Notre Dame’s 2027 recruiting class continued its hot start on Tuesday by picking up a commitment from elite Ohio cornerback Ace Alston‍, who just made his announcement public.

“The culture that they have going on and the brotherhood and just the family and stuff that they have going on,” Alston told Irish Sports Daily regarding his decision prior to his announcement.

“Every time I go to Notre Dame, they treat me like family. They treat me like a priority and then just the picture. Life after football is very important to me. I feel like Notre Dame is a great school that can set me up for the future and let me be successful in doing that.”

The 5-foot-11, 175-pounder from Cincinnati said Irish head coach Marcus Freeman had a big impact on his decision to choose Notre Dame over dozens offers from schools like Ohio State, Indiana, USC, Tennessee, Cincinnati, Michigan, LSU, Ole Miss, Oregon, Texas A&M, Wisconsin, Virginia Tech and West Virginia among several others. 

“Coach Freeman is a great guy,” said Alston. “He’s also from Ohio just like me. We built a great relationship over these years. 

“Just talking to him every time I go up there and sitting in his office, laughing and joking. Really just talking about life with him. It’s not only football with him. It’s just life and how he can help me be successful and how the school can help me be successful outside of football. That’s important to me too.”

It’s a similar relationship with Irish defensive backs coach Mike Mickens, although Mickens has already made it clear he’s going to be tough on him on the field. 

“Coach Mickens told me on the phone that if he did have the opportunity to coach me, it would be hard,” Alston said. 

“Seeing him being like a UC alumni, he’s just a great coach. Him coaching Sauce Gardner, Leonard Moore and all the great cornerbacks. I feel like he’s a great coach that can fit my playing style and that can coach me up. I like getting coached hard.”

Alston believes his playing style fits what Mickens and the Irish ask out of their DBs.

“I feel like I’m very versatile when it comes down to the field,” he said. “I feel like I’m very aggressive. I can play multiple positions, like the nickel position, the actual corner position. I play some safety too. 

“I feel like Notre Dame moves their DBs around a little bit. I feel like I can fit in their scheme. They like to play a lot of Man. I also like Man, so I feel like I can fit in their scheme real good.”

The Anderson High School star gives the Irish total commits in the Class of 2027, although quarterback commit Teddy Jarrard‍ is pursuing a reclassification that could put him in the 2026 class. 

Alston joins California safety Khalil Terry‍ to give the Irish a pair of top targets in the secondary. 

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