Top Notre Dame recruiting target lands with a hated Fighting Irish rival but the battle isn’t over quite yet
The Notre Dame 2027 defensive line recruiting board just got a bit smaller. Where do things currently stand after the recent news?
Notre Dame is on the cusp of landing a tremendous 2027 defensive line recruiting class. With a commitment from four-star Ramsey (NJ) Don Bosco Prep defensive end Aidan O’Neil already, all eyes are on five-star Chicago (Ill.) St Patrick defensive tackle David Folorunsho, who will be selecting between the Fighting Irish, Miami, and Texas Tech. I expect good news for head coach Marcus Freeman and his staff.
After O’Neil and the potential addition of Folorunsho, Notre Dame has several other top defensive line targets to keep a close eye on. That includes South Houston (Texas) High School standout Xavier Muhammad, a versatile defensive lineman that the Irish staff has valued highly. Muhammad’s recruitment took an interesting turn this week.
It took many by surprise but Muhammad came off the board on Thursday. He decided to commit to the Michigan Wolverines, becoming a huge addition to head coach Kyle Whittingham’s first recruiting class. Michigan being able to close so quickly is a testament to the increased bump they have been feeling on the recruiting trail recently.
For the Notre Dame side, don’t expect Freeman and defensive line coach Charlie Partridge to stop recruiting Muhammad. Regardless, that defensive line board is still in great shape. The Irish are still pursuing the likes of Marcus Fakatou, Tyler Alexander, Brayden Parks, and Segun Alexander, which should make for a great ending to this 2027 group.
Xavier Muhammad’s recruiting background
Muhammad is considered to be a four-star player by each of the major recruiting platforms. On the 247 Sports Composite ranking, Muhammad currently sits as the No. 97 overall player, the No. 9 defensive lineman, and the No. 12 player from the state of Texas for the 2027 recruiting class. Rivals is highest on Muhammad, ranking him as the No. 88 overall player in the class.
A lot of notable programs have been pursuing Muhammad over the last several months. Some of his top offers include the Fighting Irish, the Wolverines, Miami, Texas Tech, Nebraska, Kentucky, TCU, Vanderbilt, Iowa, Oklahoma State, Arizona State, Pitt, SMU, and Houston, among others.
As a junior, Muhammad made a big impact for South Houston. The 6-4, 275-pound defensive lineman managed to collect 22 total tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks, and eight quarterback hurries. Muhammad is also a standout basketball player for the school, averaging 16.4 points and 12.5 rebounds per game this past season. He’s an outstanding overall athlete who is just beginning to tap into his overall upside.