Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM MARCH 2026 57 2026 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY TYLER JAMES E arly enrollment didn't quite feel early to Notre Dame offensive line signee Sullivan Garvin. The three-star re- cruit who verbally committed to the Irish in December 2024 wrapped up his senior year at Allegan (Mich.) High in mid- November. He had to wait until Jan. 12 to begin his first semester at Notre Dame. "I've been waiting on this forever now," Garvin said in early January. "I got out of school Nov. 14, and it's just been a slow countdown. But I'm really excited." Garvin saw Notre Dame's six-man offensive line class come together from the start, because he was the first to give his pledge to the Irish. Ben Nichols followed suit later that month, Tyler Merrill joined the class in January 2025 and Gregory Patrick rounded out a quartet that most programs would be pleased to have for an entire class. But the Irish pushed for offensive tackles Grayson McKeogh and Charlie Thom, which resulted in two more com- mitments last June. Rivals rates McKeogh as a five-star prospect; Patrick, Thom and Nichols as four-star recruits; and Garvin and Merrill as three-star talents. The group formed a tight bond and kept in touch with a group chat throughout their senior years. They know their relationships with each other matter because of what they've seen at Notre Dame under offensive line coach Joe Rudolph. "It's definitely a special group," Garvin said. "On my official visit both nights we hung out with the O-line. Everybody's the same. They're all just close with each other and have a good relationship. "You can tell it's definitely like a group of brothers. Coach Rudolph always talks about a band of brothers. That's the way he says it. You can definitely tell that it's there." The description of a brotherhood seems fitting because Garvin described Rudolph as a father-like figure. Since getting to know Rudolph, Garvin began to look up to him as a role model. "He's always been the same person since Day 1," Garvin said. "Just a down- to-earth dude who loves and cares about you, but he's hard on you and ex- pects a lot out of you." Garvin, who Rivals ranks as the No. 63 interior offensive lineman in the 2026 class, will likely transition to a guard or center role after playing of- fensive tackle in high school. He learned to play with a bit of a target on his back as a senior while committed to the Irish. "I feel like I elevated my game," Garvin said. "I have a standard that I need to meet now and expectations to fill." The 6-foot-5, 308-pound Garvin focused on improv- ing in pass protection and continued to work out three times a week in the winter be- fore enrolling at Notre Dame. He also gained some matu- rity in learning how to handle deficits and games while re- maining a leader for his team. Leadership won't neces- sarily be required of Garvin as he en- ters his first round of spring football at Notre Dame, but he can follow the lead of others and prove he belongs. "I definitely am going to learn a lot about myself, but I do want to show ev- erybody I'm a hard worker," Garvin said. "I'm going to be determined and show up every day with the same mindset." ✦ Sullivan Garvin Waited 'Forever' To Enroll At Notre Dame SULLIVAN GARVIN OFFENSIVE LINEMAN 6-5 · 308 ALLEGAN H.S. ALLEGAN, MICH. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE Industry ✪✪✪ 686 65 14 ✪✪✪ — 63 15 ✪✪✪ — 53 13 ✪✪✪ — 40 10 NOTABLE • Named a MaxPreps Small Town second-team All-American in 2025. • Earned a spot on the All-Michigan Offensive Dream Team in 2025. • Tabbed Michigan Division 5 all-state in 2024 and 2025. • Earned Michigan Division 5, Region 2 all-region team honors in 2024 and 2025. • Received All-Wolverine Conference accolades in 2025, and was honorable mention in 2022 and 2023. • Was a four-year starter on both the offensive and defensive lines. • Was a three-year team captain. RECRUITMENT • Committed to the Fighting Irish on Dec. 5, 2024. • Enrolled at Notre Dame in January. • Picked the Irish over Cincinnati, Indiana, Kansas and Purdue. • Recruited by offensive line coach Joe Rudolph. • Visited Notre Dame 15 times, including his of- ficial visit on June 13, 2025. 2026 PROJECTION • Garvin is expected to redshirt. THEY SAID IT Rivals director of scouting and rankings Charles Power: "Sullivan Garvin is a versatile offensive lineman. He's a prospect who plays tackle for his high school, and I could see him potentially play- ing any of the five spots on the offensive line at the next level. "What impresses me most in watching his junior film is his ability to work to the second level. He looks to be coordinated, a pretty fluid mover and does a nice job working in space. He identifies line- backers, and once he gets his hands on defenders, he imposes his will. The film is encouraging. "He fits a lot of what Notre Dame likes in an of- fensive lineman. He provides versatility. He doesn't play against the strongest competition, but he manhandles defenders like you'd hope for. He fits Notre Dame's M.O. for an offensive lineman." Garvin, who was a second-team MaxPreps Small Town All-American in 2025, was Notre Dame's first offensive line commitment in the 2026 class. PHOTO BY MIKE SINGER