Where Notre Dame stands in offering Irish Invasion DL standout Jude Okeleke
The only way Notre Dame defensive line coach Al Washington could have been more complimentary of Jude Okeleke is if their conversation ended with the 2026 defensive lineman adding the Fighting Irish to his offer sheet.
On Sunday, the 6-foot-1, 285-pound junior from Watertown (Conn.) The Taft School dominated ND’s Irish Invasion camp. It was a noticeable improvement compared to the first time the three-star Okeleke competed in South Bend and worked with Washington.
Although On3’s No. 43 defensive lineman nationally and No. 1 prospect in Connecticut in 2026 was not one of the three prospects to report an offer following the marquee Irish camp, Washington made it sound like one could be on the horizon.
Okeleke has offers from Duke, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Connecticut, Texas State and Dartmouth. Notre Dame could soon join that list.
“It feels like just a matter of time,” Okeleke said. “Because right now, I don’t think they can really talk to the 2026 class until June 15. We’re waiting from now until the end of June to see how it goes. But in his own words, he said I’m a Notre Dame type of player.”
Washington’s praise of Okeleke did not stop there. According to Taft school head coach Tyler Whitley, Washington “really likes” working with the rising high school junior. The third-year Irish defensive line coach even revealed as much.
“He says I’m a really good player; I’m a hell of a player,” Okeleke said. “He said I’m explosive. But he also told me what I need to keep focusing on. That’s why he likes working with me because he sees progress every time I come over.”
Hearing that from a coach he idolizes meant a great deal to Okeleke.
“It makes me feel better,” he said. “I know I have been putting in a lot of work and now I know my work isn’t going to waste. He actually sees I’m working hard. I always say, as an athlete, I always feel like I’m not good enough. But what he said made me feel like I’m working hard.”
Jude Okeleke recaps Notre Dame Irish Invasion camp
Okeleke noticed an uptick in the competition on Sunday compared to last year’s first evaluation camp participants. The work he put in during the offseason prepared him to handle it.
“It was a great camp,” he said. “Better than the first time I came here. I saw the progress and became better. … I put in more work in the offseason by being coachable and doing the little things that matter.”
Okeleke received plenty of attention from Washington. However, he said that was not unique but a reflection of Washington’s coaching style.
“I wouldn’t say he gave me extra attention,” he said. “It’s the attention he gives everybody. I just stuck out at the camp. He said I was really good.”
The question of whether his performance was good enough to warrant a Notre Dame offer should be answered soon. Nonetheless, he loves what he has seen from the Irish and they would become an immediate contender for his commitment moving forward.
“Family and football are important to me,” he said. “I feel like Notre Dame has that. They help and support their players. I’m looking for a good relationship like the one I have with my current coach. … So far, Notre Dame has been treating me as if I’m a part of the team.”
So, if Okeleke makes it to campus a third time and has the green light to commit, seeing him end up in the Irish’s 2026 class would not be a surprise.
“Notre Dame is a really special place,” he said. “It’s a football school with good academics, similar to where I go to school. I just really like it.”
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