Zech Fort has already pledged to Georgia, but Notre Dame is scheduled to bring in the high school junior as head coach Marcus Freeman tries to secure one of the top safeties.
Notre Dame will welcome four-star safety Zech Fort as the Fighting Irish seek to entice the 2026 prospect away from Georgia.
Fort, a 5-foot-11, 195-pound safety currently attending IMG Academy, pledged to the Bulldogs in January but continues to attract interest from multiple schools. “Fort told On3 that Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, Miami, Florida, USC, and a few others are actively pursuing him.”
The safety received offers from Alabama, Colorado, Oregon, Michigan, LSU, and Ohio State, but Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman plans to work his charm when welcoming Fort in South Bend, Indiana. Freeman might have a challenge ahead, as Fort mentioned to On3: “I remain optimistic about Georgia.”
Fort holds the position of No. 5 safety in the 2026 cycle according to ESPN, and is 39th among all high school junior prospects. Freeman is enthusiastic about maintaining the momentum following Notre Dame’s appearance in the national championship game last season, where they fell to Ohio State.
In January, Freeman suggested he was seeking multi-sport athletes to join the Fighting Irish because of the advantages of possessing athletic skills in various fields. This isn’t typically supported by the top college football programs, but Freeman is optimistic that his distinctive strategy will help Notre Dame distinguish itself.
“What I truly appreciate is that at times they may not excel in other sports like they do in football, and thus they’re ready to set their pride aside and admit, ‘I know I may not win in track, but I’m going to work on improving myself as an athlete,'” Freeman expressed earlier this year. “That says a lot to me.”
Freeman has already secured several skilled recruits in preparation for the 2025 season, with five-star talent Will Black being one of the most thrilling names in the freshman class. Black, a 6-foot-7 offensive tackle from Choate Rosemary Hall, was the highest-rated OT in Connecticut.
Joining Black on the youthful offensive line are Owen Strebig (Waukesha Catholic Memorial) and Matty Augustine (Brunswick School), both of whom are four-star prospects. Augustine’s high school teammate, Blake Herbert, will enroll at Notre Dame as a freshman quarterback alongside him.
Finishing the raid at Brunswick School is three-star safety Ethan Long. On the offensive side, Freeman has brought in significant playmakers in tight end James Flanigan (Notre Dame Academy) and wide receivers Antavious Richardson (Greenville) and Elijah Burress (DePaul Catholic).
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