Notre Dame recruiting target opts for an SEC program, but it was a good problem to have for the Fighting Irish
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The 2027 Notre Dame defensive line board just got a bit smaller. It could end up actually being good news for the Fighting Irish.
Notre Dame football is in the middle of putting together an elite 2027 defensive line recruiting class. With commitments from 5-star EDGE Abraham Sesay, elite defensive tackle David Folorunsho, top-100 defensive end Aidan O’Neil, and 4-star pass rusher Jackson Vaughn, this is already one of the best groups in the country. The scary part: Charlie Partridge isn’t done quite yet.
One of the more interesting names that was still on the board was Wellington (Fla.) Palm Beach Central defensive tackle Tyler Alexander, a talented player who took an official visit to South Bend a couple of weekends ago. The Fighting Irish looked to be in a good spot with Alexander, but he came off the board on Tuesday. Alexander committed to Texas over Notre Dame, Georgia, and Colorado.
This is a really good addition for Texas, a program that has loved big physical interior defensive linemen like Alexander. For Notre Dame, there is a deeper reason why things went this direction. Irish fans should be very optimistic about potential good news on the horizon.
Head coach Marcus Freeman, Partridge, and the Notre Dame staff have done a masterful job putting themselves in a great spot for both Brayden Parks and Segun Alexander. With three talented defensive tackles on the board, the Irish weren’t going to take all of them. This was a very good problem to have, assuming they finish the job with Alexander and Parks, which the team feels optimistic about right now.
Tyler Alexander’s recruiting background
Alexander is considered to be a four-star player on the ESPN ranking, while sitting as a three-star by both Rivals and 247 Sports. On the 247 Sports Composite ranking, Alexander currently ranks as a four-star, the No. 428 overall player, the No. 49 defensive lineman, and the No. 39 player from the state of Florida for the 2027 recruiting class. ESPN has him rated as the No. 289 overall player and the No. 28 defensive lineman in the class.
Despite some inconsistent recruiting rankings, a long list of impressive programs has been pursuing Alexander. Some of his top offers include the Fighting Irish, Ohio State, Georgia, Texas, Florida, Texas A&M, Miami, Florida State, Auburn, Missouri, Nebraska, Louisville, Pitt, Kentucky, Colorado, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, Maryland, UCF, Syracuse, and Rutgers, among several others.
As a junior in 2025, Alexander put together a tremendous season for Palm Beach Central. In 11 games, the 6-3.5, 315-pound defensive tackle finished with 46 total tackles, 20 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. Alexander also posted 21 more quarterback hurries. He is a massive interior presence who has better movement skills than you would expect for a player his size.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: Notre Dame recruiting target opts for an SEC program, but it was a good problem to have for the Fighting Irish
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