2026 DE McHale Blade Returns To Notre Dame...Hopes To Return Again Soon

On Saturday, McHale Blade‍ was back at Notre Dame for the second time in a matter of weeks and you can expect the 2026 Illinois defensive end to be a mainstay in South Bend over the next several months…at least.

“It went great,” Blade told Irish Sports Daily of his most recent visit. “I enjoyed my time.”

The Hillcrest High School standout was at the Irish’s first practice of the spring on March 7th and was eager to see them really get into practice this weekend. 

“I got to see them in pads, what I wanted,” he said. “Real intense, real intense. They were getting at it.”

Blade, who announced he landed a scholarship offer from the Irish last Sunday, had the chance to catch up with Marcus Freeman and defensive line coach Al Washington.

“It was really just casual,” he said. “I spoke with the head coach, Coach Freeman. 

“Coach Washington told me, 'Don't be shy to really get into the drills. This isn't like some zoo. You can actually be a part of these drills. You can ask questions.”

Blade took Washington up on the offer and said he “definitely” liked what he saw.

“I could see myself being in there,” he said.

Blade had the opportunity to meet multiple members of the Irish’s 2025 recruiting class, who were also in town.

“I spoke to Chris Burgess‍,” Blade said of the Irish’s 2025 defensive line commit. “Coach Freeman introduced me to a giant o-tackle (Owen Strebig‍ ). He was like 6-8, 6-9. The kid was huge.”

Blade also met 2025 Notre Dame defensive line commit Joseph Reiff‍.

“I spent most of my time with Burgess and Joseph because we were all around the d-linemen and they seemed pretty cool,” he said.

Like Blade, Reiff and Burgess also hail from Illinois. The 6-foot-5, 230-pounder acknowledged being around other similar players is a draw, as is South Bend’s location.

“That would be great,” he said. “I'd feel right down home and with Notre Dame being so close to home, it would really hit.”

Blade, who also has offers from schools like Florida, Miami, Nebraska, Illinois, Cincinnati and Boston College, has a few other visits in mind.

“I'm thinking about Nebraska or Miami,” he said. “If not, then I'll try to visit somewhere more locally, like University of Illinois or Purdue, somewhere close.”

As for Notre Dame, he’s hoping to get back for next month’s spring game.

“I would like to see the crowd, the fans, high energy, music playing,” he said. “I just want to see a real game day environment at Notre Dame.”

The Irish have certainly made a very strong initial impression.

“Those are my guys. Usually it's strictly all business, but I feel like it's a little bit more than that when it comes down to Notre Dame.”

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