Inside Notre Dame’s early battle for 4-star EDGE Braeden Jones’ commitment

Somewhat unfamiliar competition is already brewing in another classic Chicago area prospect’s Notre Dame football recruitment. 2026 EDGE Braeden Jones has an early eye on a conference that could contend against the Fighting Irish for his verbal commitment. 

“Notre Dame and the SEC schools are who I’m talking to for sure,” Jones, a four-star, told reporters following Sunday’s Under Armour Next Camp Series in Canton, Ohio.

According to the On3 Industry Ranking, Jones is the No. 195 overall player, No. 15 EDGE nationally and No. 5 prospect in Illinois in the 2026 cycle. The 6-foot-5, 235-pounder already reports 13 scholarship offers from power conference programs. SEC schools account for five of them.

This spring, Chicago Mount Carmel’s Jones has unofficially visited Notre Dame twice, Auburn, Florida and Purdue. The trips he has chosen to take so far are noteworthy. 

In the Marcus Freeman era, Notre Dame’s past Chicago area recruiting battles have mostly come against Big Ten Schools. 

In the recruiting battles that Freeman won, wide receiver Cam Williams signed with the Irish over Michigan. EDGE Christopher Burgess committed to Notre Dame over Ohio State. Defensive lineman Joseph Reiff pledged to the Irish over Iowa. And linebacker Dominik Hulak picked Notre Dame over Wisconsin. 

Then, there is the lone recruiting battle Freeman lost. Defensive lineman Justin Scott committed to Ohio State before flipping to Miami about a month before signing day. 

The Irish also offered EDGE Marquise Lightfoot (Miami), running back Darrion Dupree (Wisconsin), EDGE Gabe Kaminski (Stanford) and DL Nate Marshall (Michigan), but bowed out before becoming a finalist in those recruitments. 

Despite initial indications, Lightfoot, who seemed like an Ohio State lock, and Kaminski, who was enamored with Wisconsin, both ended up choosing different paths, adding to the unpredictability of the recruitment process. 

So, the Irish rarely see schools like Auburn and Florida on the recruiting trail for a regional prospect. But unless Ohio State and Michigan State join the race for Jones — which is almost a certainty considering his profile — the SEC schools are the ones Notre Dame is up against. 

Where Notre Dame football currently stands in Braeden Jones’ college football recruitment

Jones unofficially visited Notre Dame for the first time on April 6. That trip was outstanding, and it went so well that Jones decided to make a more or less impromptu return to South Bend for the Irish’s spring game on April 20. 

“It was kind of a last-minute thing,” Jones said. “I didn’t really expect to, but they told me around Tuesday, and I was like, ‘I have to.’ It’s always great to see a game at Notre Dame, especially knowing they’re on national TV. So, they packed the house and all that. And I was like, Wow.’” 

That return trip slotted the Irish atop his recruitment. 

“They’re definitely number one,” he said. 

Notre Dame’s standing in Jones’ recruitment is partly due to Freeman and Irish defensive line coach Al Washington’s prioritization of him. South Bend’s proximity to Chicago also helps. 

“Well, it’s definitely in my backyard, so I love it,” he said. “And Coach Freeman and Coach Washington are always talking to me, so I want to get down there as much as possible.”

Freeman and Washington’s message: “‘We want you. We really want you.’ … 

“They’re recruiting me pretty hard. They told me that I’m No. 1 in the 2026 class. They’re pushing for me really hard, and I really like the school.” 

“I appreciate the love from them and see them in my future.” 

Though the Irish are No. 1 on Jones’ list, and he is atop theirs, he is in no rush to shut down his recruitment. 

“It’s definitely a little early,” he said. “If I get something I like, I might take it. But right now, I’m 100% Notre Dame.” 

And not even a few trips down South could change his mind … for now. 

“I’m still 100% on Notre Dame,” he said. “I mean, the SEC schools are great, but I’m not going to take (Notre Dame) out. Because Notre Dame is still a prestigious school, they (produce) a bunch of great D-linemen and I love it there.” 

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