Notre Dame has landed yet another big time recruit, this time picking up a commitment from elite defensive tackle David Folorunsho. The Chicago, Ill./St. Patrick five-star picked the Fighting Irish over Miami, Georgia, Michigan, Texas Tech and many others.
Let's look at how the commitment of Folorunsho impacts the Notre Dame 2027 class, the Irish depth chart and what makes his game so dominant.
NOTRE DAME CLASS IMPACT
Folorunsho is the 17th player to commit to Notre Dame in the 2027 class. He is the seventh defensive player to commit the Fighting Irish, the second defensive lineman and the first defensive tackle. Folorunsho is ranked as a five-star recruit and the No. 9 overall player in the country in 2027, which also makes him Notre Dame's highest ranked recruit up to this point.
Defensive tackle has been a struggle for Notre Dame over the years, and many of the top interior players in recent seasons are either transfers, players that moved from defensive end or try-hard players that lack the elite raw talent needed to dominate against the best competition. Rylie Mills, for example, was an All-American inside in 2023, but he played end in high school and spent his first two seasons at Notre Dame playing on the outside. There is a clear need for Notre Dame to improve this position with more high-end talent, and with more size.
The 2026 class was a great step in that direction, with Notre Dame landing Elijah Golden and Tiki Hola. The key for Notre Dame, and for first-year position coach Charlie Partridge, is to start stacking those types of classes in back-to-back classes. Landing Folorunsho addresses all of those concerns. He's a true interior player that can also play on the edge in certain looks, and he's an elite talent with as much upside as any defensive tackle to sign with Notre Dame in years. If you're trying to stack back-to-back classes, landing a player like Folorunsho is the perfect way to kick off an interior class.
NOTRE DAME FIT
Notre Dame is in a bit of a transition at defensive tackle, and Folorunsho is the ideal fit for where things are going. The Irish want the defensive line to be a driver of being a dominant run defense, and Folorunsho has outstanding potential as a run defender thanks to his combination of power and athletic skill. He also has potential to be an impact pass rusher due to those same skills, and that dual threat ability is something Notre Dame lacked up front in 2025. Folorunsho also brings versatility to the defensive line, possessing the skills to play the three-technique spot, but also the athleticism and ability to disrupt to play out over the tackle in certain three-down looks.
FILM ANALYSIS
Folorunsho has a great interior defensive line build. He has a naturally squatty build that allows him to play with naturally good leverage and pad level. The St. Patrick's standout has a thick lower body and impressive natural power, which will help him anchor against the run as he gets older and stronger. Listed at 285, Folorunsho has the kind of frame that should allow him to easily get to at least 300 pounds and remain explosive and dominant. There's a lot of body reshaping he can do, and as he does that you'll see him fill out nicely and get even stronger. That's when his game really takes off.
Folorunsho also has really good length, and he's learning how to use it. He's not consistent in this area, but when his technique here gets shored up he'll be able to use his speed/power combination and length to dominate blocks. But right now, Folorunsho isn't consistent in this area and it's something he'll need to work on, but the tools in this area are outstanding.
What makes Folorunsho so dominant is that not only does he have a great interior frame, he is an explosive athlete. His first step is truly outstanding. He explodes off the ball and has the athletic skill to be a dominant penetrator at the next level. Notre Dame hasn't had an interior player with a good step as Folorunsho since Sheldon Day (15.5 TFL in 2015), but Folorunsho is already bigger than Day was as a senior at Notre Dame. Folorunsho also shows elite closing speed, whether he's shooting gaps up the middle or closing on the edge against a tackle. As his pass rush moves improve that athletic skill will also allow him to be an impact pass rusher. Folorunsho shows impressive lateral quickness and he has a unique ability to bend for a big defender.
Folorunsho also has impressive hand strength, but even better is how fast and violent his hands are. His combination of explosive agility and hand speed/power is something that makes him a truly elite prospect. He'll need to refine some things, but his natural feel for using his hands to win — especially his push-pull move — is truly special. Add all of this up and you get a sense of why Folorunsho is such a coveted player and someone that Notre Dame worked so hard to land. Notre Dame needs interior players that can do more than just eat up space, and Folorunsho is that kind of playmaker.
Right now the keys for Folorunsho are reshaping his body, continuing to improve his technique and playing with better pad level. He has a frame that gives him great natural leverage, but too often he lifts up at the snap and loses some of that. It's correctable, and if he does correct it he'll be a major force. He also has to improve his consistency from a focus and motor standpoint. The five-star tools are there and this is a big time talent, and the fact his game has so much room for improvement is actually something to be excited about.
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