The Notre Dame Football recruiting machine is absolutely dialed in right now. On Friday, 5-Star defensive lineman David Folorunsho gave his commitment to Marcus Freeman and this 2027 Notre Dame Football recruiting class.
The Irish continue to have national success on the recruiting trail, but Folorunsho is a fairly local victory. The 6’3” 285 pounder from St. Patrick High School in Chicago, Illinois, chose the Irish over his other finalists; the Miami Hurricanes, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Michigan Wolverines, and Georgia Bulldogs. He also held offers from all over the country including the Alabama Crimson Tide, LSU Tigers, Ohio State Buckeyes, and many others.
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David’s high school coach at St. Patrick is Notre Dame legend, Tommy Zbikowski.
-Explosive interior defender with the get-off, quickness and hands to be a difference-maker up front.
-Owns a squatty and compact build, but has a longer wingspan and could eventually play at 300 pounds.
-Fires hips through contact.
-Slips blocks with a brawler mentality.
-Agile enough to quickly plant and redirect.
-Empties the tank while in chase mode.
-Got looks up and down the line as a junior while also doubling as a blocking back on offense and should offer the same alignment possibilities in college as he can shade up or over a guard.
-Will need to keep improving his play-strength and mastering his craft, but projects as a potential impact player for a College Football Playoff hopeful with his range and energy.
David is the 17th commitment for this 2027 Notre Dame football recruiting class, and the first one from the state of Illinois. While Notre Dame hasn’t done big numbers in Chicago lately, the caliber of prospect that Folorunsho is, makes a lot of things up.
POSITION
PLAYER
STATE
HT
WT
RIVALS
RIVALS INDUSTRY
247 SPORTS
247 COMPOSITE
ESPN
COMMIT DATE
LS
Sean Craft
NC
6’4″
215
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️
6/24/25
DL
Richie Flanigan
WI
6’3″
263
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
9/25/25
OL
James Halter
PA
6’5″
268
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
10/22/25
LB
Amarri Irvin
FL
6’0″
220
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
11/26/25
CB
Ace Alston
OH
5’11”
175
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
12/9/25
CB
Xavier Hasan
NC
5’11”
195
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
12/15/25
RB
Lathan Whisenton
TX
6’0″
200
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
3/25/26
RB
Isaiah Rogers
MA
6’0″
205
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3/30/26
S
John Gay III
FL
6’1″
190
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
4/22/26
S
Zayden Gamble
FL
5’11”
190
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4/25/26
DL
Aidan O’Neil
NJ
6’5″
240
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5/1/26
QB
Champ Monds
FL
6’2″
225
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5/1/26
WR
Jackson Coleman
CO
6’3″
195
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️
5/4/26
TE
Titus Hawk
OK
6’7″
210
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
5/4/26
OL
Oluwasemilore Olubobola
NJ
6’6″
295
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5/12/26
OL
Jackson Hill
CA
6’6″
300
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️
5/14/26
DL
David Folorunsho
IL
6’3″
285
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5/15/26
Notre Dame is working its way back to having solid depth along its defensive line, and a 5-Star prospect is more than just depth — he’s the real future inside. We could see the Irish add a couple more here in this class at DL, but it may still be a position they will invest heavily in during transfer portal season.
Player/Class
Freshmen
Sophomore
Junior
Senior
Graduate
Quarterback
Champ Monds
Noah Grubbs, Teddy Jarrard
Blake Hebert
C.J. Carr
–
Running Back
Lathan Whisenton, Isaiah Rogers
Javian Osborne, Jonaz Walton
Nolan James
Aneyas Williams, Kedren Young
–
Tight End
Titus Hawk
Preston Fryzel, Ian Premer
James Flanigan
Jack Larsen
Cooper Flanagan
Wide Receiver
Jackson Coleman
Dylan Faison, Bubba Frazier, Kaydon Finley, Devin Fitzgerald, Brayden Robinson
Elijah Burress, Jerome Bettis Jr., Quincy Porter
Cam Williams, Micah Gilbert, Logan Saldate, Mylan Graham
–
Center
–
–
Cameron Herron
–
Joe Otting
Guard
–
Sullivan Garvin, Tyler Merrill, Gregory Patrick
–
–
Chris Terek, Sullivan Absher, Devan Houstan
Tackle
James Halter, Oluwasemilore Olubobola, Jackson Hill
Ben Nichols, Grayson McKeogh, Charlie Thom
Will Black, Owen Strebig, Matty Augustine
Peter Jones, Anthonie Knapp, Styles Prescod, Guerby Lambert
Charles Jagusah
Defensive Tackle
Richie Flanigan, David Folorunsho
Tiki Hola, Elijah Golden
Christopher Burgess, Davion Dixon, Gordy Sulfsted
Cole Mullins, Sean Sevillano, Francis Brewu, Tionne Gray
–
Defensive End
Aidan O’Neil
Ebenezer Ewetade, Rodney Dunham
Dominik Hulak, Joseph Reiff
Bryce Young, Loghan Thomas, Keon Keeley
–
Linebacker
Amarri Irvin
Thomas Davis Jr., Kobe Clapper
Madden Faraimo, Ko’o Kia,
Teddy Rezac, Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, Kahanu Kia
–
Safety
John Gay III, Zayden Gamble
Ayden Pouncey, Joey O’Brien, Nick Reddish
Ethan Long, Brandon Logan
Tae Johnson
–
Cornerback
Ace Alston, Xavier Hasan
Chaston Smith, Khary Adams
Dallas Golden, Mark Zachery, Jayden Sanders
Leonard Moore
–
Specialists
Sean Craft (LS)
Jasper Scaife, Micah Drescher
Erik Schmidt
Spencer Porath
–
Totals
17/105 (17)
47/105 (30)
70/105 (23)
95/105 (25)
101/105 (6)
This is a huge win for Notre Dame. Even though Chicago should be Notre Dame’s to lose, when there is a top prospect like Folorunsho, the big boys come calling and you can throw proximity out of the window.
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WELCOME TO ND DAVID!