Notre Dame 2025 DL recruiting: How we got here and what’s next

Eight prospects have already committed to Notre Dame in the 2025 class, and four of them can get after the passer. How did we get here? What positions are the commits projected to play? Who’s left on the board? I’ll take a stab at answering these questions in this article.

Notre Dame’s first pledge of the 2025 class came from Miami Palmetto’s Davion Dixon, a 6-3, 305-pounder who ranks as the nation’s No. 399 overall prospect and No. 40 defensive lineman according to the On3 Industry Ranking. His commitment was an impromptu one that occurred the night before the Irish’s spring game, which eerily similar to Brandon Davis-Swain‘s pledge to the Irish in the 2024 class.

Davis-Swain gave an out of the blue pledge minutes after Notre Dame’s 2022 Blue-Gold Game wrapped up, and it didn’t take long for rumors to swirl that he would end up decommitting, which is what he did in December 2022. Davis-Swain is currently committed to Colorado.

When Dixon committed, many on social media and message boards thought his recruitment would follow that same path as Davis-Swain’s. Will it have the same result of a decommitment? Maybe. Who knows.

But there are no signs of a decommitment from Dixon. He was on campus for the Ohio State game, defensive line coach Al Washington was just at his school this past Friday, and I do not believe Dixon has visited any other schools.

In terms of Dixon’s fit at the next level, he’s a nose tackle all the way. Enough said.

About a half hour after the Irish fell to Ohio State Sept. 23, Highland Home (Ala.) High’s C.J. May, the No. 220 overall prospect and No. 19 EDGE according to the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking, announced his pledge to Notre Dame over Auburn and other SEC schools. May’s decision surprised my sources on the Irish side of things, but it was certainly welcomed news.

There will continue to be local pressure for May to flip to the Tigers, and May knows it.

“I didn’t feel like being a people pleaser,” May recently told Blue & Gold regarding his decision. “People wanted me to do this or that, but it’s about me and my future. I felt that Notre Dame is the best thing for my future.”

Where May projects at Notre Dame is still to be determined. He’s listed at 6-4, 225 pounds and has the athleticism to play vyper, but he has the frame to grow into a strong side defensive end, which is the position he plays for the most part at the high school level. Either way, May has all the potential to be a big-time pass rusher at the next level.

The day after May’s commitment, the Irish landed a pledge from Elmhurst (Ill.) York Community’s Joseph Reiff, who ranks as the No. 432 overall player and No. 42 defensive lineman nationally according to the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking.

May’s commitment was a total surprise. Reiff’s was not. He was leaning towards the Irish and pulled the trigger on a decision privately to the staff the day of the Ohio State game, which fired up the Irish coaches.

Reiff isn’t highly ranked, nor does have a robust offer list, but he’s a player the staff “really wanted” according to sources. Reiff camped at Notre Dame in the summer, and head coach Marcus Freeman was closely watching the 6-5, 240 that day and looked over to his staff and said, “Why haven’t we offered this kid yet?” Freeman ended up offering him later that day, and the Irish jumped to the top of Reiff’s list.

Notre Dame loves Reiff’s motor and frame. Sources tell me that Reiff has the frame to add another 40 pounds or so and can play as a defensive tackle at 280 pounds to start out.

The fourth pass rusher in the class is Elmhurst (Ill.) Immaculate Conception’s Dominik Hulak, who ranks as the No. 447 overall player and No. 44 linebacker in America per the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking. He’s expected to play the “money” position in Al Golden‘s defense, a spot that is currently manned by Marist Liufau. It’s a hybrid linebacker/pass rusher position that Hulak should excel at with his bigger frame and impressive athleticism.

Hulak committed to Notre Dame this past Friday.

Hulak doesn’t necessarily add to Notre Dame’s defensive line numbers internally. This “money” position is its own slot.

What’s left?

It’s a bit wild to think that we have more than a year to go in the 2025 cycle, and Notre Dame is nearly full on the defensive line.

There is one major item of context here, and it’s that matters can change quickly if the Irish have any decommitments. For example, if Dixon were to decide he wants to stay closer to home for college, then the Irish would look to add another beefy interior defensive lineman.

But as things currently stand, there are two key names to watch on the D-line board.

Indianapolis Warren Central’s Damien Shanklin, who ranks as the No. 225 overall prospect and No. 20 EDGE in the country per the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking, is a major target. He visited Notre Dame for the USC and Pittsburgh games in October and is considered an Irish lean according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM). USC is considered Notre Dame’s top competition currently for Shanklin, and Ohio State is lurking as well.

The other prospect to watch is Chicago Simeon’s Christopher Burgess, the No. 126 player and No. 11 EDGE nationally per the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking. Colorado, Notre Dame, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio State look to be at the top of Burgess’ list, and he plans to make a commitment to a lucky program Jan. 6.

Are there other defensive line prospects who the Irish will recruit in the 2025 cycle? Of course. But from what we gather, Shanklin and Burgess are the top two names to know as the staff looks to finish the group up with a big-time pass rusher.

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