Slices of Tuna: Marcus Freeman has completely revitalized Notre Dame recruiting
The numbers tell an even bigger story than you'd think. Plus, some new area staff hires. And a tip of the cap to a hoops lifer.
Happy Friday. Maybe one day I’ll stop celebrating this past week. But that day is not today.
Enjoy the weekend, folks.
1. A good time to be Irish
Notre Dame added a five-star commitment on Tuesday.
Did it seem understated? As if it barely made a ripple nationally?
Telling, isn’t it?
Downingtown East (Pa.) five-star edge rusher Abraham Sesay pledged to the Irish. He’s a top-30 prospect, ranked No. 22 overall by 247Sports and No. 27 by Rivals. He joins St. Peter’s Prep (N.J.) offensive tackle and top-20 prospect Oluwasemilore Olubobola as fellow five-stars for Marcus Freeman’s 2027 class.
This is what Notre Dames does now under Freeman, who last cycle signed, depending on your recruiting service of choice, upward of five five-star prospects in the 2026 class.
To put that into context, per 247Sports’ ratings, Notre Dame had previously signed a total of one — one! — five-star prospect since Michael Mayer’s commitment for the 2020 class. Rivals had been a little more charitable toward Notre Dame signees, listing six different Irish commits as five-star prospects since 2020. (Although ironically enough, they did not have Mayer as a five-star.)
Either way, this is a new day in South Bend.
