Alister Vallejo recruitment is clearly heating up in a major way.
The 2026 defensive lineman from Liberty Hill (Texas) is starting to see some of the biggest programs in college football line up for his services
The 6-foot-4, 295-pounder visited Michigan over the weekend and left Ann Arbor with an offer on Sunday. On Monday, Notre Dame got Vallejo on the phone and offered.
Vallejo was a little caught off guard by the offer from the Irish, but was grateful for the chat with Al Washington.
“It was kind of an eye-opening moment to see how much this thing has really taken off for me,” Vallejo told ISD. “It’s been surreal. It’s an exciting process, but you have to slow it down while everything is moving so fast.”
Along with Michigan and Notre Dame, Vallejo holds offers from Arizona, Baylor, Houston, Kansas, Memphis, Oklahoma State, Oregon State, Sacramento State, SMU, and Texas State. The flood of interest is still sinking in for the Liberty Hill standout.
“It’s kind of hit me,” stated Vallejo. “Sometimes when I wake up, I’m like, is this real? Are they playing with me? It’s definitely a great feeling and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
The relations with Washington might be new, but Vallejo has been impressed with Notre Dame’s defensive line coach. In fact, Washington’s approach to offering Vallejo immediately caught his attention.
“He’s been texting me,” Vallejo said. “He does everything right. He’s very old school. He reached out to my head coach first and made sure my parents were there when he talked to me. I was appreciative of his professionalism.”
When it comes to Vallejo’s game on the field, it’d be hard to find someone who plays as hard, but also as violently.
Vallejo knows his strengths, but also where he needs to grow this offseason.
“I know I need to improve getting my hands more involved,” stated Vallejo. “Something I do well is the intensity I play with. You’re not going to find anything better than that. You can make a lot of plays with your skill and talent, but you're going to make a lot more plays with high motor, intensity and a passion for the game.”
The motor and violence come naturally to the Liberty Hill star, which likely has every defensive line coach itching to coach him at the next level.
“It’s definitely a passion,” said Vallejo. “It’s the wanting to be the best. It’s wanting to have it all and wanting to give it my all at the same time.”
As he builds relationships with some of the top defensive line coaches in the nation, Vallejo has a clear vision for what he’s looking for in a future coach and program.
“You’re going to want someone who can break you down and build you up at the same time,” explained Vallejo. “It might be through tough love or constructive criticism. I’m open to it all.”
With a visit to Texas scheduled for Thursday, Vallejo is starting to line up his official visits. He’s focused on finding a school that sets him up for success both on and off the field - and one that prioritizes winning.
“Academics are a big part of it,” said Vallejo. “Player development is a pretty big part of it. Schools that not only have a passion for player success, but also program success. I don’t want a school that is going to be happy going 6-5 every year. I want a school that wants to dominate and not a school happy just to make a bowl game.”
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