BREAKING | 2026 CB Chaston Smith Commits To Notre Dame
Less than a month ago, Chaston Smith looked like a heavy lean to Clemson. The 2026 Tennessee cornerback said as much following a trip to see the Tigers.
But that was before Smith took a trip to see Notre Dame a week later. Coming out of his visit to South Bend, he said the Irish had opened his eyes.
He wasn’t kidding.
On Sunday afternoon, the McCallie School star announced his commitment to the Irish over offers from schools like Clemson, Texas A&M, Indiana, Ole Miss and Louisville among many others.
“The opportunity that they’ve shown me after football, not just while I’m there,” Smith told ISD prior to his public announcement.
“They put me in a great position with what it means to have a scholarship from Notre Dame with what that can mean for me after football. It can also set me up for the NFL. They’ve put great guys in The League. Coach (Mike) Mickens has coached a lot of great DBs in the past, so that’s something I want to be a part of.”
Smith never planned on letting the process drag on longer than it needed to.
“It just feels right,” he said. “It feels like the right moment to do it. It’s a great opportunity to do it right now.”
Smith gives the Irish four commits in the Class of 2026, joining linebacker Thomas Davis Jr., quarterback Noah Grubbs and wide receiver Dylan Faison.
While at Notre Dame, the coaches showed the 6-foot-2, 175-pound Smith how they felt he compared to great corners they’d coached in the past, including Benjamin Morrison, a favorite of Smith’s.
He’s excited to join a program that is College Football Playoff-bound.
“It means a lot. I’m very grateful to join a program like that. They had a big win last night.“
Stay tuned to Irish Sports Daily for more on this breaking news.
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