BREAKING: LSU lands veteran Notre Dame EDGE Junior Tuihalamaka after court ruling

LSU has added another major piece to its defensive front, landing a commitment from former Notre Dame EDGE Junior Tuihalamaka as the Tigers continue to bolster their pass rush.

Story was first reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Tuihalamaka's path to Baton Rouge opened after a Louisiana judge granted him and 15 other members of the 2022 recruiting class a restraining order allowing them to return to college football for the 2026 season.

The ruling gives LSU an opportunity to add a veteran defensive end who has appeared in 54 games over four seasons with the Fighting Irish, including Notre Dame's run to the national championship game during the 2024 season.

Tuihalamaka played in all 12 games for Notre Dame in 2025, making three starts while recording 12 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack and one pass breakup.

His most productive season came during Notre Dame's College Football Playoff run in 2024.

Tuihalamaka appeared in all 16 games that season and finished with 33 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and two fumble recoveries. His best game came against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl where he helped lead the Fighting Irish to a 23-10 upset victory over the Bulldogs that helped the Fighting Irish to the College Football Playoff semifinals. He recorded 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack and recovered a fumble that set up Notre Dame’s first touchdown.

He also appeared in every game during his first two seasons in South Bend.

Tuihalamaka played in all 13 games in 2023 and recorded 10 tackles. As a freshman in 2022, he appeared in all 13 games, made one start and finished with six tackles while contributing on special teams.

According to Notre Dame sources, he is a "solid depth player” with good athleticism, toughness and a high motor.

Before arriving at Notre Dame, Tuihalamaka starred at Bishop Alemany in Mission Hills, California.

The California native recorded 84 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, four sacks and three forced fumbles during his senior season.

Tuihalamaka was rated as a four-star prospect and the No. 198 overall player in the 2022 On3/Rivals Industry Ranking. He was also ranked as the No. 19 EDGE prospect nationally and the No. 13 player in California.

LSU is now getting that former blue-chip prospect with four full seasons of college experience already behind him.

NCAA Pushes Back Against Eligibility Ruling

Tuihalamaka's return, along with the 15 other players covered by the Louisiana court ruling, has drawn criticism from the NCAA.

Following the decision, NCAA senior vice president of external affairs Tim Buckley issued a statement criticizing court rulings that have allowed players who previously exhausted their eligibility to return to college athletics.

"Courts across the country granting relief to ineligible athletes who already had every opportunity to compete in college — sometimes without even having a hearing — are failing to appreciate the destabilizing effect their rulings are having on college sports," Buckley said, per the Associated Press. "The lawyers bringing these cases seemingly won't be satisfied until every professional athlete can treat college sports as a fallback option, regardless of the opportunities it strips from those who will never have a chance to begin their collegiate sports experience."

For LSU, however, the immediate result is another experienced option for its defensive line.

Tuihalamaka went 4-for-4 in appearances at Notre Dame, playing every game available to him across four seasons. Now, after the Louisiana court ruling opened the door for another year, he will have the chance to make it 5-for-5 with a fifth college season at LSU.