Notre Dame football is predicted to miss out on an elite defensive line recruiting target
Notre Dame has been in the mix for the No. 2 overall player in the 2028 class. Where do things stand for the Fighting Irish on the defensive line?
Notre Dame football and head coach Marcus Freeman have recruited the defensive line at an elite level in the 2027 class, and their attention has already shifted to 2028.
The top target on the board is 5-star Louisville (Ky.) Christian Academy defensive lineman Kellan Hall, but it appears the Fighting Irish are losing ground to the Oklahoma Sooners. Under new defensive line coach Charlie Partridge, Notre Dame has assembled a star-studded 2027 defensive line haul.
The 2028 class, however, is presenting an early challenge with its top target trending away. On3’s Sam Spiegelman just logged an expert prediction for Hall to land with the Sooners.
Notre Dame’s 2027 defensive line class sets the stage
Notre Dame currently holds commitments from 5-star Abraham Sesay, elite defensive tackle David Folorunsho, Chicago nose tackle Brayden Parks, top-100 pass rusher Jackson Vaughn, and toolsy upside defensive lineman Segun Alexander. That group speaks to the standard Freeman and Partridge have set along the defensive front.
With such a loaded 2027 class already in place, Notre Dame’s eyes have turned to the 2028 cycle, where they are once again pursuing some heavy hitters.
The top overall player on their board is Kellan Hall. The 6-4, 265-pound defensive lineman is currently rated as a 5-star, the No. 2 overall player, the No. 1 defensive lineman, and the No. 1 player from the state of Kentucky for the 2028 recruiting class on the 247 Sports Composite ranking. He is a consensus top-10 player by each of the major recruiting platforms and is being pursued by a long list of impressive programs.
Hall’s recruitment and where Notre Dame stands
Some of Hall’s top offers include the Fighting Irish, Ohio State, Texas, Michigan, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Arkansas, Florida, Florida State, Indiana, Louisville, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Stanford, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin, Northwestern, and SMU, among several others.
While Notre Dame has not been viewed as the front-runner for Hall, the program has been a part of his top group.
Hall has consistently commented on the program, the academics, and the ability to be both a great student and a great football player, which is a big reason he made the trip to campus this past offseason. Notre Dame has been hoping that a strong 2026 season could get Hall back to campus and continue to trend in a positive direction.
However, things appear to be trending in the opposite direction.
As mentioned, On3’s Sam Spiegelman did cast that prediction for Hall to end up with the Oklahoma Sooners yesterday. Head coach Brent Venables and the Sooners have been viewed as the assumed leader for several weeks, and they appear to be riding all of the momentum. If this ends anytime soon, it appears Hall could be heading to Norman, Oklahoma, which would be a tremendous addition for Oklahoma’s 2028 class.
Hall’s production and profile
Hall is coming off a dynamic sophomore season for Christian Academy, where he was named an All-State first-team defender and the 3A Lineman of the Year, leading his team to a 15-0 state championship. His individual performance included 53 total tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks, all in only 11 games.
From a recruiting ranking, offer list, and production perspective, there is not a lot to dislike about Hall’s projection to the college level. He is also a very good student, currently holding a 3.8 GPA, which made him feel like a tremendous potential fit for Notre Dame.
What this means for Notre Dame’s 2028 defensive line recruiting
Barring something unforeseen, Hall is trending very quickly toward Oklahoma, which will be a blow to Notre Dame’s 2028 efforts. There are plenty of talented defensive linemen remaining on the board, though, and given what this staff has accomplished on the recruiting trail along the defensive front, there is no reason to panic.
