Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1543321
56 MARCH 2026 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2026 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY MIKE SINGER A t the end of his freshman season on the junior varsity squad, Pres- ton Fryzel was pulled up to the Toledo (Ohio) Central Catholic varsity football team, which went 16-1 and captured the Ohio Division II state championship. As a sophomore in 2023, he helped lead Central Catholic to a perfect 16-0 season and another Division II title triumph. Fryze l 's h i g h sc h o o l ex p e r i e n ce couldn't have gotten off to a better start, but he experienced heartbreak in his final two seasons of high school ball, losing the state title game to Columbus Bishop Watterson both years. The Notre Dame class of 2026 tight end signee has experienced the highs and lows of football. "It was tough," Fryzel said. "We started off this season 0-3 and had no idea the direction the season was going to take us. Our senior captains and lead- ers had a players-only meeting, and that changed the dynamic of the team. We rallied together and became closer, and ever since that meeting, we had a win- or-go-home mentality. We carried that from Week 4 to Week 16." Fryzel's squad lost Dec. 5, and two days later, Notre Dame was question- ably removed from the College Football Playoff field after being comfortably in it during each rankings release. It was a tough weekend for Fryzel. "I was pretty shocked," he said. "All of us [signees in the 2026 class] were shocked. Losing the state champion- ship and Notre Dame getting snubbed from the playoff gave me, plus the entire class, extra motivation. We never want to feel that again." The Irish signees are rallying together, and the Notre Dame staff is helping them push forward as well. "We just have to look to the future," Fryzel added. "[General manager] Mike Martin said that's why they're bringing in this strong 2026 class — so that it never happens again. We got motivation and encouragement from the coaches." Fryzel has a chip on his shoulder heading into his Fighting Irish career, which begins in January when he enrolls early, and he couldn't be more fired up. "My main thing going into Notre Dame is developing more physically in the weight room," he said. "These early months with the extra motivation are going to help a lot. "I'm really excited. We have a really close group of guys." ✦ Preston Fryzel Is Turning Setback Into Motivation Fryzel, Rivals' No. 9 tight end and No. 195 overall player nationally, is fired up to begin his Notre Dame career. PHOTO BY KYLE KELLY PRESTON FRYZEL TIGHT END 6-4 · 208 CENTRAL CATHOLIC H.S. HOLLAND, OHIO RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE Industry ✪✪✪✪ 384 22 20 ✪✪✪✪ 195 9 10 ✪✪✪ — 33 30 ✪✪✪ — 12 33 STATISTICS • Caught 38 passes for 894 yards and 8 touch- downs in 15 games as a senior in 2025, leading Central Catholic to the Ohio Division III state cham- pionship game. • Recorded 43 receptions for 807 yards and 10 touchdowns in 16 games as a junior in 2024, while helping Central Catholic reach the Ohio Division III state championship game. NOTABLE • Named first-team All-Ohio in Division III in 2025, and was honorable mention in 2024. • Tabbed as the All-District Northwest Offensive Player of the Year in 2025. • Earned first-team All-Detroit Catholic High School League honors in 2024 and 2025. • Was an All-Toledo Blade selection in 2024 and 2025. RECRUITMENT • Committed to the Fighting Irish on June 23, 2025. • Enrolled at Notre Dame in January. • Picked the Irish over Iowa and Miami. • Recruited by offensive coordinator Mike Den- brock and assistant tight ends coach Harris Bivin. • Visited Notre Dame five times, including his of- ficial visit on June 13, 2025. 2026 PROJECTION • Fryzel is expected to redshirt. THEY SAID IT Rivals director of scouting and rankings Charles Power: "Fryzel is a prospect who we've liked for some time at Rivals. You have to start with his re- ceiving ability — he's a savvy, skilled pass-catching target as a tight end. He can really find ways to get open at multiple levels of the field. I really loved his ability to create mismatches in the passing game. "He provides Notre Dame with the ability to move all over a formation, and he's going to find ways to get open, particularly in the intermediate game, but also can stretch the field. "He runs well and was very productive. When you look at Notre Dame's tight end room, he really gives them a skill set they can use. Notre Dame has been loading up on these big-bodied, in-line tight ends, and Fryzel provides a really nice change of pace as a guy who is more of a move-type. You can do a lot of different things with him."