Initially, Rodney Dunham was going to wait.
The 2026 North Carolina defensive end was planning to take official visits before making a college decision.
But after a return trip to South Bend last month, Dunham knew he’d seen enough.
On Thursday, the elite prospect announced his commitment to Notre Dame, choosing the Irish over schools like Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina and Duke among several others.
“From being there, I just thought it was the best place for me,” Dunham told Irish Sports Daily prior to the public announcement.
“I felt at home when I was there. I just feel like that's the best outcome for me and the people who are there as well.”
Dunham gives the Irish nine current commits in the Class of 2026 and joins fellow North Carolina native Ebenezer Ewetade, who committed this past weekend, to give Notre Dame a pair of defensive ends.
Dunham pointed to the people in South Bend as a major factor in his choice.
“You're going to be around them for the next four years of your life, so that has to be important,” he said.
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, defensive line coach Al Washington and defensive line assistant Nick Sebastian played key roles in Dunham’s recruitment.
But it was more than the people.
“The school, the academics and the football program,” Dunham continued. “It's a great football program as well and where I'm going to live, not an apartment or whatever, but the town.”
Dunham’s coach at Myers Park, Chris James, pointed to Dunham’s personality as his greatest trait, but wasn’t overlooking what he brings to the position either.
“He is a monster on the football field,” James said. “He has a lot of God-given talents that you just can't coach. I try not to overcoach him too much, just kind of let him use his God-given talents to do what he does best, which is get after the quarterback.”
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound pass rusher believes he’ll bring an energy and ferocity to the Irish.
“I'm going to bring relentlessness,” he said. “I never give up. I never will give up. I bring an immense amount of effort.”
Dunham handled the recruiting process with class, but the Myers Park High School standout is happy it finished with him finding a home.
“I'm very excited,” he said. “I took my visits and all that.
“Now that I know where I'm going, I can just focus on playing for my high school team and see what we can do there.”
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