Notre Dame fans have long believed that new running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider would make a major impact—and he’s already delivering. His biggest success to date came last weekend when the Irish secured a commitment from 4-star running back Javian Osborne. Now, Seider may be close to landing another top-tier back: 4-star prospect.
Notre Dame has been gaining serious traction with Walton recently. The Carrollton, Georgia native raved about a recent unofficial visit, describing the experience as “amazing.” That momentum has now led to a strong prediction that Walton could soon commit to the Irish.
Notre Dame rising for another top 2026 RB target
Steve Wiltfong of On3 has logged a “Fongbomb” projecting Notre Dame to land Walton—another sign of the program’s red-hot recruiting streak. If Walton follows through, Notre Dame will have successfully out-recruited some elite competition, including Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida.
Snagging a highly ranked back from Georgia’s own backyard is always a major win, and Walton—rated the No. 10 running back in the 2026 class by On3’s Industry Rankings—would give Seider a second top-tier talent in this cycle. He’s also still pursuing Messiah Mickens, another elite back.
If Walton does commit to Notre Dame, it may signal that Mickens is no longer part of the plan—but most Irish fans would likely consider that an acceptable trade-off.
