
Parkston Rays begin amateur baseball title defense looking to build on 2025 breakthrough
Parkston Rays begin their title defense in 2025 amateur baseball season after last year's championship win.
5-Star defensive lineman David Folorunsho has committed to Notre Dame Football, joining the 2027 recruiting class. He chose Notre Dame over finalists including Miami, Texas Tech, Michigan, and Georgia.
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The Notre Dame Football recruiting machine is absolutely dialed in right now. On Friday, 5-Star defensive lineman David Folorunsho gave his commitment to Marcus Freeman and this 2027 Notre Dame Football recruiting class.
The Irish continue to have national success on the recruiting trail, but Folorunsho is a fairly local victory. The 6’3” 285 pounder from St. Patrick High School in Chicago, Illinois, chose the Irish over his other finalists; the Miami Hurricanes, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Michigan Wolverines, and Georgia Bulldogs. He also held offers from all over the country including the Alabama Crimson Tide, LSU Tigers, Ohio State Buckeyes, and many others.
David’s high school coach at St. Patrick is Notre Dame legend, Tommy Zbikowski.
-Explosive interior defender with the get-off, quickness and hands to be a difference-maker up front.
-Owns a squatty and compact build, but has a longer wingspan and could eventually play at 300 pounds.
-Fires hips through contact.
-Slips blocks with a brawler mentality.
-Agile enough to quickly plant and redirect.
-Empties the tank while in chase mode.
-Got looks up and down the line as a junior while also doubling as a blocking back on offense and should offer the same alignment possibilities in college as he can shade up or over a guard.
-Will need to keep improving his play-strength and mastering his craft, but projects as a potential impact player for a College Football Playoff hopeful with his range and energy.
David is the 17th commitment for this 2027 Notre Dame football recruiting class, and the first one from the state of Illinois. While Notre Dame hasn’t done big numbers in Chicago lately, the caliber of prospect that Folorunsho is, makes a lot of things up.
| POSITION | PLAYER |
|---|
David Folorunsho plays as a defensive lineman.
David Folorunsho chose Notre Dame over Miami, Texas Tech, Michigan, and Georgia.
David Folorunsho attended St. Patrick High School in Chicago, Illinois.
David Folorunsho's high school coach is Tommy Zbikowski, a Notre Dame legend.

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| 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 |
| LB | Amarri Irvin | FL | 6’0″ | 220 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 11/26/25 |
| 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 |
Notre Dame is working its way back to having solid depth along its defensive line, and a 5-Star prospect is more than just depth — he’s the real future inside. We could see the Irish add a couple more here in this class at DL, but it may still be a position they will invest heavily in during transfer portal season.
| 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 | Ebenezer Ewetade, Rodney Dunham | Dominik Hulak, Joseph Reiff | Bryce Young, Loghan Thomas, Keon Keeley | – |
| Linebacker | Amarri Irvin | 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 | 17/105 (17) | 47/105 (30) | 70/105 (23) | 95/105 (25) | 101/105 (6) |
This is a huge win for Notre Dame. Even though Chicago should be Notre Dame’s to lose, when there is a top prospect like Folorunsho, the big boys come calling and you can throw proximity out of the window.