Marcus Freeman has already done an amazing job building the 2027 recruiting class, landing commitments from recruits. There is still a lot of work to be done as the recruiting trail is getting ready to heat up as summer gets closer.
There are a couple positions Notre Dame wants to focus on, but the biggest is the defensive line. While the Irish got better defensively in the 2025 season, it was noticeable that the line was severely lacking. Freeman did a lot of work in the transfer portal to try to get some help, but now he needs young guys for the future.
There is one defensive lineman that Freeman has been targeting on the recruiting trail for quite some time now, who the Irish have just been predicted to land. Five-star defensive lineman Marcus Fakatou reclassified from the Class of 2028 to the Class of 2027; however, Notre Dame has been after him since the end of his freshman season.
Notre Dame predicted to land five-star recruit, and arguably the top 2027 priority target for the Fighting Irish https://t.co/jzCf5FJLeM
— Ryan Roberts (@RiseNDraft) February 17, 2026
Fakatou received an offer from Freeman and his staff after his freshman year, and since then, he has been followed by not only Notre Dame but also other big programs for his commitment. The Irish are the frontrunners for Fakatou, but they have also had to fight off other big-name programs such as Georgia and USC.
There is still time for a battle to be on Freeman's hands for the top-ranked defensive lineman, but Notre Dame is holding a firm grasp on the lead as of right now. Defensive line coach Charlie Partidge could do a lot of great things with a player like Fakatou. Notre Dame needs a heavy hitter on the defensive line, and with his size, Fakatou could become an immediate starter in South Bend.