2026 CB RJ Sermons Still Has Eye On Notre Dame

Since his trip to South Bend in April, RJ Sermons‍ has kept a close eye on Notre Dame.

Not surprisingly, the top 2026 California cornerback has continued to field new offers.

“A lot of new contacts with schools like Nebraska, SMU, Florida and schools like that,” the 6-foot-1, 185-pounder said.

But the Irish remain among those that have his interest.

“My top schools right now that I'm really interested in looking into are USC, Oregon, Texas, Notre Dame, and then probably Florida,” the Rancho Cucamonga star said. 

The complete package of Notre Dame is what has his full attention.

“Honestly, just the life after football,” he said. “I feel like if you go to Notre Dame, you're set up for life.”

Sermons enjoyed his first trip to Notre Dame and has been talking with defensive backs coach Mike Mickens about returning.

“I was just on the phone with Coach Mickens, just chopping it up with him,” he said. “I definitely want to get back down there. Coach Mickens and my dad, we're all going to get on a call soon and really find a date that would work to get back up there, probably for a game.

“I just want to see how they play as a team because I mean I feel like I've kind of got a good feel for everything else. I just want to get up there and see how they can play ball as a unit.”

As he said, Sermons is also high on the Trojans.

“I like the culture and really just the environment in LA and also the coaching staff,” he said. “I like the new defensive coaching staff, everybody that came in; Coach (Doug) Belk, Coach (D’Anton) Lynn. Taylor Mays is also on the staff, he's super cool.”

Sermons’ father, Rodney, played running back for USC in the 90s. While that won’t be a deciding factor for Sermons, he has certainly been exposed to the program plenty, which won’t hurt the Trojans.

“To be honest, I feel like it factors in just the fact that I've been around it my whole life, but I wouldn't say that it has me set to go there just because he went there,” he said. 

Sermons will be taking more of a long-term view. 

“I think what's going to really set the schools apart is really the life after football. I feel like football is kind of just a gateway and the platform that I have, but ultimately it's going to be what school can offer me something if football doesn't work out.”

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