Notre Dame Visit Goes "Great" For 2026 LB Kenneth Goodwin

Notre Dame made a great impression on 2026 linebacker Kenneth Goodwin during his visit to campus

2026 linebacker Kenneth Goodwin meets with Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman / Kenneth Goodwin

It was a busy day for the Notre Dame coaching staff and recruiting department on Saturday, welcoming several big time recruits in the 2025 and 2026 classes. One player making his first trip was Las Vegas (Nev.) Desert Pines defender Kenneth Goodwin, who is one of the best linebackers in the 2026 recruiting class. 

Among a talented list of linebackers offered during the Pot of Gold event, this trip was one that Goodwin was looking forward to for some time now. Notre Dame did not disappoint. 

"My visit was great,” Goodwin told Irish Breakdown. "I loved it. My favorite parts were the Golden Dome, the meetings with the coaches and practice. It was all incredible. Notre Dame is a great school. The connection that  you can build is wonderful. I see myself fitting in great.”

During the visit, Notre Dame provided the Nevada star with plenty of different perspectives. It started with the players, specifically those who have a similar background as Goodwin. 

"My conversations with the other players and coaches were great,” said Goodwin. "I talked to Kyngstonn (Viliamu-Asa) and Ben (Morrison) a lot because they are both from the West Coast. They both gave me a great perspective.”

The next perspective was the coaches, including linebacker coach Max Bullough. He even offered a comparison to one of his current Irish players. 

"The staff sees me fitting in great with their scheme,” explained Goodwin. "Coach Bullough compares me a lot to No. 3, Jaylen Sneed. We both are explosive and can play out in space.”

Following the visit, Goodwin is already talking about making a return trip in the future. Notre Dame showed him everything he needed, and already has made him anxious to see more. 

Goodwin is currently ranked as a four-star recruit on the Rivals ranking. They currently have him pegged as the No. 153 overall player in the 2026 recruiting class. On the On3 Industry ranking, Goodwin comes in as the No. 205 overall player, No. 16 linebacker and No. 3 player in the state of Nevada.

The 6-2, 205-pound linebacker has been hearing from some very impressive programs. Some of his top offers so far include the Fighting Irish, Georgia, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Washington, Boston College and SMU among others. 

During eight games as a junior, Goodwin racked up 40 total tackles for Desert Pines. He also had six sacks, showcasing his talents as a blitzer.

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