Irish Secure Top Defensive End
Notre Dame has added a five-star defensive end to its 2027 recruiting class, sealing a commitment from Abraham Sesay, who chose the Irish over LSU, Duke and Florida State.
Sesay, a 6-foot-5, 225-pound prospect from the East Coast, posted 13 sacks last season and is ranked No. 47 nationally by the 247Sports Composite. His versatility also sees him lining up at tight end, while he competes in basketball and track.
The pledge marks the 18th verbal for Notre Dame’s 2027 class, a group that already includes defensive tackle David Folorunsho, who committed about a month earlier and is rated No. 27 nationally among defensive linemen.
Coach Charlie Partridge, who previously served at the University of Pittsburgh and with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, played a pivotal role in the recruitment, leveraging relationships built over years of scouting.
The class also features four-star defensive ends Aidan O’Neil and Jackson Vaughn from New Jersey, as well as Richie Flanigan, son of former Irish defensive star Jim Flanigan, adding depth to the defensive line.
Beyond the defensive front, the Irish’s pipeline includes athletes from Downington East, where Brassir Stocker signed with the Panthers in 2018 before entering the transfer portal, and Tyler Kroft, a former NFL tight end who remains the most accomplished football product to emerge from that school.
The early signing period for college football is expected to open in early December, a timeline that will allow prospects like Sesay to formalize their commitments.
Notre Dame’s 2027 recruiting haul underscores the program’s ability to attract elite talent, reinforcing its reputation as a defensive powerhouse and setting the stage for a potentially dominant season ahead.