Notre Dame just found a diamond in the rough recruiting target who brings some incredible upside to the table
Notre Dame may have just found a hidden gem of a 2027 recruiting target. It will be interesting to see the next move from Marcus Freeman and Co.
Notre Dame football has recruited the defensive line a lot better over the last couple of cycles. Head coach Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish have attracted some talented EDGE defenders at a much higher clip, including the likes of Boubacar Traore and Rodney Dunham, among several others.
There are some very intriguing defensive end targets remaining on the board for the 2027 recruiting class. While defensive line coach Charlie Partridge is busy targeting some elite players like Pennsylvania pass rusher Abraham Sesay, he is also doing his best to find several underrated talents. That East Orange (NJ) Campus EDGE Esa Wittingburg, who was offered by Notre Dame this week.
Over the last several months, Wittingburg has gained a ton of traction on the recruiting trail. Notre Dame is a huge offer from him, but it wouldn’t be shocking to see other elite programs follow them. When you turn on the film, there is a lot of twitch, bend, and closing speed to work with.
With so many extremely talented targets still on the board, it is uncertain whether Wittingburg is a player that they would push for. This is certainly, however, a very intriguing offer to keep a close eye on. Whether Notre Dame can get him to come visit South Bend will give an indication of how high their interest is. If he does, then things could escalate quickly.
Only time will tell.
Esa Wittingburg’s recruiting background
Wittingburg doesn’t have the most impressive recruiting rankings of all-time right now. He is considered to be a three-star player by each of the major recruiting platforms. On the 247 Sports Composite taking, Wittingburg ranks as the No. 752 overall player, the No. 62 EDGE, and the No. 21 player from the state of New Jersey.
Despite those lower rankings, the demand for Whittingburg has only increased this offseason. Some of the top programs that have offered the New Jersey native include the Fighting Irish, Missouri, Vanderbilt, Pitt, NC State, Minnesota, Boston College, Virginia, Syracuse, Rutgers, Duke, and Wake Forest, among several others. Even more programs continue to do their homework on the talented pass rusher.
As a junior, Whittingburg put together a strong season for East Orange Campus. In six games, the 6-3, 230-pound pass rusher managed to collect 23 total tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, and six sacks. Whittingburg also forced two fumbles and recovered another, while also rushing for 119 yards and a touchdown on offense.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish News
Sources detail the latest with Notre Dame 2027 defensive line recruiting and a potential statement for Charlie Partridge
Where do things stand with Notre Dame and 2027 defensive line recruiting? That includes the top targets and the latest in their recruitments.
