Fighting Irish secure potent defensive tackle Francis Brewu, bolstering their interior line and adding immediate impact against run and pass.
Notre Dame went into the portal cycle looking for defensive line help and it got a big boost with former Pittsburgh standout Francis Brewu choosing the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame beat out Ohio State, Tennessee and Indiana to land this must-get defensive tackle.
The 6-1, 280-pound interior defender was an All-ACC for the Panthers in 2025. Brewu finished his sophomore season with 36 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss and a sack. He also added 20 pressures on the season. Notre Dame's best defensive tackle in 2025 was transfer Jared Dawson, who racked up 20 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and half a sack to go with 21 pressures, which gives context on Brewu's performance this season. He racked up a tackle for loss and two pressures in Pitt's 37-15 loss to Notre Dame. Brewu had a career-high four solo tackles and two more pressures in Pitt's 42-28 upset win over then 16th-ranked Georgia Tech.
Brewu signed with Pitt as part of the 2024 recruiting class and he made an immediate impact. The Columbus, Ohio native finished the season with 15 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. According to Pro Football Focus, Brewu had eight hits + sacks on the quarterback and was named a Freshman All-American. Notre Dame star cornerback Leonard Moore was also part of that Freshman All-American team.
Notre Dame needed major help at defensive tackle after losing Dawson, Gabriel Rubio and potentially Jason Onye to graduation, and due to the retirement of Donovan Hinish. Notre Dame wants defensive tackles that are able to get after the quarterback and also shut down the run game. Brewu was a stout all-around defender for the Panthers in 2025, showing the ability to be a force against the run and to pressure the quarterback. He's an ideal fit for the Notre Dame defense, and that should help him make a quick transition. Brewu has the kind of talent to not only earn a starting job inside for the Irish, but to immediately become a playmaker and impact performer.
Notre Dame also got some good news inside when Armel Mukam announced his intention to return to the team after initially jumping into the portal. The return of Mukam and Elijah Hughes combines with the addition of Brewu to give Notre Dame a strong interior foundation to build upon. Young defenders like Cole Mullins, Christopher Burgess Jr., Davion Dixon, Sean Sevillano and potential true freshmen Tiki Hola and Elijah Golden will also get a chance to battle for key spots in the rotation. But at the end of the day, the addition of Brewu is what really gives the interior a chance to continue playing at a high level.
Prior to his tenure at Pitt, Brewu was a standout for Thomas Worthington High School in Columbus. He earned first-team All-State honors as a senior while racking up 28 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. Brewu also registered 25 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks as a junior. He was recruited to Pitt by Charlie Partridge, who was recently hired as Notre Dame's defensive line coach.
Brewu was ranked as the No. 5 defensive tackle in the portal according to On3.
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