Notre Dame is predicted to land another top-100 defensive tackle after a massive recruiting weekend against Miami
Notre Dame football has been predicted to land yet another top-100 recruit. Defensive line coach Charlie Partridge looks to continue his hot streak.
Notre Dame is gaining momentum with another highly regarded defensive line prospect in the 2028 recruiting class.
On3 national recruiting analyst Chad Simmons logged an expert prediction for the Fighting Irish to land Rabun Gap-Nacoochee (Ga.) four-star defensive lineman Isaac Kalubi Lukuni. Simmons entered the prediction over the weekend with a 60% confidence level, giving Notre Dame another encouraging development in its pursuit of one of the more intriguing defensive line prospects in the 2028 cycle.
There is also a familiar connection that could work in Notre Dame’s favor. Lukuni currently plays at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee alongside Notre Dame’s 2027 defensive line commitment, Segun Alexander. The two have shared a high school program, giving the Irish an existing relationship within Lukuni’s circle as they continue working through his recruitment.
A prediction is not a commitment, particularly this early in the recruiting process, but Notre Dame is putting itself in a position to make a serious run at another talented defensive lineman.
The timing of this prediction is particularly interesting because Lukuni has recently narrowed his recruitment to eight schools and indicated that a decision could come relatively soon. That gives Notre Dame an opportunity to turn its recruiting momentum into a commitment rather than simply adding another name to its target list.
A rising prospect with an interesting background
Lukuni is originally from Whitby, Ontario, Canada, and his football journey has taken him through multiple countries. His path began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo before taking him to Canada and eventually Rabun Gap-Nacoochee in Georgia.
At 6-foot-3 and 280 pounds, Lukuni already has the physical profile of a college defensive tackle. He wears No. 99 for Rabun Gap and has developed into one of the more highly regarded players at his position in the 2028 recruiting class.
His recruiting profile reflects that rise.
Rivals lists him among the top 100 prospects nationally, with its individual rankings placing him around No. 82 overall and No. 11 among defensive linemen. The broader Rivals Industry ranking has him at No. 111 nationally and No. 13 at his position. He is a four-star prospect across the recruiting services.
Lukuni’s combination of size and athletic ability has attracted significant attention from major college programs. He has accumulated 33 scholarship offers, a list that includes some of the biggest names in college football.
Notre Dame extended its offer on April 8, 2026, joining programs such as Georgia, Auburn, Florida State, Michigan, Miami, Tennessee, Virginia Tech and others in his recruitment. Irish Sports Daily +1
The Irish have had an opportunity to build a relationship with Lukuni through defensive line coach Charlie Partridge, who is listed as his Notre Dame recruiter.
Notre Dame has an important connection at Rabun Gap
One of the more interesting aspects of Lukuni’s recruitment is his connection to Alexander, who is already part of Notre Dame’s 2027 recruiting class.
Alexander committed to the Fighting Irish on June 23, 2026, following an official visit to South Bend. He originally belonged to the 2028 recruiting class before reclassifying to 2027, accelerating his recruitment and ultimately choosing Notre Dame over finalists Clemson and Texas A&M.
Alexander is another Canadian-born defensive line prospect who made his way to Rabun Gap. Originally from Toronto, he has developed into one of the more intriguing defensive tackles in the 2027 class.
The 6-foot-2, 300-pound Alexander has impressive versatility along the defensive front. During his sophomore season, he recorded 36 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, 19 quarterback hurries, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 12 games, according to MaxPreps.
Having Alexander already committed to Notre Dame gives the Irish an existing connection to Lukuni’s program. The two have shared the defensive line room at Rabun Gap, and Notre Dame could potentially benefit from having a familiar face in South Bend if Lukuni ultimately chooses the Irish.
It is also worth remembering that Rabun Gap head coach Derek White spoke highly of Alexander’s development and versatility following his commitment. White described him as a powerful, twitchy defensive lineman capable of playing multiple positions along the defensive front.
Notre Dame faces plenty of competition
Notre Dame is far from alone in its pursuit of Lukuni.
After receiving 33 scholarship offers, the four-star defensive lineman recently trimmed his recruitment to eight finalists:
- Notre Dame
- Georgia
- Michigan
- Tennessee
- Washington
- Texas A&M
- Vanderbilt
- Virginia Tech
The list features several programs with strong recruiting reputations, and Georgia presents an especially interesting challenge given its proximity to Rabun Gap and established success developing defensive linemen.
Lukuni has also received considerable attention from the Bulldogs. He has previously visited Athens and spoken positively about Georgia defensive line coach Tray Scott and the program’s ability to develop players for the next level.
According to Simmons’ recent reporting, Lukuni is getting closer to making his college decision, with December emerging as a potential timeframe. That makes the latest Notre Dame prediction particularly noteworthy.
Another opportunity to strengthen Notre Dame’s defensive line recruiting
Notre Dame has made defensive line recruiting a significant priority, and adding another player with Lukuni’s physical tools would be an important development for the 2028 class.
The Irish already have a relationship with his high school program through Alexander, and defensive line coach Charlie Partridge has been involved in Lukuni’s recruitment since Notre Dame extended its offer in April.
At 6-foot-3 and 280 pounds, Lukuni has the frame to develop into an impactful interior defensive lineman at the next level. His national ranking, extensive offer list, and ability to attract attention from programs across the country make him a significant target.
Simmons’ prediction doesn’t guarantee anything, especially with Georgia, Texas A&M, Michigan, and the other finalists still involved. However, Notre Dame appears to have positioned itself well as Lukuni approaches a decision.
If the Irish can turn that momentum into a commitment, they would add another highly regarded defensive lineman to their future recruiting pipeline while potentially bringing another member of the Rabun Gap program to South Bend alongside Alexander.
