Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM MARCH 2026 47 2026 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY JACK SOBLE F or the second straight recruiting cy- cle, Notre Dame has landed a high school kicker. This time its Hinsdale (Ill.) Central's Micah Drescher, a former Michigan signee. Drescher is Rivals' No. 9 kicker in 2026 class, but Chris Sailer Kicking, which trains specialists around the country, has him at No. 1. Drescher committed to the Wolver- ines in June and signed in December, but he withdrew from his national let- ter of intent Jan. 14 — just less than a month after former Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore was fired for an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. "He's a great student," Sailer told The Wolverine in 2025. "He's humble but confident, and it couldn't have hap- pened to a better kid, a better young man, and, really, a great family as well. It's been awesome to be part of his jour- ney and to see a young athlete who has earned it reap those rewards. "This is just the start for him. I think he's got the ability and talent to really continue to take it to the next level. We're excited for his future." Drescher, who will be a scholarship player, brings Notre Dame's second- ranked 2026 recruiting class to 30 com- mitments. He is the second incoming freshman who signed during the tra- ditional signing period in February, alongside reclassified quarterback Teddy Jarrard. Presuming no more additions, Notre Dame will enter the 2026 season with six specialists on the roster: Drescher, freshman punter Jasper Scaife (from Australia), sophomore punter Erik Schmidt, junior kicker Spencer Porath (Purdue transfer), junior long snapper Joseph Vinci and senior long snapper Andrew Kros. Standing 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, Dre- scher also held an offer from North- western but quickly picked Michigan after the Wolverines showed interest. Sailer ranked him No. 1 in the class be- cause "everything he does is a strength," according to The Wolverine. "Obviously, mentally, we believe he's going to be strong," Sailer said. "That's why we have him there. He's proven it time and time again. "He's gifted technically, he's worked so hard to get there. He's strong on field goals and very consistent. He's got great range. "And then kickoffs, he's, without question a top-three guy in the coun- try, when it comes to just the overall hanging distance on his kickoffs. And then, he wins competitions. He steps up amongst the best players." As a late signee, Drescher will enroll at Notre Dame in June. ✦ Drescher, who flipped his commitment from Michigan to Notre Dame in January, is ranked as the No. 1 kicker in the nation by Chris Sailer Kicking. PHOTO COURTESY HINSDALE CENTRAL H.S. Irish Flip Top Kicking Prospect Micah Drescher From Michigan MICAH DRESCHER KICKER 6-3 · 198 HINSDALE CENTRAL H.S. HINSDALE, ILL. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE Industry ✪✪✪ 2691 13 72 ✪✪✪ — 9 71 ✪✪✪ — 21 82 ✪✪✪ — 7 39 STATISTICS • Converted 48 of 48 extra points and made 4 of 8 field goals during his senior campaign in 2025. • Made 3 of 5 field goal attempts (30, 37, 47 yards) and was 35 of 36 on extra points attempts as a junior in 2024. Also notched touchbacks on 42 of 50 kickoffs and placed 10 of 22 punts inside the 20-yard line. NOTABLE • Ranked as Chris Sailer Kicking's No. 1 kicker in the 2026 class. • Was a 2026 Navy All-American Bowl participant. • Tabbed as a Navy Academic All-American and a Navy All-American Man of the Year finalist in 2025. • Named All-Midwest Region by PrepStar in 2025. • Earned Red Grange All-County Team and 8A All-State Honorable Mention accolades in 2025. • Named the West Suburban Silver Special Teams Player of the Year in both 2024 and 2025. • Was Shaw Local All-Area in 2024. • Was the 2024 Chris Sailer Kicking Vegas XLIII Class of 2026 Field Goal Last Man Standing Champion. • Set the career and season records for extra points, plus the mark for consecutive extra points made, at Hinsdale Central. • His sister Quinn is a senior at Notre Dame. RECRUITMENT • Committed to Notre Dame on Jan. 20, 2026. • Will enroll at Notre Dame in June. • Originally signed with Michigan but was granted a release after Sherrone Moore was fired. • Recruited by special teams coordinator Marty Biagi. 2026 PROJECTION • Drescher wiill likely back up Purdue transfer Spencer Porath. THEY SAID IT Chris Sailer of Chris Sailer Kicking: "I've got him No. 1 in the country because everything he does is a strength. To be No. 1, you really shouldn't have a weakness. Mentally, we believe he's going to be strong. That's why we have him there. "He's proven it time and time again. He's gifted technically — he's worked so hard to get there. He's strong and very consistent on field goals. He's got great range."