“Notre Dame is targeting Texas Tech’s James Blanchard for its new general manager position, sources tell me and @TomLoy247 for @CBSSports/@247Sports,” Matt Zenitz said in a post. “At Texas Tech, Blanchard has become of the nation’s most respected college front office figures.”

Notre Dame bolsters its 2025 recruiting class with a key addition—landing a 4-star offensive lineman to strengthen the Fighting Irish front.

Last July, amid overtures from USC, James Blanchard reportedly signed a two-year, $800,000 contract to remain at Texas Tech.

Tyler Merrill is a four-star recruit according to 247 Sports. He is the #61 player in the 2026 recruiting class, the #5 IOL and the #2 player in the state of Pennsylvania. Merrill currently attends Cumberland Valley High School in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.

Former Texas Longhorns defensive coordinator Chris Ash is back in the collegiate ranks, and with another storied program at that. According to ESPN's Pete Thame

Already in previous years, Marcus Freeman has sought to lure away James Blanchard, widely considered one of the top collegiate personnel experts, away from Texas Tech to Freeman's Notre Dame program in South Bend, Ind.