Notre Dame football recruiting for the 2027 class is nearly complete, and head coach Marcus Freeman has assembled a talented group of offensive linemen.

With the Fighting Irish waiting on top-150 defensive tackle Brayden Parks to choose between Notre Dame and Oregon, the class is close to being solidified. That makes this the perfect time to break down the five offensive line commits with NFL and college player comparisons based on body type, play style, and movement skills.

One important note before diving in: these are play style comparisons, not predictions of success. I do not have a crystal ball to see how development goes for each of these players. But when I watch the film, there are traits that stand out and remind me of players we’ve seen at the college and professional level.

IOL Albert Simien – Lake Charles (La.) Sam Houston

Player comparison: Logan Mankins (retired)

The St. Charles, Louisiana, product out of Sam Houston High School is listed between 6-3 and 6-4, weighing 285 to 295 pounds. Simien is a high school left tackle who most projects to play inside at guard on the next level. I agree that his highest upside is at guard, but he does have enough movement skills and length to play offensive tackle at the college level. I’m not completely writing that off.

With Notre Dame already holding commits from other top offensive tackles in this class, there’s a clear path for Simien to develop into a potential All-American guard. When I watch him, I see former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers guard Logan Mankins. Mankins was a college left tackle at Fresno State who transitioned inside at the NFL level. At around 6-4 and 305 to 310 pounds during his career, Mankins was a dominant run blocker and one of the best pass-protecting interior linemen of his generation. There just weren’t many holes in his game.

Simien has that same quality. Even though guard is perceived as the less important position up front, I could see him becoming the backbone of an offensive line before too long. This kid has truly special traits and special upside on the interior.

OT Olu Olubobola – Jersey City (NJ) St. Peter’s Prep

Player comparison: Charles Cross (Seattle Seahawks)

The St. Peter’s Prep product out of Jersey City, New Jersey, is a true left tackle prototype at 6-6 and 290-plus pounds with incredibly long arms and impressive movement skills. I do question whether he might be closer to 275 to 280 right now, but either way, he’s built to add a ton of weight on the next level.

His game reminds me of Charles Cross when he was at Mississippi State. Cross has developed into a strong left tackle for the Seattle Seahawks. He was a skinnier player heading into his final college season, but even at a lighter weight, he had impressive core strength and outstanding traits as a pass blocker. That’s why he was such a high NFL draft pick.

I can see Olubobola following a similar trajectory. He might be a little bit light to begin his career, but as he continues to add good weight, his core strength could go from good to potentially elite. He’s a bit high-cut and may not be a dominant run-game player early, but this is a left tackle prototype with tremendous upside.

OT James Halter – Pittsburgh (Pa.) Central Catholic

Player comparison: R0ger Rosengarten (Baltimore Ravens)

Halter has become one of the most underrated players in this class. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Central Catholic product is a top-100 recruit and a Notre Dame legacy, as his father was a former Irish player. At 6-5 and 270 pounds, he needs to add weight, but he plays with a lot of physicality and his balance and movement skills are tremendous.

He reminds me of Roger Rosengarten, who was a standout right tackle for the Washington Huskies and has developed into a starter at the professional level for the Ravens. Rosengarten’s movement skills are great, his run-game impact improved over time, and he possesses baseline-good traits in every facet. That’s the same profile I see with Halter.

OT/IOL Jackson Hill – West Hills (Calif.) Chaminade

Player comparison: Josh Lugg (former Notre Dame player)

I’ll be honest: I’m still a little lower on the former UCLA commit out of California than some evaluators. I’ve seen tremendous testing numbers for Hill, but I don’t necessarily see that athleticism jump off the film. For me, he profiles as a potential swing player who could line up at a couple different positions, similar to what Josh Lugg was at Notre Dame. Lugg had an offensive tackle frame, but his best fit ended up being inside at guard because of his physicality and comfort in tighter quarters. Hill could play right tackle but would probably be a better asset inside. And no disrespect to Lugg, who started for multiple seasons and was a solid player for the Fighting Irish.

IOL Richie Flanigan – Green Bay (Wisc.) Notre Dame Academy

Player comparison: Nick Allegretti (Washington Commanders)

Flanigan is a tough evaluation right now. I like his film, and he brings a lot of physicality on both sides of the ball with good movement skills. He is the son of Jim Flanigan and the younger brother of current Notre Dame tight end James Flanigan. He’s going to be an interior offensive lineman, but he’s probably around 265 pounds right now.

What does he look like at 300-plus? That’s the question.

I’ve compared him to Nick Allegretti, the former Illinois standout who has stuck around in the NFL for a long time at around 6-3 and 310 pounds, playing between guard and center. Allegretti is a solid interior athlete with some positional flexibility. Flanigan is going to be a slow-burn player who needs multiple years of physical development before he can contribute. How much good weight he puts on his frame will determine his ceiling with the Fighting Irish.