We have been expecting a wave of big time commitments coming in for Notre Dame, but what a way to start things off after the first official visit weekend of June. On Tuesday, 5-Star EDGE Abraham Sesay gave his public commitment to Notre Dame and its 2027 football recruiting class.
The 6’6” 235 pound defensive end from Downington East High School in Exton, Pennsylvania, chose the Irish over his other finalists; the LSU Tigers, Penn State Nittany Lions, and Florida State Seminoles. Sesay also held offers from all over the country including the Alabama Crimson Tide, USC Trojans, Ohio State Buckeyes, Michigan Wolverines, and so many more.
-Long and fluid edge defender that has a chance to be a havoc-creator for a College Football Playoff contender with his gap-closing burst and pursuit range.
-Stands tall at 6-foot-5 and should eventually carry 235 pounds or more with his larger features.
-Shoots out of both a two and three-point stance with little wasted motion as he builds speed and cuts down escape paths for both quarterbacks and running backs.
-Efficiently redirects with his agility and play recognition.
-Tends to win with speed on the corner, but can also play through contact and further mass will only help improve block destruction.
-Already finding success on stunts and should offer some value as a situational interior rusher, especially as he adds weight.
-Projects as a potential difference-maker on Saturdays that can rack up negative plays with his burst and tackle radius.
Ascending EDGE prospect with the size, movement skills, and physicality that point to a high upside at the position. Measured in at around 6-foot-4.5, 225 pounds coming out of his junior season. Has plus length with arms over 33 inches along with 10.25-inch hands. Lines up in two and three point stances off the edge. A twitchy, fluid mover who looks to have the movement patterns suited for bending around the edge. Loose and flexible in his lower body. Flashes good first step quickness and easily converts speed to power. Punches above his weight from a power perspective and is capable of walking offensive tackles back to the quarterback with his bull rush. Plays with a high motor and doesn’t give up on plays. Looks to hunt on passing downs. Turned in a productive junior season with 80 tackles and 13 sacks. Will need to continue adding to his pass rush arsenal, but shows the foundational traits and skills that point to a high upside.
Sesay is the 18th commitment for this Notre Dame recruiting class which is now ranked #4 in the country according to the 247 Team Composite Rankings. The Irish love trench players in Pennsylvania, and Sesay is the second one from the Keystone State to commit (hello James Halter).
| POSITION | PLAYER | STATE | HT | WT | RIVALS | RIVALS INDUSTRY | 247 SPORTS | 247 COMPOSITE | ESPN | COMMIT DATE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LS | Sean Craft | NC | 6’4″ | 215 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️ | 6/24/25 |
| DL | Richie Flanigan | WI | 6’3″ | 263 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 9/25/25 |
| OL | James Halter | PA | 6’5″ | 268 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 10/22/25 |
| CB | Ace Alston | OH | 5’11” | 175 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 12/9/25 |
| CB | Xavier Hasan | NC | 5’11” | 195 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 12/15/25 |
| RB | Lathan Whisenton | TX | 6’0″ | 200 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 3/25/26 |
| RB | Isaiah Rogers | MA | 6’0″ | 205 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 3/30/26 |
| S | John Gay III | FL | 6’1″ | 190 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 4/22/26 |
| S | Zayden Gamble | FL | 5’11” | 190 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 4/25/26 |
| DL | Aidan O’Neil | NJ | 6’5″ | 240 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 5/1/26 |
| QB | Champ Monds | FL | 6’2″ | 225 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 5/1/26 |
| WR | Jackson Coleman | CO | 6’3″ | 195 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️ | 5/4/26 |
| TE | Titus Hawk | OK | 6’7″ | 210 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 5/4/26 |
| OL | Oluwasemilore Olubobola | NJ | 6’6″ | 295 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 5/12/26 |
| OL | Jackson Hill | CA | 6’6″ | 300 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️ | 5/14/26 |
| DL | David Folorunsho | IL | 6’3″ | 285 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 5/15/26 |
| DE | Jackson Vaughn | NJ | 6’3″ | 225 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 5/26/26 |
| DE | Abraham Sesay | PA | 6’6″ | 235 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 6/16/26 |
Notre Dame is getting epic with this defensive haul — especially at the EDGE. Not only that, but Notre Dame’s two year haul is something we normally see at Alabama or Ohio State. The Irish (assuming these guys all sign) are are getting 5 elite defensive ends in this two year span.
| Player/Class | Freshmen | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | Graduate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterback | Champ Monds | Noah Grubbs, Teddy Jarrard | Blake Hebert | C.J. Carr | – |
| Running Back | Lathan Whisenton, Isaiah Rogers | Javian Osborne, Jonaz Walton | Nolan James | Aneyas Williams, Kedren Young | – |
| Tight End | Titus Hawk | Preston Fryzel, Ian Premer | James Flanigan | Jack Larsen | Cooper Flanagan |
| Wide Receiver | Jackson Coleman | Dylan Faison, Bubba Frazier, Kaydon Finley, Devin Fitzgerald, Brayden Robinson | Elijah Burress, Jerome Bettis Jr., Quincy Porter | Cam Williams, Micah Gilbert, Logan Saldate, Mylan Graham | – |
| Center | – | – | Cameron Herron | – | Joe Otting |
| Guard | – | Sullivan Garvin, Tyler Merrill, Gregory Patrick | – | – | Chris Terek, Sullivan Absher, Devan Houstan |
| Tackle | James Halter, Oluwasemilore Olubobola, Jackson Hill | Ben Nichols, Grayson McKeogh, Charlie Thom | Will Black, Owen Strebig, Matty Augustine | Peter Jones, Anthonie Knapp, Styles Prescod, Guerby Lambert | Charles Jagusah |
| Defensive Tackle | Richie Flanigan, David Folorunsho | Tiki Hola, Elijah Golden | Christopher Burgess, Davion Dixon, Gordy Sulfsted | Cole Mullins, Sean Sevillano, Francis Brewu, Tionne Gray | – |
| Defensive End | Aidan O’Neil, Jackson Vaughn, Abraham Sesay | Ebenezer Ewetade, Rodney Dunham | Dominik Hulak, Joseph Reiff | Bryce Young, Loghan Thomas, Keon Keeley | – |
| Linebacker | – | Thomas Davis Jr., Kobe Clapper | Madden Faraimo, Ko’o Kia, | Teddy Rezac, Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, Kahanu Kia | – |
| Safety | John Gay III, Zayden Gamble | Ayden Pouncey, Joey O’Brien, Nick Reddish | Ethan Long, Brandon Logan | Tae Johnson | – |
| Cornerback | Ace Alston, Xavier Hasan | Chaston Smith, Khary Adams | Dallas Golden, Mark Zachery, Jayden Sanders | Leonard Moore | – |
| Specialists | Sean Craft (LS) | Jasper Scaife, Micah Drescher | Erik Schmidt | Spencer Porath | – |
| Totals | 18/105 (18) | 48/105 (30) | 71/105 (23) | 96/105 (25) | 102/105 (6) |
It goes without saying that this is a HUGE win for Notre Dame. While the geographic location is right up Notre Dame’s alley, the fact that continue to stack players at a position that they have been more miss than hit over the last decade shows what kind of impact the Notre Dame defense is making in the minds of these elite recruits. This is phenomenally important to the future of Notre Dame football.
WELCOME TO ND ABRAHAM!
