Notre Dame football is considered to be the front-runner for another 5-star with a decision date now on the table
Notre Dame football appears poised to land a 5-star pass rusher in the 2028 class. It would be a massive win for the Fighting Irish.
Notre Dame football and head coach Marcus Freeman are pushing hard to land one of the top defensive prospects in the 2028 recruiting class.
Bolingbrook (Ill.) High School EDGE rusher Darieon Prescott, a 5-star talent on the 247 Sports Composite ranking, has set a commitment date for July 27. The 6-6, 220-pound pass rusher currently sits as the No. 18 overall player, the No. 5 edge, and the No. 1 player from the state of Illinois in that ranking. On the individual 247 Sports ranking, he is even higher, checking in as the No. 7 overall player in the 2028 class.
From everything I have gathered, the Fighting Irish are considered the front-runner heading into that decision.
Why Notre Dame is in the driver’s seat
Defensive line coach Charlie Partridge and the defensive staff have done a tremendous job of selling the fit to Prescott. That effort has led to the talented pass rusher making multiple trips to Notre Dame just this offseason. Prescott will be selecting between the Fighting Irish, Oregon, and Texas A&M when he makes his announcement.
His combination of length, twitch, and upside is about as high as any prospect in the 2028 class, which is a major reason why Freeman and his staff have been pushing at such an extreme level early on. I believe Notre Dame will land Prescott at this point. It appears they really sold the fit, and the early relationship-building has paid dividends.
Darieon Prescott’s recruiting background
Beyond his three finalists, Prescott holds offers from a staggering list of programs. Some of his other top offers include Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Auburn, Florida State, Arizona State, Illinois, Indiana, LSU, Kentucky, Kansas State, Iowa State, Louisville, Miami, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Nebraska, UNC, Missouri, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas, USC, Virginia Tech, Washington, and Wisconsin, among many others.
The demand for Prescott across the sport speaks to the kind of talent Notre Dame is competing for on the defensive line. This is a player who has been a priority for the Fighting Irish from the very beginning, and that early investment could be what separates them from the pack.
What a Prescott commitment would mean for Notre Dame
If the Irish can close the deal, this would be the continuation of elite defensive line recruiting under Freeman and Partridge. Notre Dame landed a six-man defensive line class in 2027, which rivals the best in program history. That group included 5-star edge Abraham Sesay and 5-star defensive tackle David Folorunsho.
Adding Prescott would give Notre Dame a legitimate argument for landing the most toolsy pass rusher the program has been able to grab in recent years. That list also includes Rodney Dunham and Bryce Young. For a long time, Notre Dame did not have nearly enough difference-makers coming off the edge at defensive end. Times have certainly changed.
The state of Illinois looms large in 2028
The city of Chicago and the state of Illinois in general are going to be incredibly important for Notre Dame in the 2028 recruiting cycle. Prescott would be a huge early addition for Freeman and the staff in that class, setting the tone for what the Irish hope to accomplish on the recruiting trail.
We will know for sure in a few days whether Notre Dame was able to get it done. I like their chances to be the pick in the end.