more sense than some fans realize, breaks down the latest ACC and College Football Playoff expansion drama, discusses Marcus Freeman’s trajectory heading into 2026, and answers more questions in the Friday mailbag.

(0:00) - Intro

(1:17) - Jackson Hill Commitment Breakdown

(14:01) - Mailbag & ACC Future

(22:50) - Ultimate Notre Dame Schedule

Follow Tyler on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TylerWojciak

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Why the 24-Team CFP Could Ruin College Football & Why Notre Dame Is Wrong to Support It, Plus ACC Coaches/ADs Lash Out at the Irish May 14, 2026

Show notes

The proposed 24-team College Football Playoff, Notre Dame’s surprising support for expansion, and growing ACC frustration with the Irish could dramatically reshape the future of college football and the importance of the regular season. Tyler Wojciak breaks down why he believes a 24-team playoff would devalue the sport, explains why Pete Bevacqua’s sudden shift from supporting 16 teams to backing 24 is so disappointing, and reacts to anonymous ACC complaints about Notre Dame’s “special treatment” while highlighting the Irish’s dominance over the conference both on the field and in television value.

(0:00) - Intro

(1:23) - Why the 24-Team CFP is a Bad Idea

(15:36) - Notre Dame is Wrong to Support It

(28:04) - ACC Takes Shots at Notre Dame

Follow Tyler on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TylerWojciak

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Notre Dame Recruiting Roundup with Brian Smith | Locked on Crossover May 13, 2026

Show notes

Notre Dame surges toward a potential top-three recruiting class after landing five-star offensive tackle Olu Olubobola and stacking elite commitments on the offensive line and defensive line. Is Marcus Freeman’s program now competing shoulder-to-shoulder with recruiting powerhouses like Georgia and Texas A&M? In this crossover episode of The Portal and Locked on Irish, Brian Smith, host of The Portal, and Tyler Wojcick, host of Locked on Irish, break down Notre Dame’s dominance in recruiting premium positions, spotlighting prospects like Olu Olubobola and David Folorunsho. Brian and Tyler debate whether the Fighting Irish’s recent run signals a shift to true national contender status, analyze roster strengths and weaknesses—including lingering concerns at linebacker—and forecast which top 100 recruits could sign next.

(0:00) - Intro

(0:43) - O-Line Recruiting Surge

(10:23) - D-Line Breakthrough

(22:55) - National Rankings & Key Targets

Follow Tyler on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TylerWojciak

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Notre Dame Lands 5-Star OT Olu Olubobola, USC Rivalry Talks Resume, Plus More Top Targets Set To Commit May 12, 2026

Show notes

Notre Dame football recruiting is surging again after the Irish landed 5-star offensive tackle Olu Olubobola, reignited momentum in the 2027 class, and continue trending for several elite prospects while new drama surrounding the Notre Dame-USC rivalry emerges once again. Tyler Wojciak breaks down how Marcus Freeman and the Irish beat out major NIL powers for Olubobola, why this commitment sends a message nationally, the latest on the USC rivalry negotiations, and which top recruits could be next to join Notre Dame’s loaded 2027 recruiting class.

(0:00) - Intro

(1:22) - 5-Star OT Commits!

(15:42) - ND, USC Renew Rivalry Talks

(25:06) - Predicting Next Commits

Follow Tyler on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TylerWojciak

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Luke Smith on Notre Dame’s Home Slate, Dabo Swinney’s Shots at Notre Dame, 24-Team CFP, Offseason Hype, and Recruiting Momentum May 11, 2026

Show notes

Notre Dame football is receiving massive national championship hype, dominating the recruiting trail, and once again finding itself at the center of major college football debates involving the playoff, television money, and the future of the sport. Tyler Wojciak is joined by recurring guest Luke Smith for a rapid-fire episode of Locked On Irish as they discuss Notre Dame’s newly released NBC schedule, Dabo Swinney’s comments about the Irish’s financial advantages, the growing push for a 24-team College Football Playoff, national media predictions for Notre Dame, and the latest recruiting momentum surrounding Marcus Freeman and the 2027 class.

(0:00) - Intro

(1:15) - Home Schedule Release

(9:08) - Dabo Swinney Calls out ND

(16:42) - 24-Team Playoff

(25:20) - Experts Picking ND

(31:55) - Recruiting Momentum

Follow Tyler on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TylerWojciak

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IRISH SQUAD SHOW: The Top 10 Notre Dame Players of All-Time begins! Irish in talks with USC?? May 11, 2026

Show notes

Our Top 10 Notre Dame players of all-time series kicks off with honorable mentions, Quenton Nelson, Chris Zorich & Joe Theisman fall just outside the top 10, our favorite moments of their careers. The Brendan Sorsby mess and how it effects CFB and more on this episode of The Irish Squad Show!

Everydayer Club
If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

Indeed
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