Budding 2026 DL Malik Brooks breaks down the meaning behind Notre Dame football offer

It only made sense for Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden to stop by St. Pius X – St. Matthias Academy while in the Downey, Calif., area earlier this week. After all, the private, co-ed Catholic school in the Los Angeles area is home to one of the country’s fastest-rising defensive line recruits. 

Within the last six weeks, 2026 class defensive lineman Malik Brooks has been on the receiving end of offers from UCLA, Alabama, USC and Georgia. SMU was the first school to offer back in February. 

So, Golden gathered information on Brooks and passed it along to Al Washington. From there, the emerging junior called Notre Dame’s third-year defensive line coach on Wednesday night. 

The purpose behind Washington’s about 20-minute phone call was to alert Brooks of his formal Fighting Irish offer. The 6-foot-4, 312-pounder was happy that Golden’s quick stop by school transpired into a chance to continue his football career in South Bend. 

“I was like, ‘Dang, Notre Dame?’” Brooks told Blue & Gold on Thursday afternoon. “Because I never thought Notre Dame would ever reach out to me. So, I was just surprised. … I thought a school like Notre Dame would never come to see a school this far out West.” 

While Brooks might now be aware of Note Dame’s recruiting track record, he proved the Irish have a national reach based on what he already knew before his phone call with Washington. 

“I look at schools that are good at developing defensive players, and Notre Dame is one of those schools,” Brooks said. “Not only defensive players, but defensive lineman. So, I’ve always looked at that with Notre Dame. They are very good at developing defensive linemen.”

Why Notre Dame has a chance to make progress in Brooks’ recruitment

Though Brooks currently lives in SoCal, his roots reside in Georgia. He is originally from Atlanta. This summer, he plans to return to the Peach State for an unofficial visit with the Bulldogs. A trip to Alabama is also in the works. The only one on the schedule is a trip to Oregon in mid-June. 

After adding the Irish to his offer sheet, he would also like to make it to Notre Dame. 

“I would give up a lot to go to South Bend,” he said. 

One reason he wants to visit Notre Dame is the program’s development of defensive linemen — especially Howard Cross III. Another reason is Golden and Washington’s professional and personable personalities.

“Coach Golden has the most hospitality,” Brooks said. “(Coach Washington’s) personality surprised me a lot. He is a great person and has a great personality.”

Golden’s stop by St. Pius X – St. Matthias Academy turned out to be worth it. Brooks will ultimately have to decide if a trip to South Bend is worthwhile for him. At the very least, it is “for sure” something he is very interested in arranging.

The post Budding 2026 DL Malik Brooks breaks down the meaning behind Notre Dame football offer appeared first on On3.