Prescott commits live on McAfee Show as Freeman, CBS bracket fuel Irish momentum

Notre Dame picked up a high-profile recruiting victory Monday when Bolingbrook, Illinois, EDGE Darieon Prescott announced his commitment to the Fighting Irish live on The Pat McAfee Show. Prescott, a class of 2028 prospect, is ranked No. 18 overall and No. 5 among EDGE rushers nationally in the Rivals Industry Ranking, making him one of the most coveted underclassmen in the country.

Moments after Prescott's announcement, head coach Marcus Freeman joined the program in what amounted to a public celebration of the commitment, though NCAA rules prevented Freeman from appearing on air at the same time as Prescott or from answering direct questions about the rising junior.

We're looking for the best football players in the country who fit this place. We're not a big city; it's a small college town where you have to go to class and will be challenged academically. They understand the reward and value of not only the football development but also the education, network and what it can do for you beyond the game.

— Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, on The Pat McAfee Show

Freeman's Offseason Message: No Slow Starts

Freeman also used the McAfee platform to address Notre Dame's 2025 stumble, when the Irish opened 0-2 with narrow losses to Miami and Texas A&M before winning 10 consecutive games and ultimately missing the College Football Playoff. Freeman declined to characterize the committee's decision as a snub and instead pointed inward, saying the program has spent the offseason reexamining its preparation process from January through August in search of improvements heading into training camp.

We've used that to evaluate, OK, we can't start the season 0-2. How do we truly look at our process from January till the end of August to really evaluate? Are we doing what's best? Is there a better way to do it?

— Marcus Freeman, on The Pat McAfee Show

The external forecast for 2026 is considerably more optimistic. CBS Sports analyst Brad Crawford released a 12-team CFP projection seeding Notre Dame fourth, with the Irish advancing through Georgia in the quarterfinals and upsetting top-seeded Miami in the semifinals before falling to Oregon in the national championship game in Las Vegas. Crawford's bracket has quarterback CJ Carr and a largely returning roster pushing Notre Dame deep into January for the second time in three seasons.

Recruiting momentum is not confined to Prescott's commitment. Two priority 2028 targets from Florida have scheduled return visits to South Bend, and Notre Dame's pipeline in the Chicago area is reported to be active following recent high-profile commitments from the region. The Irish open the 2026 season against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field in approximately 40 days.