1. In‑state talent with high upside
Preston Fryzel, a 3‑star tight end from Toledo’s Central Catholic, officially pledged to Notre Dame yesterday. At 6′4″ and 215–220 lb, he chose the Fighting Irish over notable suitors including Iowa, Miami, Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Auburn . His commitment marks Notre Dame’s 20th for the 2026 class and the second from Ohio—a state that’s becoming a recruiting hotspot for the Irish .
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2. Instant chemistry on official visit
Fryzel made two trips to South Bend: a first unofficial visit followed by an official in mid‑June. He told On3 the second visit sealed things:
> “It felt different from every other visit I’ve been on… there was no but for Notre Dame. It just felt right for me.”
Playing in front of coaches like OC Mike Denbrock and TE coach Harris Bivin, Fryzel connected with the staff and the program’s culture .
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3. A rare athletic mismatch
Central Catholic coach Greg Dempsey praised Fryzel’s versatility, saying his size, athleticism, and ball skills check all the boxes for an all‑around TE . Fryzel described himself as “more of a receiving tight end” who can also block in the box and align as a boundary receiver . His junior-year stats—43 catches for 807 yards, 10 TDs—stack up favorably against past Notre Dame TEs .
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4. Comparisons to elite predecessors
Notre Dame’s coaches saw shades of former All‑American Tyler Eifert in Fryzel. Denbrock even showed him Eifert’s footage, saying