Secondary RELOADING
In the middle of the NFL Draft, 4-Star Safety, Ayden Pouncey, gave his public commitment to Marcus Freeman and the 2025 Notre Dame Football recruiting class.
BREAKING: Four-Star Safety Ayden Pouncey has Committed to Notre Dame, he tells me for @on3recruits
The 6’3 180 S from Winter Park, FL chose the Fighting Irish over Michigan, LSU, & Florida
“God, Country, Notre Dame”https://t.co/q72VdlNNtq pic.twitter.com/bvPkFlIs6F
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) April 26, 2025
The 6’3” 180 pounder from Winter Park High School in Winter Park, Florida, chose Notre Dame over an impressive offer list that included programs like the “Big 3” in Florida (Florida Gators, Florida State Seminoles, and Miami Hurricanes), Michigan Wolverines, LSU Tigers, Georgia Bulldogs, and more.
I know some see Pouncey as a corner and he’s certainly an intriguing option because at 6-3, but he’s not as long as others at that height. His wingspan was measured at 73.3 inches earlier this year and it would be preferable if he was longer at corner.
That plus his strength in diagnosing plays and tackling makes me think he is a better fit at safety or nickel. I think he has the potential to develop into a very good one and he can track the ball well too.
Pouncey is the 12th commitment in Notre Dame’s 2026 recruiting class and the third from the state of Florida. Eight of Notre Dame’s twelve commitments are from South of the Mason-Dixon Line while the other four are all offensive linemen from Michigan and Pennsylvania. The class is currently ranked #3 in the nation according to the 247 Team Composite Rankings.
The Irish are pretty loaded at defensive back for 2026 and beyond. It’s hard to say how many more safeties and cornerbacks the Irish plan on taking in this class — but I still believe they will want at least one more safety and one more cornerback. The secondary is very, very healthy right now and set up to be in the future.
I like Jaime Uyeyama’s assessment of Pouncey as someone who could fill the nickel role in the future. The nickel, as it has been for years, is a starting job on defense with a crucial role. Besides just filling a role — Pouncey is a really, really, good football player with a ton of potential. You can’t coach size, and 6’3” athletes that can fly are a coveted commodity.
WELCOME TO ND AYDEN!