Notre Dame looks poised for an elite defensive haul in the 2027 recruiting class. What will the group look like when all is said and done?
Notre Dame football is coming off its first official visit weekend of the offseason. Head coach Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish are quickly closing on an elite 2027 recruiting class, especially on the defensive side of the football. There are just a few missing pieces to solidify that talented group.
With a high emphasis on offensive recruits coming this upcoming weekend, it feels like the perfect time to predict what the 2027 defensive class will look like in the end. Here are the current commits, not including long snapper Sean Kraft , and how I see the class finishing. It has a chance to be a special group.
Here are my predictions for the final 2027 defensive class.
During this past weekend, Notre Dame hosted elite pass rusher Abraham Sesay and star defensive tackle Brayden Parks for official visits. They are considered the team to beat for both players, which would be an incredible ending for a historic defensive line class. That group is filled with impressive physical traits and a ton of upside.
EDGE Jackson Vaughn – Oradell (NJ) Bergen Catholic
EDGE Aidan O'Neil – Ramsey (NJ) Don Bosco Prep
EDGE Abraham Sesay – Exton (Pa.) Downingtown East
DT David Folorunsho – Chicago (Ill.) St. Patrick
DT Brayden Parks – Chicago (Ill.) Brother Rice
As things currently stand, Notre Dame holds a commitment from Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy linebacker Amarri Irvin , but I don't see him sticking in this class. The Irish are, however, trending quickly for a pair of talented linebackers: Tampa Bay (Fla.) Jesuit star Kaden Henderson and Chicago (Ill.) Mount Carmel defender Roman Igwebuike. The latter officially visited South Bend this past weekend, while Henderson is set to make his return in a few days.
LB Roman Igwebuike – Chicago (Ill.) Mount Carmel
LB Kaden Henderson – Tampa Bay (Fla.) Jesuit
Notre Dame currently holds four secondary commitments in the 2027 recruiting class. Aaron Henry would like to bring in one more talented defensive back, however. The player to keep a close eye on is Manvel ( Texas ) High School star Karnell "Greedy" James, who is currently committed to Texas. The Fighting Irish are battling against LSU for James's services, and it could go either way, but I'll give the nod to Notre Dame for now.
CB Ace Alston – Cincinnati (Ohio) Anderson
CB Xavier Hasan – Raleigh (NC) Cardinal Gibbons
CB Karnell "Greedy" James – Manvel (Texas) High School
S Zayden Gamble – Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas
S John Gay III – Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: Predicting Notre Dame's 2027 defensive recruiting class, coming off a pivotal official visit that featured multiple elite targets
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