Notre Dame’s latest recruiting feat is something that many thought even HC Marcus Freeman couldn’t accomplish
Notre Dame football continues to build a special program under HC Marcus Freeman. A big reason for that is the team’s recruiting efforts.
Rivals released its updated 2027 recruiting rankings this week, and Notre Dame football sits in a position that would have seemed unthinkable just a few years ago.
The Fighting Irish have four 5-star commits in the 2027 class, more than any other program in college football. Head coach Marcus Freeman and his staff have built something remarkable on the recruiting trail, and this latest milestone reflects how dramatically things have shifted in South Bend.
For years, the Notre Dame fan base had been conditioned to expect good but not exceptional recruiting. Under former head coach Brian Kelly, there were good classes mixed in, but the idea of contending for a top overall recruiting haul felt out of reach. Kelly was known as someone who did not put in the optimal time on the recruiting trail to make a massive impact.
Freeman is a different breed. He has assembled a staff of elite recruiters and understands the importance of acquiring high-level talent who fit the program both on and off the field.
The shifting NIL landscape has also leveled the playing field. Notre Dame now can flex its financial muscles in a more public and legal fashion, and Freeman has taken full advantage.
Breaking down Notre Dame’s 4 5-star commits
The highest-ranked Fighting Irish commit on Rivals’ updated list is Chicago (Ill.) St. Patrick defensive tackle David Folorunsho, who came in at No. 9 overall. The 6-foot-4, 285-pound defensive lineman represents exactly the type of talent Notre Dame wants to keep home, particularly out of the critical Chicagoland pipeline.
Just one spot behind Folorunsho at No. 10 sits St. Charles (La.) Sam Houston offensive lineman Albert Simien.
Simien could project as either an offensive tackle or offensive guard at the college level, and his commitment might be the biggest recruiting win of Freeman’s tenure. A Louisiana native whom LSU wanted desperately, a player Texas A&M was willing to empty the checkbook for. Everything about Simien’s profile as a 5-star offensive lineman in SEC country said he should never have left the Southeast.
Notre Dame never gave up, continued to push, and landed arguably the most talented interior offensive lineman the program has signed in a very long time.
At No. 16 is Exton (Pa.) Downingtown East EDGE Abraham Sesay. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound pass rusher fills a critical need for a program that has lacked consistency in landing high-caliber defensive ends who can truly win on the outside. Notre Dame is starting to change that trend, building on what the staff accomplished with Rodney Dunham and Ebenezer Ewetade in the 2026 class.
The defensive line is getting more dynamic with each cycle.
Rounding out the group at No. 20 is Jersey City (NJ) St. Peter’s Prep offensive tackle Olu Olubobola. The 6-foot-6, 290-pound tackle might be the most fascinating case study of Notre Dame’s recruiting power right now. The Irish did not offer Bolola until February but still managed to beat out some of the top programs in the country for one of the best true offensive tackle prospects in the class. That kind of closing ability, where the staff can enter a recruitment late and still land the player, speaks volumes about where this program stands.
A program that has changed for good
It wasn’t long ago that landing one 5-star recruit per cycle felt like a strong year for Notre Dame. Now Freeman and his staff are stacking four in a single class and leading every program in college football in that category. The 2027 class has a chance to be the best of the Freeman era.
To think about where this Notre Dame team has come from a recruiting and roster acquisition perspective is remarkable. As long as Freeman is in South Bend, this program is built to sustain success and compete at the highest level.