2026 OL Jake Namnun Enjoys Notre Dame Return

After camping in South Bend over the summer, Jake Namnun‍ returned to Notre Dame this past weekend for the Irish’s final home game of the season against Wake Forest.

“It was an awesome trip,” the 2026 New Jersey offensive lineman told Irish Sports Daily.

“It was a great game. All the coaches were awesome. It was a really fun environment to be a part of. It was an awesome day.”

The Delran High School standout had the chance to reconnect with offensive line coach Joe Rudolph and defensive coordinator Al Golden, who recruits New Jersey for Notre Dame.

“We talked about me possibly see him again when he stops by school later on in the winter,” Namnun said of Golden. “He will be stopping by probably in January, around then.”

Rudolph was excited to see Namnun again.

“He remembered some conversations we had back in the summer,” Namnun said. “We talked about camp a little bit more. It was a good experience. I got to catch up with him again, talked about the upcoming wrestling season, how this season went for me. We’re going to be probably coming back again in the summer for camp.”

The 6-foot-2, 272-pounder, who has an early offer from Boston College, was impressed with the Irish’s 45-7 win over the Demon Deacons.

“It was a great game, great showing,” he said. “Really, it was a nice way to send out these seniors in their last home game.

“All phases in the game were clicking between the offense putting up 40-plus points, the defense holding them to seven, the special teams got an onside kick. It was really a great game to watch all around.”

Namnun doesn’t have any other visits locked in at the moment.

“This was pretty much it for me for the year,” he said. “At this point, we’re going to switch focuses onto the wrestling season that is upcoming with a little bit of focus for that national combine in a few weeks.”

But he’d love to return to Notre Dame in the future, saying he’d want to see “all of it again.”

“It was a great experience,” he said. “I’d love to just catch it again, just experience it again.

“It’s just a beautiful school, a great environment, really happy we made the trip out, really happy.”

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Bryce James’ brief days as a Sherman Oaks Notre Dame student and basketball player have ended. He has checked out of Notre Dame and is returning to Sierra Canyon, according to his new school. SB Live first reported the news. The son of Lakers star LeBron James played last season as a sophomore with his brother, Bronny, at Sierra Canyon.

He never played for Notre Dame. He was practicing and waiting to become eligible on Dec. 24 after transferring without moving. By returning to Sierra Canyon, he will be eligible immediately once transfer paperwork is finalized. He was at Sierra Canyon since seventh grade until he briefly left for Campbell Hall in the summer, then Notre Dame.

During his time at Notre Dame, James was well-liked.

“He’s a nice kid,” Notre Dame athletic director Alec Moss said.

Sierra Canyon’s basketball team has become a popular destination for transfers within the Mission League this month.

The Trailblazers have already added players from Crespi and Bishop Alemany to join James, who has not been a starter during his days at Sierra Canyon.