Notre Dame Class of 2027 Recruiting Big Board: Defense
- Bruce Straughan
- 1 day ago
- 7 min read
*Updated April 7th, 2026
Notre Dame is off to a strong start as usual on the defensive side of the football in the Class of 2027. Here's our updated big board with prospects to keep an eye on.
We hadn't seen anything like this since the Weis days, when he pulled high-caliber talent such as Jimmy Clausen, Golden Tate, Michael Floyd, Harrison Smith, Kyle Rudolph, and Manti Te'o.
Be that as impressive as it is, Marcus Freeman and staff were able to top that; in fact, some say the 2026 class is the best in program history. Notre Dame looks to continue that momentum in the 2027 class and is already on their way with notable commitments like 4-star OT James Halter, 4-star CB Xavier Hasan, 4-star CB Ace Alston, 4-star S Khalil Terry, 4-star LB Amarri Irvin, and 4-star DL Richie Flanigan.
Below are the Big Board Defensive Talents that Notre Dame looks to land:
Edge
Zyron Forstall
(5-star) 6-3.5 225lbs out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 42nd overall nationally and 5th overall at the Edge position. He holds 27 D1 offers.
KJ Green
(5-star) 6-4 215lbs out of Stephenson High School in Stone Mountain Gap, Georgia. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 72nd overall nationally and 9th overall at the Edge position. He holds 30 D1 offers.
Chris Whitehead
(5-star) 6-4.5 230lbs out of Lloyd C. Bird High School in Chesterfield, Virginia. He is ranked by 247 Sports 27th overall nationally and 4th overall at the Edge position. He holds 33 D1 offers.
Abraham Sesay
(4-star) 6-5 215lbs out of Downingtown East High School in Exton, Pennsylvania. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 63rd overall nationally and 8th overall at the Edge position. He holds 28 D1 offers.
Mekai Brown
(4-star) 6-7 230lbs out of Greenwich Country Day High School in Greenwich, Connecticut. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 49th overall nationally and 6th overall at the Edge position. He holds 28 D1 offers.
Wyatt Smith
(4-star) 6-6 235lbs out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 75th overall nationally and 10th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 32 D1 offers.
Aidan O’Neil
(4-star) 6-5 240lbs out of Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, New Jersey. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 127th overall nationally and 15th overall at the Edge position. He holds 30 D1 offers.
Chris Whitehead
(5-star) 6-4.5 230lbs out of Lloyd C. Bird High School in Chesterfield, Virginia. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 27th overall nationally and 4th overall at the Edge position. He holds 33 D1 offers.
Rashad Streets
(4-star) 6-4 230lbs out of Millbrook High School in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 61st overall nationally and 7th overall at the Edge position. He holds 36 D1 offers.
Frederick Ards
(4-star) 6-5 225lbs out of Jones High School in Orlando, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 77th overall nationally and 11th overall at the Edge position. He holds 23 D1 offers.
Defensive Line
David Folorunsho
(4-star) 6-4 280lbs out of St. Patrick High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 103rd overall nationally and 13th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 32 D1 offers.
Brayden Parks
(4-star) 6-3 305lbs out of Brother Rice High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 179th overall nationally and 20th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 41 D1 offers.
Santana Harvey
(4-star) 6-5 220lbs out of Lakeland High School in Lakeland, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 286th overall nationally and 34th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 34 D1 offers.
Luke Starcevic
(4-star) 6-5 250lbs out of Kindred High School in Kindred, North Dakota. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 218th overall nationally and 10th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 20 D1 offers.
Karlos May
(4-star) 6-3.5 305lbs out of Ramsay High School in Birmingham, Alabama. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 124th overall nationally and 16th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 31 D1 offers.
Joseph Buchanan
(4-star) 6-4 260lbs out of McDonogh High School in Owings Mill, Maryland. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 221st overall nationally and 22nd overall at the defensive line position. He holds 24 D1 offers.
Jon Ioane
(4-star) 6-3 295lbs out of Tustin High School in Tustin, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 268th overall nationally and 13th overall as an ATH/defensive line position. He holds 24 D1 offers.
Alifeleti Tuihalamaka
(4-star) 6-4 260lbs out of Oaks Christian High School in West Lake Village, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 254th overall nationally and 26th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 31 D1 offers.
Linebacker
Kaden Henderson
(4-star) 6-1.5 218lbs out of Jesuit High School in Tampa, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 24th overall nationally and 3rd overall at the linebacker position. He holds 41 D1 offers.
Toa Satale
(4-star) 6-3 200lbs out of Miliani High School in Miliani, Hawaii. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 60th overall nationally and 4th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 32 D1 offers.
Noah Glover
(4-star) 6-1 205lbs out of Battlefield High School in Haymarket, Virginia. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 204th overall nationally and 16th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 29 D1 offers.
Roman Igwebuike
(4-star) 6-3 220lbs out of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 147th overall nationally and 11th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 43 D1 offers.
Mikahi Allen
(4-star) 6-1 220lbs out of Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, New Jersey. He is ranked by 247 Sports 215th overall nationally and 19th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 28 D1 offers.
Antwoine Higgins
(4-star) 6-3 2185lbs out of Anderson High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 386th overall nationally and 30th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 34 D1 offers.
Cornerback
John Meredith III
(5-star) 6-2 175lbs out of North Crowley High School in Fort Worth, Texas. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 2nd overall nationally and 1st overall at the cornerback position. He holds 42 D1 offers.
Joshua Dobson
(5-star) 6-1 185lbs out of Hough High School in Cornelius, North Carolina. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 11th overall nationally and 2nd overall at the cornerback position. He holds 29 D1 offers.
Hayden Stapp
(5-star) 6-3.5 185lbs out of Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 33rd overall nationally and 5th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 37 D1 offers.
Danny Lang
(4-star) 5-11.5 160lbs out of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 104th overall nationally and 12th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 28 D1 offers.
Tavares Harrington
(4-star) 6-3 175lbs out of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 109th overall nationally and 13th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 42 D1 offers.
Duvay Williams
(4-star) 5-10.5 148lbs out of Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 178th overall nationally and 24th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 42 D1 offers.
Safeties
Gavin Williams
(4-star) 6-1 180lbs out of Damien High School in La Verne, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 151st overall nationally and 13th overall at the safety position. He holds 40 D1 offers.
Zayden Gamble
(4-star) 5-11 190lbs out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 195th overall nationally and 18th overall at the safety position. He holds 46 D1 offers.
Jailen Hill
(4-star) 6-2 170lbs out of St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 249th overall nationally and 21st overall at the safety position. He holds 24 D1 offers.
Myles Baker
(4-star) 6-1 185lbs out of Sierra Canyon High School in Chatsworth, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 264th overall nationally and 24th overall at the safety position. He holds 26 D1 offers.
Kenaz Sullivan
(4-star) 6-1 190lbs out of St. James High School in Springfield, Virginia. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 331st overall nationally and 33rd overall at the safety position. He holds 40 D1 offers.
Athletes
Xavier Saab
(5-star) 6-1 180lbs out of Glassboro High School in Glassboro, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 37th overall nationally and 2nd overall at the ath position. He holds 24 D1 offers.
Marcus Fakatou
(5-star) 6-6 275lbs out of Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 35th overall nationally and 2nd overall at the ath/defensive line position. He holds 36 D1 offers.
Tee Walden Jr.
(4-star) 6-2.5 165lbs out of Collierville High School in Collierville, Tennessee. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 125th overall nationally and 6th overall at the ath position. He holds 37 D1 offers.
Myson Johnson-Cook
(4-star) 6-2 235lbs out of East St. Louis High School in East St. Louis, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 46th overall nationally and 4th overall at the rb/ath position. He holds 48 D1 offers.
Corey Hadley, Jr.
(4-star) 6-1 180lbs out of Sandy Creek High School in Tyrone, Georgia. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 86th overall nationally and 7th overall at the ath position. He holds 30 D1 offers.
Brayton Feister
(4-star) 6-3 230lbs out of Archbishop Hoban High School in Akron, Ohio. He is ranked by 247 Sports 132nd overall nationally and 7th overall at the ath position. He holds 31 D1 offers.
Matthew Gregory
(4-star) 6-1 170lbs out of Owen J Roberts High School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 108th overall nationally and 17th overall at the wr/ath position. He holds 26 D1 offers.
Cade Cooper
(4-star) 6-3 192lbs out of Malvern Prep High School in Malvern, Pennsylvania. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 339th overall nationally and 43rd overall at the wr/ath position. He holds 24 D1 offers.
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