Notre Dame Class of 2027 Recruiting Big Board: Defense
- Bruce Straughan
- 11 minutes ago
- 4 min read
*Updated on May 16th, 2026
The Fighting Irish are once again putting together an elite class on the defensive side of the football, with plenty of tremendous talent still on the board.
Photo by The Irish Tribune
Here are some names to keep an eye on going forward in the class of 2027. Please see our commitment tracker to stay up to date with Fighting Irish commits
Edge
Chris Whitehead
(5-star) 6-4.5 230lbs out of Lloyd C. Bird High School in Chesterfield, Virginia. He is ranked by 247Sports 34th overall nationally and 4th overall at the Edge position. He holds 34 D1 offers.
Abraham Sesay
(4-star) 6-5 215lbs out of Downingtown East High School in Exton, Pennsylvania. He is ranked by 247Sports as 50th overall nationally and 7th overall at the Edge position. He holds 28 D1 offers.
Visited Notre Dame on April 18th, 2026 (unofficial)
Official visit set for June 19th
Wyatt Smith
(4-star) 6-6 235lbs out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is ranked by 247Sports as 78th overall nationally and 11th overall at the Edge position. He holds 27 D1 offers.
Defensive Line
Brayden Parks
(4-star) 6-3 305lbs out of Brother Rice High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247Sports as 172nd overall nationally and 19th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 40 D1 offers.
Visited Notre Dame for the annual Junior Day Event on the weekend of March 19th-21st, 2026
Santana Harvey
(4-star) 6-5 220lbs out of Lakeland High School in Lakeland, Florida. He is ranked by 247Sports as 284th overall nationally and 35th 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 247Sports as 265th overall nationally and 14th overall as an athlete. He holds 23 D1 offers.
Linebacker
Kaden Henderson
(5-star) 6-1.5 218lbs out of Jesuit High School in Tampa, Florida. He is ranked by 247Sports as 24th overall nationally and 1st overall at the linebacker position. He holds 47 D1 offers.
Visitied Notre Dame on April 18th, 2026 (unofficial)
Named Notre Dame as a member of his Top 5 schools (3/6/2026)
Toa Satale
(4-star) 6-3 200lbs out of Miliani High School in Miliani, Hawaii. He is ranked by 247Sports as 63rd 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 247Sports as 207th overall nationally and 18th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 29 D1 offers.
Visited Notre Dame for the annual Junior Day Event on the weekend of March 19th-21st, 2026
Roman Igwebuike
(4-star) 6-3 220lbs out of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247Sports as 149th overall nationally and 13th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 45 D1 offers.
Visited Notre Dame on April 18th, 2026 (unofficial)
Set to visit Notre Dame on June 12th-14th
Named Notre Dame as a member of his Top 5 schools (5/7/2026)
Mikahi Allen
(4-star) 6-1 220lbs out of Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, New Jersey. He is ranked by 247Sports as 195th overall nationally and 15th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 28 D1 offers.
Cornerback
Tavares Harrington
(4-star) 6-3 175lbs out of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247Sports as 124th overall nationally and 15th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 42 D1 offers.
Named Notre Dame in his Top 10 (3/11/2026)
Visited Notre Dame on April 18th, 2026 (unofficial)
Committing on May 22nd, 2026
Athletes
Xavier Sabb
(5-star) 6-1 180lbs out of Glassboro High School in Glassboro, California. He is ranked by 247Sports as 31st overall nationally and 2nd overall as an athlete. 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 247Sports as 32nd overall nationally and 2nd overall at the defensive line position. He holds 36 D1 offers.
Official Visit to Notre Dame set for June 15th
Tee Walden Jr.
(4-star) 6-2.5 165lbs out of Collierville High School in Collierville, Tennessee. He is ranked by 247Sports as 125th overall nationally and 6th overall at the ath position. He holds 37 D1 offers.
Announced Notre Dame as a member of his Top 10 schools on (4/6/2026)
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 107th overall nationally and 17th overall at the ath position. He holds 26 D1 offers.
Announced Notre Dame as a member of his Top 7 schools on (5/14/2026)
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.
Visited Notre Dame on March 28th, 2026
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