Notre Dame has added another big-time piece to its 2028 class, landing Bolingbrook (Ill.) High School edge Darieon Prescott, a commitment that gives Marcus Freeman’s future front another elite building block.
Prescott is Notre Dame’s third pledge in the 2028 cycle and the second defensive commit overall. He’s also the first defensive lineman the Irish have secured in the class.
That matters because Notre Dame has already stacked up edge talent in recent cycles, signing Rodney Dunham and Ebenezer Ewetade in 2026 and then following with commitments from Abraham Sesay, Jackson Vaughn and Aidan O'Neil in 2027. With that kind of recent haul, the 2028 priority wasn’t quantity.
It was finding another difference-maker. Prescott fits that lane.
The recruiting services agree. Prescott is a Top 25 national recruit for 247Sports and Rivals/On3, and he checks in as a Top 50 national prospect on the Irish Breakdown board.
At 6-4 and 255 pounds, he brings a different body type than the lighter, twitchier edges Notre Dame has added lately. Sesay and Vaughn are both listed at 225 pounds and are more pass-rush oriented right now, while O'Neil brings more of a run-stopping power profile.
Prescott gives the Irish another end who can complement that group with size, force and pass-rush upside.
That blend is exactly why he makes sense for Chris Ash’s defense. Ash wants a front that can handle the run and still get after the quarterback without leaning on extra pressure.
Prescott projects well in both areas. He’s already a disruptive high school player, even as a sophomore, and the physical traits jump off the page: size, power, explosiveness and a relentless motor.
The frame is already college-ready in a lot of ways, and there’s still room to grow. Prescott has the length to become a 6-4, 270-pound edge at the next level, and the focus now is less about adding bulk and more about building power and explosiveness. He’s strong through his hands and lower body, and that shows up when he’s working through contact.
What really separates him is how much force he can generate so quickly. His first step is elite, and it lets him fly past high school blockers before they can settle in.
He’s not just a straight-line athlete, either. Prescott can bend, change direction and close in a hurry.
There are even clips where he drops into coverage, and the movement skills show up there too. When you’re looking for the full package at edge, he checks every box: size, power, length, explosiveness and agility.
The technical side is still a work in progress, and that’s where the ceiling gets even more interesting. His footwork needs refinement, and his hand usage is still raw.
But that’s not a surprise with a player who hasn’t played his junior season yet. There’s time for that part of his game to catch up at Bolingbrook before he ever gets to South Bend.
And with Charlie Partridge in the picture, Notre Dame is getting a coach known for developing that exact part of a defender’s game.
Prescott’s football IQ is another standout. He had eight pass breakups as a sophomore, and that wasn’t an accident.
He reads plays well, recognizes screens, stays disciplined as the read key in read zone and does a good job staying backside. That kind of awareness, paired with his physical tools, gives him a chance to become a truly special player once the technical details come along.
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