Coming off a dominant 48-7 victory over Calvert Hall on Saturday, it’s wild to think it wasn’t that long ago that La Salle College (Pa.) standout one of Rivals newly-minted five-stars in offensive tackle Grayson McKeogh quit football.
The Notre Dame commit wasn’t having very much fun playing the game he now loves.
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“I started playing football in third grade,” McKeogh said. Nearly half way through his senior season, he is now Rivals No. 3 offensive tackle and No. 11 prospect overall in the 2026 class. “Played left guard up until my seventh grade year. I was heavier than my grade so I played a year up. I was pretty bad and left guard made me hate football. I quit in seventh grade.”
That also happened to be the Covid year.
“I promised my dad I would go back my eighth grade year.”
The year off and a position change gave McKeogh a fresh start on the gridiron.
“I went back and played wide receiver for a year and was taller and faster than most so was very dominant.”
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That speed and athleticism still translates today for the now 6-foot-8, 295-pound McKeogh, who played tight end on the junior varsity his freshman year. By sophomore year he was a varsity defensive end. After that season Duke was first to offer. Syracuse also jumped in the mix.
Going into junior year, McKeogh switched back to the offensive line.
“I agreed but had some hesitation,” McKeogh said. However this time he was ready for it.
“My junior year I was 6-7, 235 and enjoyed every minute of it. Just wasn’t big enough. Now I’m 6-8, 295 and feel just as good and athletic as when I was 235.”
Penn State and Northwestern offered at the end of McKeogh’s junior year and that motivated him to fully embrace being the best left tackle he could be. From diet to training, McKeogh has become one of the special prospects in the 2026 class. After helping La Salle College finish 10-0 as a junior, you can tell the off-season preparation has taken his game to another level as a senior.
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“It’s definitely a process, but the biggest thing is just picking one thing to focus on a week,” McKeogh said. “Just like technical things like keeping my hands inside, leverage, setting, pulling, those kinds of things. I’ve been doing that for a year and a half now and every week I set a new goal for myself. I’ve prioritized learning technique along with staying athletic.”
McKeogh also put on the weight in a healthy fashion.
“My mom is a really good cook mainly,” he said. “But my parents also helped me meal prep, ground beef and rotisserie chicken on Sundays.”
Sundays is where McKeogh appears to be headed on the field. He’s got all the traits coveted at the position.
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“A smooth, effortless athlete with excellent movement skills for the position,” Rivals Director of Scouting Charles Power said. “May move the best of any offensive tackle prospect in the cycle. Has advanced flexibility in his lower body. Sinks his hips and creates a wide base on contact. Keeps his feet grounded and shows outstanding balance as a pass protector. Natural understanding of leverage allows him to get underneath the pads of pass rushers. Shows quality pop in his hands and is already a good finisher. Shows the ability to locate and get his hands on defenders at the second level. Technically advanced considering his limited experience at offensive line. Also shows his athleticism lining up as a defensive end. Doubles as a talented basketball player.
“If he can continue progressing physically, has one of the higher ceilings among 2026 offensive tackle prospects and could develop into an early round NFL Draft pick.”
All the accolades motivate McKeogh who saw Notre Dame, Stanford and Tennessee extend scholarships heading into the spring. Ohio State, Texas and Alabama offered just before summer.
Each conversation with those coaches and opportunity to play at those prestigious universities energizes McKeogh to do more. Now tabbed a five-star he feels the same way.
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“It means that all the hard work that went into it is paying off,” McKeogh said. “It also comes with a lot of responsibility to continue to play to my capabilities.”
McKeogh ultimately committed to Notre Dame on June 18 over the Nittany Lions and Longhorns.
“Getting developed by a great coaching staff, surrounded by a bunch of players who are going to make me better while earning a really strong degree,” McKeogh said.
Notre Dame has consistently boasted some of the top offensive linemen in college football with the likes of Zack Martin, Quenton Nelson, Ronnie Stanley, Mike McGlinchey, Liam Eichenberg, Joe Alt and Blake Frazier manning the front lines. McKeogh looks forward to working towards carrying on the tradition.
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“I just feel that it’s where I fit in best,” McKeogh said. “All those guys that surround the program feel like me and are people who I can surround myself with for the next couple years. You are who you surround yourselves with and aside from the great academic and football prestige that’s what they’ve got.”
McKeogh joins future Notre Dame teammate and edge rusher Rodney Dunham as a Rivals five-star. By the end of the cycle Rivals will finish with 32 five-stars. Three other Notre Dame commits are inside the Top 32 with McKeogh’s high school teammate in safety Joey O’Brien ranking No. 24 nationally, tight end Ian Premer checking in at No. 26 and edge rusher Ebenezer Ewetade slotted at No. 29. Just outside the Top 32 is cornerback Khary Adams set at No. 34.
