David Folorunsho grew up playing soccer in Nigeria.
Now he’s a centerpiece of Notre Dame football’s 2027 recruiting class.
It has been quite a journey for the St. Patrick junior.
“I’m blessed to be in this situation,” Folorunsho told the Sun-Times 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.”
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.
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.
He played offensive line before moving to the other side of the ball, a switch that suited him well.
What does he like about his current position?
“Just attacking, getting after the quarterback,” Folorunsho said. “I like to use my athleticism; that’s the main reason.”
Colleges have taken notice.
Folorunsho has more than 30 Power Four offers, including from Indiana, Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan and Texas.
“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.
“He fires off the ball. . . . He’s a high, high motor kid.”
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.
“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.”
At the end of the process, though, Zbikowsk
