Any time Notre Dame is in play for the No. 1 player at any given position, it is certainly newsworthy. In this instance, the target is class of 2026, four-star defensive lineman Elijah Golden.
Photo via Elijah Golden, X (@backfield_e)
After transferring to IMG Academy in his sophomore season, Golden has gained a lot of traction among scouts as far as what he could become as a player. Already standing 6'4" and weighing between 260-270 pounds, Golden is a force on the line of scrimmage showing he can line up and be successful from multiple alignments. I sat down to go over some film and came away with the following thoughts regarding some of his traits.
Upfield Burst: Very Good (6)
Golden is excellent when it comes to keying pass vs run off the snap. He attacks upfield without over-penetrating and losing sight of the ball. Has a quick get-off and good hand placement, allowing him to consistently win at the point of attack. Maintains his balance in traffic while working upfield. He is a big-time disruptor, blowing up run plays in the backfield and making the QB uncomfortable even when he does not get home for a sack.
Pass Rush: Good (5)
The first thing that stood out to me was just his ability to get consistent pressure using a bullrush. His strength is really on display when he uses this technique especially when lined up as a traditional nose tackle right over the center. He will occasionally come off the line with too high of a pad level which limits leg drive when converting speed to power, but he also has an excellent rip and swim move that he mixes in his rush package. What makes him even more dangerous as a pass rusher, is his ability to line up anywhere on the LOS. Saw him take reps from a 0-technique, 1-technique, and 3-technique in the film I watched. This gives the ability to utilize match-up specific packages in key situations.
Run Stopping: Very Good (6)
Golden is a certified run stuffer. His combination of burst and strength makes for tough treading when teams choose to run in his direction. He shows he can anchor down and hold up vs double teams without losing lane integrity. Also likes to use his rip-and-swim maneuver in the run game, quickly shedding blocks to pursue the ball carrier. He is a sure tackler once he gets his hands on the runner and limits any type of extra yardage.
Pursuit: Good (5)
I always appreciate when the big men in the trenches are willing to try to chase plays down that are going away from them. Golden shows really good effort and motor in this area, hustling from the backside to bring down ball carriers that are still on their feet. For a player of his size, shows good change of direction and burst to quickly try to close the distance between himself and the ball carrier. Some things don't show up on the stat sheet but they show up in the film room and builds trust from the coaching staff to know a player will never give up on a play.
Although Golden has not committed to a school yet, Notre Dame being on his short list tells you recruits like what they see happening on the defensive side of the ball as of late. Defensive coordinator Al Golden and Defensive Line Coach Al Washington have both done tremendous jobs and because of that may have another big-time recruit at their disposal come 2026.
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