Notre Dame football added another foundational piece to its 2028 recruiting class on Monday when 5-star Bolingbrook (Ill.) High School EDGE Darieon Prescott announced his commitment to the Fighting Irish on the Pat McAfee Show.

Prescott chose Notre Dame over finalists Oregon and Texas A&M, giving head coach Marcus Freeman and defensive line coach Charlie Partridge yet another statement victory on the recruiting trail.

The commitment comes on the heels of an already dominant 2027 defensive line haul for the Fighting Irish. That six-man group featured 5-star EDGE Abraham Sesay, elite defensive tackle David Folorunsho, top-100 defensive end Aidan O’Neil, toolsy pass rusher Jackson Vaughn, mammoth defensive tackle Brayden Parks, and high-upside defensive lineman Segun Alexander.

Rather than resting after that class came together, Freeman and Partridge turned their attention to the 2028 cycle, where Prescott was an immediate priority.

Darieon Prescott’s recruiting background

Prescott is considered a 5-star player on the 247 Sports Composite ranking, where he sits as the No. 18 overall player, the No. 5 edge, and the No. 1 player from the state of Illinois for the 2028 recruiting class. He also ranks as the No. 7 overall player on the individual 247 Sports ranking.

When you pop on the film, it is easy to see why he commands those rankings. The 6-foot-6, 220-pound pass rusher has reportedly bulked up to around 255 pounds this offseason, with plenty of room to continue growing. His combination of explosiveness, size, length, and closing speed is eye-popping, which explains why so many of the top programs in the country pursued him throughout his recruitment.

Even outside of his three finalists, Prescott’s offer list reads like a who’s who of college football.

Some of his other offers include Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State, Florida, Auburn, Florida State, LSU, Miami, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Penn State, USC, Arizona State, Duke, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas State, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Purdue, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, Washington, and Wisconsin, among others.

What this means for Notre Dame’s 2028 class

This is a significant recruiting win for Notre Dame on multiple levels. With Oregon and Texas A&M making strong pushes for Prescott, the Irish staff clearly sold the full vision to Prescott and his family. He is a high-academic prospect who comes from a great family and has always been considered a strong fit for Notre Dame’s culture.

The state of Illinois could prove paramount for the Fighting Irish in the 2028 class, and Prescott’s commitment sends a clear message about where things are trending. If Freeman has proven anything during his tenure in South Bend, it is that this staff will continue to push the envelope and outdo itself on the recruiting trail.

With the 2027 group largely settled, expect that same energy to carry into the 2028 cycle.

Notre Dame’s edge room is transforming

For a long time, the EDGE rusher position was a spot where Notre Dame was not good enough. That narrative is changing. With the recent additions of Bryce Young, Rodney Dunham, Abraham Sesay, Ebenezer Ewetade, and now Prescott, the room is quickly becoming one of the best we have seen in South Bend in a very long time.

Prescott has reportedly added roughly 35 pounds to his frame this offseason. Watching videos of him moving around in practice puts his talent level into perspective. This is a potentially special football player.

Partridge’s ability to identify and close on elite defensive line talent has been central to this transformation. Landing a player of Prescott’s caliber over two powerhouse programs only reinforces that Notre Dame belongs in every big-time recruiting battle at the position.

The Fighting Irish are building something special up front, and Monday’s commitment was the latest proof.