Notre Dame Lands Elite Linebacker Madden Faraimo

Notre Dame has landed another huge pickup for the 2025 class, this time picking up a pledge from San Diego (Calif.) J Serra Catholic star linebacker Madden Faraimo. The Irish beat out Ohio State, USC, Texas and Washington to land this elite linebacker. Coming into signing day it appeared the Trojans were the team to beat, but it was Notre Dame that has now landed his signature.

Faraimo is an outstanding inside linebacker with top notch size, athleticism and power. He's a highly instinctive player that plays the game with impressive speed and power. As a senior he racked up 113 tackles despite battling an injury all season. He also racked up over 100 tackles as a junior against some of the best competition in the country. He could thrive at both Mike and Will linebacker, but like current freshman star linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, he also has the talent to rush the quarterback off the edge.

The 6-3, 225-pound linebacker is one of the nation's top linebackers. He ranks as the nation's No. 53 overall player according to Rivals and ranks as a Top 100 player according to both 247Sports and ESPN. Faraimo graded out as a Top 100 player with a five-star upside grade on the Irish Breakdown board. 

Notre Dame now has three linebackers in the 2025 class, with Faraimo joining Anthony Sacca and Josiah Kia. This trio gives Notre Dame one of the best linebacker hauls in the country, which has been a common theme under head coach Marcus Freeman.

Faraimo had offers from Alabama, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Miami (Fla.), Auburn, Nebraska, UCLA, Utah, Stanford, Michigan State, Arizona, Colorado, Oregon State and California.