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  "path": "/high-school-sports/2026/05/22/st-patrick-football-star-david-folorunsho-commits-to-notre-dame",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-23T03:57:28.073Z",
  "site": "https://chicago.suntimes.com",
  "textContent": "<p>David Folorunsho grew up playing soccer in Nigeria.</p><p>Now he’s a centerpiece of Notre Dame football’s 2027 recruiting class.</p><p>It has been quite a journey for the St. Patrick junior.</p><p>“I’m blessed to be in this situation,” Folorunsho told the Sun-Time after announcing his commitment to Notre Dame on May 15 in a ceremony at St. Patrick. “I can’t put anything on me. I got to put it to Jesus Christ.”</p><p>A 6-3, 280-pound defensive lineman, Folorunsho is the consensus No. 2 player in Illinois in the 2027 cycle, the No. 3 defensive lineman nationally and the No. 43 player overall.</p><p>He moved from Nigeria to the United States when he was 11 and kept playing soccer for a few years. Then some friends invited him to football practice, and his athletic path was set.</p><p>He played offensive line before moving to the other side of the ball, a switch that suited him well.</p><p>What does he like about his current position?</p><p>“Just attacking, getting after the quarterback,” Folorunsho said. “I like to use my athleticism; that’s the main reason.”</p><p>Colleges have taken notice.</p><p>Folorunsho has more than 30 Power Four offers, including from Indiana, Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan and Texas.</p><p>“David is a player with an unlimited upside,” national recruiting analyst Clint Cosgrove said. “He’s got a lot of physical talent. He’s still raw at this point, but as well as he’s still growing into his body, there’s a lot to like about him.</p><p>“He fires off the ball. . . . He’s a high, high motor kid.”</p><p>St. Patrick coach Tom Zbikowski, an All-America defensive back at Notre Dame before moving on to the NFL, said he didn’t steer Folorunsho to his alma mater.</p><p>“I kept it neutral,” Zbikowski told the Sun-Times. “I wanted him to do his own studying, take a real good look at all those programs. They’re all good programs — you’re not going to make a bad decision out of there.”</p><p>At the end of the process, though, Zbikowski said, “I think family . . . and him understanding that once football’s over that this is the best option for him and it can do the most for you, especially being from Chicago.</p><p>“It’s a different animal when you’re a Chicago kid that goes to Notre Dame.”</p><p>Academics were a major component of Folorunsho’s decision.</p><p>“I want to go for business marketing, and they have a great business school and great contacts to help me out with that,” he said.</p><p>Now Folorunsho can focus on his final season with the Shamrocks, who were 6-5 in Zbikowski’s first year.</p><p>“The main thing I’m going to emphasize is pad level and really shoot my hands, getting that knock-back [of] an O-lineman,” he said. “More pass-rush moves and just being more consistent with every rep.”</p><p>“He works every day in the morning, and he works every day after school,” Zbikowski said. “I think he loves the process of getting better every day.</p><p>“He loves football — really loves football. I know a lot of people play football, and they all want to be D1 until it’s time to be D1 and understand all that goes into it. I don’t think he’s going to shy away from that. In fact, I think that’s what’s going to bring the best out of him.<br></p>",
  "title": "St. Patrick football star David Folorunsho commits to Notre Dame",
  "updatedAt": "2026-05-23T04:01:06.294Z"
}