4-star large receiver Kaydon Finley dedicated to Notre Dame’s 2026 class on Friday. The Texas native from Aledo Excessive College selected Marcus Freeman’s program Texas, Texas A&M and Arizona State.
“Let’s deliver a NATTY dwelling IRISH nation ☘️,” Finley informed Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett.
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Coach Freeman in addition to large receivers coach Mike Brown and common supervisor Mike Martin all performed key roles in Finley’s resolution. One other influential determine was four-star Irish working again commit Javian Osborne, who constantly made efforts to recruit Finley to South Bend.
Following Finley’s dedication, Osborne celebrated the second, tweeting:
“The Finest Gamers In Texas Go away The State Of Texas #GoIrish☘️.”
Finley’s dedication offers Notre Dame 23 pledges within the 2026 class, which ranks No. 3 within the nation. He informed ESPN that present Irish commits Khary Adams, Joey O’Brien and Thomas Davis Jr. additionally helped steer him towards South Bend.
As a junior within the 2024 season, Finley recorded 81 receptions for 1,432 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns. He’s the No. 18 large receiver within the 2026 class, based on the On3 Business Rankings. He has additionally competed in basketball and monitor and discipline.
Finley is the son of Tremendous Bowl XLV champion Jermichael Finley, who starred at Texas from 2005-2007 earlier than being chosen No. 91 total by the Inexperienced Bay Packers within the 2007 NFL Draft.
Kaydon Finley opens up about his dedication to Notre Dame
Kaydon Finley first skilled Notre Dame in eighth grade when he attended his aunt’s commencement, and he obtained a suggestion from the Irish in March 2024. Marcus Freeman’s teaching employees welcomed him to campus six occasions, together with an official go to from June 13-15.
Many recruiting analysts anticipated Finley to decide on Notre Dame, however his official go to to Texas the subsequent weekend induced some nervousness amongst Irish followers. Nevertheless, this system secured his dedication in the long run.
“They see me becoming in additional like an out of doors deep receiver; like put up routes, go routes, curls, comebacks and all these,” Finley informed the Irish Sports activities Each day. “I feel something on the sector will match me effectively, however I feel these are my strengths.”
Finley additionally had excessive reward for Coach Freeman:
“I feel Coach Freeman is without doubt one of the greatest coaches that I’ve personally been with. I feel he is probably the greatest within the recreation for certain. He is a really real individual. I feel he is a head coach anyone within the nation would run by means of a wall for. I consider him actually extremely.”
Together with his dedication, Finley turns into Notre Dame’s third large receiver dedication, becoming a member of Bubba Frazier and Dylan Faison. That group can develop much more quickly, as high large receiver targets Devin Fitzgerald and Brayden Robinson are set to announce their selections on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
Edited by John Maxwell