Notre Dame football recruiting has built something special along the defensive line in the 2027 class.

Head coach Marcus Freeman and new defensive line coach Charlie Partridge have assembled a group that could be the best defensive line haul the Fighting Irish have signed in a very long time, featuring five committed players with the potential to add a sixth if Notre Dame can land Chicagoland defensive tackle Brayden Parks away from Oregon.

Freeman has placed high importance on upgrading the trenches over the last several years, and Partridge has done a tremendous job closing on this group in his first full cycle. With the class taking shape, I wanted to have some fun and put together stylistic player comparisons for each member of this defensive line haul.

A quick note before we get into it: these comps are not predictions of success. If I compare a recruit to a perennial All-Pro or a future Hall of Famer, that does not mean I’m saying the recruit will reach that level. These are stylistic comparisons based on body type, movement patterns, and play style when I watch their film.

EDGE Abraham Sesay – Exton (Pa.) Downingtown East

Player comparison: Josh Sweat (Arizona Cardinals)

Five-star edge Abraham Sesay out of Downingtown East in Exton, Pennsylvania, is the headliner. Listed at about 6-5 and 220-225 pounds with extremely long arms, Sesay reminds me of Josh Sweat every time I watch his film. Sweat was a former five-star recruit who had a strong career at Florida State before falling in the NFL Draft due to a degenerative knee issue. He landed with the Philadelphia Eagles, turned into a stellar performer, and is coming off arguably his best season with the Arizona Cardinals.

When Sweat is on his game, he is a perennial double-digit sack artist. Sesay has a similar profile with the combination of length, explosiveness, and change of direction to eventually become a high-volume sack producer. His frame is also projectable to add substantial weight. Sweat played between 250 and 255 pounds at Florida State but now plays closer to 265. Sesay has plenty of room to follow that same trajectory.

EDGE Jackson Vaughn – Oradell (NJ) Bergen Catholic

Player comparison: Alex Highsmith (Pittsburgh Steelers)

Jackson Vaughn out of Bergen Catholic in Oradell, New Jersey, was considered one of the top overall players in the 2028 class before reclassifying to 2027. He’s a slightly sawed-off outside pass rusher with a really impressive combination of natural leverage and bend around the edge. He reminds me of Pittsburgh Steelers pass rusher Alex Highsmith, who came out of the G5 level and has developed into a starting NFL player and an underrated overall edge defender.

Highsmith was a shade under 6-4 and about 248 pounds coming out. Vaughn is listed at about 6-3 and 225 pounds. With his lower center of gravity, I think Vaughn will play somewhere in the 245-250 range, which will help him pack on a power profile to complement his ability to win around the outside shoulder of offensive tackles.

EDGE Aidan O’Neil – Ramsey (NJ) Don Bosco Prep

Player comparison: Joey Bosa (free agent)

Aidan O’Neil out of Don Bosco Prep in New Jersey is already listed at 6-5 and 240 pounds with a massive frame that could carry well over 270 at the college level. I am not predicting him to be as high of a draft pick as Joey Bosa, but his style screams Bosa to me. He plays with great understanding of how to attack offensive tackles, has really good hands, and brings a strength profile that allows him to work inside in passing situations. He’s extremely long with a strong first step, and the technical prowess he brings to his game is projectable to make him a future plus starter for the Fighting Irish.

DT David Folorunsho – Chicago (Ill.) St. Patrick

Player comparison: Nnamdi Madubuike (Baltimore Ravens)

David Folorunsho, a Chicago St. Patrick defensive tackle considered a five-star by some platforms, reminds me of Baltimore Ravens star Nnamdi Madubuike. Madubuike played around 295-300 pounds at Texas A&M and has developed into one of the better interior defenders in the NFL. Folorunsho fits a similar mold as a high school defensive end with the ability to develop into a playmaking 3-technique on the interior.

DT Segun Alexander – Rabun Gap (Ga.) Nacoochee

Player comparison: Milton Williams (New England Patriots)

Segun Alexander out of Georgia checks in at about 6-2 to 6-3 and 295 pounds. His versatility along the line reminds me of Milton Williams, who played as a big end at Louisiana Tech before transitioning inside. Alexander plays a lot on the edge and could be passable in some reps there early in his college career. Down the road, he projects as a versatile interior lineman who can play 3-technique and even slide inside as a nose tackle. He could end up being one of the huge steals of Notre Dame’s 2027 class.

DT Braden Parks – Chicago (Ill.) Brother Rice (uncommitted)

Player comparison: Daron Payne (Washington Commanders)

Notre Dame continues to battle Oregon for Parks, whose game reminds me of Daron Payne’s early career with the Washington Commanders. At about 6-2 and 315 pounds, Payne did all of the dirty work as a nose tackle while Jonathan Allen operated as the playmaking 3-technique. Parks has the upside to create negatives in both the run and pass game, but his biggest asset will be taking up multiple blockers and being an absolute nuisance on the interior of a defense.