Notre Dame is really stacking the talent along the defensive line with its 2027 football recruiting class. On Thursday, one of the big additions to that group finally made a public announcement. 4-Star defensive lineman Brayden Parks gave his commitment to Marcus Freeman, Charlie Partridge, and Notre Dame via an announcement ceremony on CBS Sports. The moment 4 DL Brayden Parks commited to The Notre Dame Fighting Irish. But why Notre Dame?"They give me the best choice on and off the field. Not just with football but life after football." Football is a career. Notre Dame is a lifetime @247Sports pic.twitter.com/WLdcU2xz2K CathVSConf (@CathVSConf) July 23, 2026The 63 305 pound defensive tackle from Brother Rice High School in Chicago, Illinois, chose the Irish over his other finalist, the Oregon Ducks. Parks also held major offers from all over the country including the Ohio State Buckeyes, Michigan Wolverines, Alabama Crimson Tide, Miami Hurricanes, and many more.From 247:-Wide, stout-bodied interior defender who makes life challenging for Middle 3 blockers with his rate of movement off the ball.-Possesses the rush get-off and skill level to consistently shave edges or pry open rush paths with inside moves.-Can rip and swipe his way to immediate victories, with an effective hump move sprinkled in.-Natural leverage advantage simplifies his ability to anchor and root into the ground against downhill run efforts for new lines of scrimmage.-Power-packed player who doesnt lose steam on his way to the quarterback at various parts of the field.-Falls shy of positional size thresholds, but has the length to overwrite those shortcomings.-Looks the part of a productive, multi-year contributor for a Power Four program who specializes in even-front deployments.From ISD:I think Parks is one of the most underrated prospects in Notre Dames class. He dominated as a junior with 23 tackles for loss and hes much further ahead of most young interior linemen when it comes to his hands.Notre Dames depth at defensive tackle may not allow any freshman to crack the rotation immediately, but I think Parks could compete to do so. Ive been extremely impressed with him since seeing him in person at Irish Invasion in 2025 and his twitch at his size is legit.View LinkThis is the 23rd commitment for Notre Dames 2027 football recruiting class, and its an elite class. The Irish are now firmly in place as the No. 2 class in the country, and according to some recruiting insiders Notre Dame plans on doing some big game hunting for other 5-Stars before National Signing Day.POSITIONPLAYERSTATEHTWTRIVALSRIVALS INDUSTRY247 SPORTS247 COMPOSITEESPNCOMMIT DATELSSean CraftNC642156/24/25OLRichie FlaniganWI632639/25/25OLJames HalterPA6526810/22/25CBAce AlstonOH51117512/9/25CBXavier HasanNC51119512/15/25RBLathan WhisentonTX602003/25/26RBIsaiah RogersMA602053/30/26SJohn Gay IIIFL611904/22/26SZayden GambleFL5111904/25/26DLAidan ONeilNJ652405/1/26QBChamp MondsFL622255/1/26WRJackson ColemanCO631955/4/26TETitus HawkOK672105/4/26OLOluwasemilore OlubobolaNJ662955/12/26OLJackson HillCA663005/14/26DLDavid FolorunshoIL632855/15/26DEJackson VaughnNJ632255/26/26DEAbraham SesayPA662356/16/26WRJulius Jones Jr.FL5101756/22/26DTSegun AlexanderGA623006/23/26OLAlbert SimienLA642956/26/26LBRoman IgwebuikeIL632207/11/26DL Brayden ParksIL633057/23/26As it goes with great programs, its not just the ONE recruiting class its how a program stacks blue-chippers on its roster. Notre Dame is doing a fantastic job there with what they are accomplishing, and Charlie Partridge is a big reason for this success.Player/ClassFreshmenSophomoreJuniorSenior5th YearQuarterbackChamp MondsNoah Grubbs, Teddy JarrardBlake HebertC.J. CarrRunning BackLathan Whisenton, Isaiah RogersJavian Osborne, Jonaz WaltonNolan JamesAneyas Williams, Kedren YoungTight EndTitus HawkPreston Fryzel, Ian PremerJames FlaniganJack LarsenCooper FlanaganWide ReceiverJackson Coleman, Julius Jones Jr.Dylan Faison, Bubba Frazier, Kaydon Finley, Devin Fitzgerald, Brayden RobinsonElijah Burress, Jerome Bettis Jr., Quincy PorterCam Williams, Micah Gilbert, Logan Saldate, Mylan GrahamJordan FaisonCenterCameron HerronJoe OttingGuardAlbert SimienSullivan Garvin, Tyler Merrill, Gregory PatrickChris Terek, Sullivan Absher, Devan HoustanTackleJames Halter, Oluwasemilore Olubobola, Jackson HillBen Nichols, Grayson McKeogh, Charlie ThomWill Black, Owen Strebig, Matty AugustinePeter Jones, Anthonie Knapp, Styles Prescod, Guerby LambertCharles JagusahDefensive TackleRichie Flanigan, David Folorunsho, Segun Alexander, Brayden ParksTiki Hola, Elijah GoldenChristopher Burgess, Davion Dixon, Gordy SulfstedCole Mullins, Sean Sevillano, Francis Brewu, Tionne GrayElijah HughesDefensive EndAidan ONeil, Jackson Vaughn, Abraham SesayEbenezer Ewetade, Rodney DunhamDominik Hulak, Joseph ReiffBryce Young, Loghan Thomas, Keon KeeleyLinebackerRoman IgwebuikeThomas Davis Jr., Kobe ClapperMadden Faraimo, Koo Kia,Teddy Rezac, Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, Kahanu KiaJaiden Ausberry, Drayk BowenSafety John Gay III, Zayden GambleAyden Pouncey, Joey OBrien, Nick ReddishEthan Long, Brandon LoganTae JohnsonLuke TalichCornerbackAce Alston, Xavier HasanChaston Smith, Khary AdamsDallas Golden, Mark Zachery, Jayden SandersLeonard MooreChristian GraySpecialistsSean Craft (LS)Jasper Scaife, Micah DrescherErik SchmidtSpencer PorathTotals23/105 (23)53/105 (30)76/105 (23)101/105 (25)113/105 (12)Parks is a big get for the Irish in a number of ways, but maybe the biggest way is that he is a fantastic defensive line prospect, and could provide a major impact early in his career in South Bend. WELCOME TO ND BRAYDEN!