David Folorunsho, a 6-foot-3, 280-pound defensive lineman from St. Patrick, announced his commitment to Notre Dame on May 15. The junior, ranked among Illinois’ top recruits for 2027, says his faith guided his decision while also pointing to Notre Dame’s busin
On May 15, David Folorunsho stood in a ceremony at St. Patrick and made a decision he described as both grounded and unburdened. “I’m blessed to be in this situation,” the St. Patrick junior said after announcing his commitment to Notre Dame. “I can’t put anything on me. I got to put it to Jesus Christ.”.
Folorunsho, listed at 6-3 and 280 pounds, will anchor Notre Dame’s 2027 recruiting class as a defensive lineman. His commitment caps a journey that began far from Illinois. He grew up playing soccer in Nigeria and moved to the United States when he was 11. keeping soccer in his routine for a few years. Then friends invited him to football practice, and he soon found a new athletic path.
That path wasn’t an instant one-direction sprint. Folorunsho played offensive line before switching to the other side of the ball, a change he says fits the way he wants to play. “Just attacking, getting after the quarterback,” he said. “I like to use my athleticism; that’s the main reason.”
Recruiting analysts have taken notice of the combination of size and raw ability. Folorunsho is the consensus No. 2 player in Illinois in the 2027 cycle, the No. 3 defensive lineman nationally, and the No. 43 player overall. His recruiting list includes more than 30 Power Four offers. among them Indiana. Ohio State. Alabama. Georgia. LSU. Miami. Michigan and Texas.
National recruiting analyst Clint Cosgrove described what Notre Dame is getting beyond the rankings. “David is a player with an unlimited upside,” Cosgrove said. “He’s got a lot of physical talent. He’s still raw at this point. but as well as he’s still growing into his body. there’s a lot to like about him.” Cosgrove added that Folorunsho “fires off the ball” and is “a high. high motor kid.”.
St. Patrick coach Tom Zbikowski. who was an All-America defensive back at Notre Dame before moving on to the NFL. said he kept the process from becoming a one-way push. “I kept it neutral,” Zbikowski told the Sun-Times. “I wanted him to do his own studying, take a real good look at all those programs. They’re all good programs — you’re not going to make a bad decision out of there.”.
Zbikowski said that even with that neutrality, the decision ultimately made sense for reasons that went beyond football. “I think family . . . and him understanding that once football’s over that this is the best option for him and it can do the most for you. especially being from Chicago. ” he said. “It’s a different animal when you’re a Chicago kid that goes to Notre Dame.”.
Academics were central for Folorunsho, too. He said he wants to study business marketing. pointing to what he described as Notre Dame’s business school and its network of contacts to help him. After the commitment. his attention shifts to the final chapter of his high school season with the Shamrocks. who were 6-5 in Zbikowski’s first year.
Folorunsho also spoke about the work he still wants to do as a player. “The main thing I’m going to emphasize is pad level and really shoot my hands, getting that knock-back [of] an O-lineman,” he said. “More pass-rush moves and just being more consistent with every rep.”
Zbikowski framed that focus as something Folorunsho already embraces. “He works every day in the morning, and he works every day after school,” the coach said. “I think he loves the process of getting better every day.”
What drives that process. Zbikowski added. is a deep love for football—and an understanding that the jump to Division I isn’t just a label. “He loves football — really loves football,” Zbikowski said. “I know a lot of people play football. and they all want to be D1 until it’s time to be D1 and understand all that goes into it. I don’t think he’s going to shy away from that. In fact, I think that’s what’s going to bring the best out of him.”.
David Folorunsho St. Patrick Notre Dame 2027 recruiting class defensive lineman business marketing college football recruiting