Focusing on impact talent, Notre Dame targets elite defensive ends, interior playmakers, and versatile linebackers to bolster its 2027 defensive class.
Notre Dame has been loading up on defense ever since Marcus Freeman arrived in South Bend, and the staff will look to continue that trend in the 2027 class. Notre Dame's success in past seasons - including landing the No. 1 ranked class in the 2026 cycle - will allow the staff to focus on landing impact talent more than shooting for numbers.
Here is a look at the numbers needs and goals for the Notre Dame 2027 recruiting class on defense.
DEFENSIVE END
Need: 2-3
Notre Dame landed an elite defensive end duo in the 2026 class when it signed Rodney Dunham and Ebenezer Ewetade. The North Carolina duo brings big time pass rushing potential to the defense. This was the best edge group to sign with the Irish since they landed Julian Okwara, Khalid Kareem, Daelin Hayes and Adetokunbo Ogundeji back in the 2016 class. Notre Dame will look to land at least two more edge players in the 2027 class, and it will need that group to be on the same level as the Dunham/Ewetade pair. Notre Dame has not been able to stack up big time edge groups year after year the way it has other positions on defense, especially in the secondary. That needs to change, and it will be up to first-year coach Charlie Partridge and the recruiting staff to make sure it can build on the foundation started last season. I could see the staff adding a third end in the class, depending on how the current roster shakes out after the 2026 season.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Need: 2-3
The defensive tackle depth chart is a bit more stacked in the freshman and sophomore classes thanks to the two-man haul of Elijah Golden and Tiki Hola in the 2026 class, the move of 2025 signee Christopher Burgess Jr. inside, and the signing of Gordy Sulfsted and Davion Dixon in the 2025 class. Heading into the 2027 cycle the Irish want at least two big guys inside, but I think three will be the ultimate result. Notre Dame needs more interior playmakers, but the staff also wants to add more size. It's a really strong class nationally, and the Midwest is also quite loaded with quality interior players like Brayden Parks and David Folorunsho. Notre Dame also has made California star Markus Fakatou a major priority, even before he reclassified to the 2027 class. Those are just three talented players on the board, but the list goes much deeper. The Irish really need to take finish strong inside with this class.
LINEBACKER
Need: 3
Commits: Amarri Irvin
Notre Dame landed just two linebackers in the 2026 class, signing Thomas Davis Jr. and Jakobe Clapper, and the Irish are primarily a two-linebacker defense now. Landing at least two players is this class is the minimum goal, but with the experience on the current roster and the loss of a couple of younger players to the portal (Anthony Sacca, Bodie Kahoun) I could see this group growing to three. Notre Dame has a commitment from Florida standout Amarri Irvin, a talented and physical inside linebacker, but the coaching changes on defense obviously has created some uncertainty with all the defensive commits. Priority number one for new position coach Brian Jean-Mary is to make sure Irvin is locked in. Once he has does adding at least one more talented off ball backer is key, but a third would be ideal.
CORNERBACK
Need: 2-3
Commits: Ace Alston, Xavier Hasan
A parting gift from former secondary coach Mike Mickens was commitments from three talented defensive backs, including big time cornerback Xavier Hasan and talented Ohio cover man Ace Alston. If Notre Dame simply keeps these two gifted defenders in the class the cornerback class is quite good and would continue the program's recent surge in landing big time corner classes. This is an impressive duo, with Hasan capable of playing every position in the secondary and Alston projects quite well at both field corner and in the slot. With Christian Gray, DJ McKinney and Leonard Moore all likely gone after this season, I could see a scenario where a third cornerback is needed, even after Notre Dame signed an elite cornerback trio in 2026 (Khary Adams, Ayden Pouncey, Chaz Smith), and the presence of three gifted rising sophomores in Dallas Golden, Mark Zackery IV and transfer Jayden Sanders.
SAFETY
Need: 2-3
Commits: Khalil Terry
Notre Dame landing Khalil Terry was a great start to the safety class, with Terry capable of playing on the back end and the nickel. Keeping him in the class will be crucial, but Notre Dame needs at least one more safety in the class, but I think two more is necessary. Notre Dame landed two safeties in the 2026 class with elite athlete Joey O'Brien leading the way. Fellow 2026 signee Nicholas Reddish could play safety, but he was primarily recruited to play nickel by the previous staff. If he does end up playing more nickel it means Notre Dame has just three pure safeties in the two previous class, with Ethan Long and Brandon Logan remaining from the 2025 class. Notre Dame is aiming to add some big time talents in the class, with Gavin Williams, Honor Fa'alava-Johnson and Zayden Gamble being the top targets. If Notre Dame can land two of those players to go with Terry the Irish would land the kind of elite safety class it needs.
SPECIALISTS
Need: 1
Commits: Sean Kraft
Notre Dame's first commitment in the 2027 class was Sean Kraft, who is ranked as the top snapper in the country by Rubio Long Snapping. After landing a punter and a kicker in the 2026 class landing a snapper is all that was needed in this class, and the Irish landed the best one in the nation.
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