ND lands 5* DL (David Folorunsho)
Article on newest verbal by Jamie University.
https://irishsportsdaily.com/s/27610/film-dont-lie-david-folorunsho/1
Even though this guy might be predisposed
To like ND (given his proximity to South Bend and all the ND influences around him), Freeman and Partridge went out and beat anyone and everyone for this guy. Including perennial title contenders and DL developers (UGA/Bama) and nouveau riche royalty with deep pockets (Miami, Oregon, TTU).
Of all the recruiting wins he's scored, this might be Freeman's biggest.
Chicago has been a weird struggle for us lately.
There’s Cam Williams and a couple others, but South Bend is almost *too* close and seems to drive kids further away from home.
This is a huge huge huge fucking get. Best pure interior DL prospect we've landed since Holtz. And I'm not sure even he and Cerrato landed a top-10-caliber war daddy. Went thru this on another board earlier this week, and Cedric Hilliard back under Davie in the early Mack Brown @ TX years was the closest comp I could come up with.
Mt. Carmel is going to be an interesting Chicago test case
First, they are going to have a ridiculous team this year. But they have more than a few kids we are interested in. We lost Burrell to Michigan. They have 4 other players we have offered: Harrington, Igwebuike, Tucker (28), and Thornton (28).
I am naturally biased
but they really didn't push for Burrell, and I'm not sure they seriously prioritized Harrington either, given existing DB commits. Igwuibuike is on the short list at LB, but they may only take one more.
I get the impression Thornton is already better than Burrell. We should be big-game hunting at receiver in 2028, so I guess we'll see. There are a couple of nationally-prominent DEs (McGee is one) who have already visited several times, too.
I agree
Feels like it's Igwuibuike or bust. That's the one. It's just really unusual for an Illinois program to have this much talent. Would be nice for ND to reclaim their role as kings of Chicago.
I looked at starters from Chicago area on the 1988 team
There were a couple and they were good but no moreso than other places.
I think ND fans may overrate the importance of this area for ND.
Steve Filer was from Chicago, very highly rated, and couldn’t play on special teams.
I grew up there and was on a team in the Catholic league.
I’ve played in Michigan and coached in Ohio. Ohio HS football is better coached and played.
Well said.
I think the importance of Chicago to ND recruiting is grossly overstated.
Give me guys from TX, FL, CA, NC, GA All day along with PA, OH, and the NJ Catholic schools. Those kids have faced elite competition in most cases and have received very good to elite coaching and development too.
Look at Leonard Moore. Played 6A Texas football for a middle of the team but saw elite competition and was ready to step in at a high level as a freshman
Zorich, Grunhard, and Alm come to mind from '88
by Jeff (BGS) 
, A starter home in suburban Tempe, Sunday, May 17, 2026, 11:33 (9 days ago) @ Irish96
Agree that Chicago isn't more important than Florida, Texas, or California, but that is comparing a single metro area to three very large states. '88 had a fair amount of Pennsylvanians on the team as well, IIRC.
ND can definitely win without pulling in best of Chicago talent, but it definitely helps.
--
At night, the ice weasels come.
Stan Smagala also.
by NDinVA , Yorktown, VA, Sunday, May 17, 2026, 14:07 (9 days ago) @ Jeff (BGS)
Pretty crucial role.
Recovered the fumble in the end zone by the Pitt QB.
Also, had a pick 6 against Southern Cal.