Four-star WR Kaydon Finley commits to Notre Dame

Aledo (Texas) High’s Kaydon Finley has announced his commitment to Notre Dame, giving the Fighting Irish a marquee wide receiver pledge in the 2026 class.

Marcus Freeman and Co. offered the four-star prospect in March 2024 and have had him as a priority target since. The Irish beat out Texas — his father’s college team — as well as Arizona State, Texas A&M and UCLA, which were his other finalists.

Finley made his Notre Dame decision public on the evening of July 4.

He first saw Notre Dame in the 8th grade when his aunt graduated from the university. It was before his recruiting process got underway and well before he started talking to the Irish staff, but the environment of the school set the bar high.

“That’s when I fell in love with Notre Dame,” Finley told Blue & Gold before making his decision public.

Finley was one of 21 official visitors on campus for the June 13-15 weekend, and all the recruits who were in town have raved about the visit experience, with a key highlight being the time they spent with each other. This was very important to Finley as well.

“When I really knew Notre Dame was where I wanted to be was on my official visit,” he added. “That set it in stone, for sure.”

But still, Finley, who ranks as On3’s No. 120 overall player and No. 14 wide receiver in America, took an official visit to Texas the following weekend. Irish fans were concerned that the Longhorns getting the last visit would lead to momentum swinging back to Texas, but that’s not what happened.

“Notre Dame is just different,” Finley explained. “They recruit a certain type of kid. You have to be a special football player and person. When I went on my official visit, all the recruits clicked. And how the coaches and players got along with all of us set Notre Dame apart from Texas and the other schools. I had a great time at Texas, but it didn’t feel as good as Notre Dame.”

Finley is Notre Dame’s third receiver commitment, joining Savannah (Ga.) Benedictine Military School’s Bubba Frazier and Boca Raton (Fla.) Saint Andrew’s School’s Dylan Faison.

He is the Irish’s 23rd commitment, nine of whom rank as top 120 players nationally per On3. Notre Dame has a blue-chip ratio nearing 85%, and the class ranks as On3’s No. 2 in America.

Finley goes in depth on Notre Dame commitment

Blue & Gold’s feeling on Finley’s recruitment for the past few months has been that he was leaning strongly toward the Irish, but the in-state pull is real, and his father, Jermichael Finley, who starred for the Longhorns from 2005-07 before declaring for the NFL Draft, wanted his son to strongly consider Texas.

“At the beginning of the process, he was definitely leaning toward me going to Texas,” Finley explained. “But as the process went on and my dad got up to Notre Dame, he fell in love with the place as well.

“After my Notre Dame trip, he told me that this is my journey and to make the best decision for me. He said, ‘I don’t care if it’s Notre Dame or Texas, but I really love Notre Dame and want you to know that.’ It was important for him to tell me that, and I’m glad it all worked out.”

Finley visited Notre Dame six times, with two taking place in 2024 and the other four this calendar year. Eleven days before his South Bend official, the 6-0.5, 200-pounder unofficially visited campus with the main part of the trip focused on spending time with the current players, and it was also his dad’s first trip to campus.

The elder Finley loved his first visit to Notre Dame, and during the OV, he was pictured wearing a Notre Dame hat.

“I was surprised myself by that,” Finley said with a laugh. “But he loved the place. He and Coach Freeman are best friends now. I’m glad they got that connection going, too. It’s going to be a good few years.”

Finley’s Texas official visit wrapped up on Sunday, June 22, and after a couple days of reflection and conversations with those close to him, he called up Freeman, wide receivers coach Mike Brown and recruiting office staffers Carter Auman and Justice Bathas to commit.

He gave a shoutout to Auman and Bathas as key figures in his decision to pick the Irish.

“They’re my best friends,” Finley stated. “I love those guys so much. They’re family.”

Finley’s decision has been made. He’s locked in with the Irish and won’t be considering other schools moving forward. He’ll graduate from Aledo High in December and enroll at Notre Dame in January.

“Man, I’m so excited and relieved,” Finley said. “I’m pumped about this class. I’m going to be recruiting for Notre Dame, and I’m going to work my butt off to get the best recruits in the country. I’m excited to get this rolling with my guys.

“Our receiver class is special this year. I’m close friends with the other receiver recruits too. I know we’re going to push each other and play for one another. I’m excited to go to war with my boys.”

What should Notre Dame fans know about Finley on and off the field?

“I’m going to be involved in the South Bend community and give back,” he said. “I’m excited to be a part of the Irish family. If you support Notre Dame, then you’re a part of my family, too. Notre Dame is getting a hard worker, and I’d be willing to die for Notre Dame.”

“Whatever Coach Brown and Coach Denbrock need from me, I’ll do it. If it’s blocking, going up for a deep ball or catching a screen, I’ll make the play.”

The Kaydon Finley file

In addition to his finalists, Finley also held scholarship offers from the likes of Georgia, Oregon, Miami, Tennessee, Penn State, Oklahoma, Auburn, Washington and many others.

During his junior season in 2024, Finley hauled in 81 passes for 1,432 yards and 21 touchdowns. He helped Aledo reach the quarterfinal of the Texas 5A D1 with a 12-2 record and was named to the 2024 MaxPreps High School Football Junior All-America second-team offense.

Finley was listed on the Texas Sports Writer Association Class 5A all-state first team offense and Texas High School Coaches Association 5A Football Super Elite Team.

GM Sports Media named Finley its Parker County offensive MVP.

As a sophomore the year prior, he posted 25 receptions for 417 yards and 6 scores. His squad had a perfect season and captured the 5A D1 state championship. Finley hauled in 3 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown in the title game.

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