Notre Dame Football is Prepared for One Last Opportunity to Recruit a Top Defender in the 2026 Class Before his Ultimate Decision.

Notre Dame has signed linebackers at an unprecedented rate under head coach Marcus Freeman. The lineup now features notable second-tier defenders, such as Drayk Bowen, Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, Jaiden Ausberry, and Jaylen Sneed, among others.

The 2026 recruitment class is quickly gaining momentum with Thomas Davis Jr., who pledged to the program last November. That momentum is expected to carry on with the 2026 class, as the Irish are showing positive signs with numerous other recruits. This encompasses Tank King, the star linebacker from Port Arthur (Texas) Memorial.

On Saturday, it was revealed that the King has completed arrangements for three official offseason visits, one of which is Notre Dame. The Texas star is scheduled to visit Texas A&M from June 6-8, Texas from June 13-15, and Notre Dame from June 20-22. King is contemplating a decision for the summer, which suggests that the Irish coaching staff may have the pivotal visit leading up to that choice.

Notre Dame is perceived as the top contender to overcome at this point in time.

King possesses an extensive array of remarkable admirers. Among his leading offers were the Fighting Irish, Alabama, Texas, Michigan, Oklahoma, Florida, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Nebraska, Penn State, TCU, Missouri, Arkansas, Arizona State, Washington, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Baylor, SMU, Arizona, UCF, and Houston, among others.

Except for the rare three-star rating from 247Sports, King is regarded as a four-star athlete by all other prominent recruiting services. King is positioned as the No. 174 player overall and the No. 12 linebacker in the 2026 recruiting class according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. He also ranks as the No. 21 overall athlete in the talent-rich state of Texas.

The linebacker, standing 6-2 and weighing 205 pounds, has excelled for Port Arthur Memorial over the past few seasons. This includes his sophomore season, when he truly made a name for himself. King concluded that season with 138 total tackles, 22 tackles for loss, eight sacks, and eight passes defended.