With elite LB Madden Faraimo's buzzer-beater commitment, Notre Dame's incoming defensive class went from good to great. We break down every player below.
Cover Art by The Irish Tribune
Recruiting is a roller coaster ride for both the coaches and the fans that follow it. There is a lot of work that goes into it for the coaching staff. They spend months building relationships with the recruits and their families, visiting them at their high schools, and hosting them for games on campus all while preparing the current team for success on the football field. The payoff for all this hard work comes on signing day when the recruits put pen to paper and officially announce their commitment to play for the Fighting Irish. This year's class comes in as the 12th overall class in the country according to 247Sports and is loaded from top to bottom with impressive talent on both sides of the ball. Get to know the class of 2025 defensive signees.
Madden Faraimo - LB
4-star Linebacker Madden Faraimo has always been a top target on Notre Dame’s list for the class of 2025. It was a back-and-forth battle between Notre Dame and USC for the past couple of months with many saying he was destined for USC. Freeman and the coaching staff never gave up on landing the highly touted LB and continued to recruit him until he signed with the Irish.
Madden is ranked by 24/7 Sports Composite as the 4th-best player in the state of California, the 3rd-best LB in the nation, and the 61st-best player nationally. Prior to signing with Notre Dame he held 20 offers from many of the most notable schools in the country such as Alabama, Texas, USC, Miami, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Washington, and Notre Dame among many others.
JaDon Blair - DB
At 6'4" 190lbs, JaDon Blair is a very intriguing prospect and is already one of the best safeties in the country. He's a dual sport athlete at Mount Tabor High School in Winston Salem, NC, where he plays both football and basketball. He is a 4-star Safety ranked by 247Sports as the 5th best player in the state of North Carolina and the 12th-best safety in the country.
Before signing with the Irish, he had 22 offers from some of the most notable schools in the country such as Florida State, Michigan, South Carolina, Louisville, Duke, LSU, Miami, and Notre Dame among others. He committed to the Irish on July 5, 2024, and has been very vocal about how much he loves the University.
Dallas Golden - DB
Golden is a very dynamic playmaker on the defensive side of the ball, and a great addition to the backfield at the safety position to complement the 2025 class with JaDon Blair. Golden is 4-star safety at Berkeley Prep High School in Tampa, Florida, and is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 12th-best player in the state of Florida, 3rd-best ATH in the country, and the 87th-best overall player in the country.
Before committing to the Irish, Golden held 42 offers from some of the biggest schools in the country to include Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Ohio State, Oregon, USC, Texas, and Notre Dame among others. Golden is a very talented prospect that is sure to make a big impact for the Irish at the next level.
Christopher Burgess - DL
Burgess, at 6'4" 240lbs, is a big-framed defensive lineman who has experience at multiple front-line spots. He is a 4-star defensive end at Simeon High School in Chicago, IL, and is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 4th best player in the state of Illinois, the 9th best Edge in the country, and the 126th best overall player in the nation. In his senior season, he racked up many honors including 1st Team All-Conference, 1st Team All-City, 1st Team All-State, and All-American.
Before signing with the Irish, Burgess held 36 offers from many big name schools across the country such as Alabama, Florida State, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Ole Miss, and Notre Dame among others. He committed to the Irish on January 6, 2024 and has been very vocal about his excitement to get to the next level and be a contributor for Notre Dame.
Mark Zachary IV - DB
Mark Zachary IV is another very intriguing athlete who is a standout basketball player and football player at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis, IN. He currently plays on both sides of the ball at the cornerback and wide receiver positions but is being recruited to play cornerback at Notre Dame. Zachary is a 4-star cornerback ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 3rd-best player in the state of Indiana, the 17th-best cornerback in the country, and the 175th-best player in the nation.
Before signing with the Irish, Zachary held 32 offers from some of the most notable teams in the country, such as Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, USC, and Notre Dame among many others. Zachary has been committed to the Irish since May 25, 2024.
Anthony Saaca - LB
Anthony Saaca, a senior at St. Joesph's Prep School in Philadelphia, PA, made the switch from safety to linebacker for his junior year season. Saaca, at 6'3" 225lbs., is a high-level talent who can play in the box, but because of his previous play at the safety position, he has the ability to drop back in coverage which makes him a big threat at the linebacker position. Saaca is ranked by 247Sports Composite as a 4-star linebacker, the 5th-best player in the state of Pennsylvania, the 23rd-best linebacker in the country, and the 220th-best player in the nation.
Before signing with the Irish, he held 25 offers from notable schools such as Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC, and Notre Dame among many others.
Dominik Hulak - DL
Dominik Hulak has experience on both sides of the ball, but is being recruited as a defensive edge. Hulak, listed at 6'4" 235lbs, is a 3-sport athlete at Immaculate Conception High School in Elmhurst, IL where he plays football, hockey, and lacrosse. He is ranked by 247Sports as a 3-star Edge, the 8th-best player in the state of Illinois, and the 34th-best Edge in the nation.
Before signing with the Irish, he held 11 offers from such schools as Illinois, Iowa, Iowa State, Louisville, Michigan State, Stanford, Purdue, and Notre Dame among others. He was named Co-Defensive Player of Dupage County with fellow class of 2025 Notre Dame Commit Joseph Reiff.
Cree Thomas - DB
Cree Thomas is a very talented cornerback at Brophy College Preparatory High School in Phoenix, AZ, who has a knack for the ball and seems to always be in the right spot which often results in interceptions. Thomas is a 3-star cornerback ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 5th-best player in the state of Arizona, the 40th-best cornerback in the country, and the 459th overall best player in the country.
Before signing with the Irish, Thomas held 12 offers from such schools as Arizona, Arizona State, Boston College, Oregon, Purdue, Wisconsin, and Notre Dame among others. He has been a long-time commit to Notre Dame since he announced his commitment to the Irish on November 20, 2023. He has been very vocal about how excited he is to be a part of Notre Dame's class of 2025.
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Joseph Reiff - DL
Joseph Reiff, a 6'6" 250lbs defensive lineman, has been another impressive recruit on the offensive side of the ball for the Irish. He was named the Co-Defensive Player of The Year for Dupage County, an award he shares with class of 2025 Notre Dame commit Dominik Hulak. Reiff is a 4-star defensive lineman and U.S. Army All-American. He is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 10th-best player in the state of Illinois, and the 45th-best defensive lineman in the country.
Before signing with the Irish, Reiff held 6 offers from such schools as Cincinnati, Louisville, Iowa, Northwestern, Purdue, and Notre Dame. Reiff has been committed to Notre Dame since September 24, 2023. He was currently named to the 1st team All-State by The News-Gazette, an honor he's held for two consecutive years in a row.
Gordy Sulfsted - DL
Gordy Sulfsted is the son of former NFL offensive tackle Alex Sulfsted, who was a 6th-round draft pick in the 2001 NFL Draft. Gordy, a 6'5" 240lbs defensive lineman, is a senior at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, OH. He is ranked by 247Sports as the 20th-best player in the state of Ohio, and the 71st-best defensive lineman in the country.
Before signing with the Irish, Gordy held 25 offers from notable schools such as Cincinnati, Duke, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Iowa, Miami, Minnesota, Purdue, Washington, and Notre Dame among many others. He has been committed to Notre Dame since May 19, 2024.
Ko'o Kia - LB
The pipeline from Hawaii to Notre Dame has been going strong for quite some time now ever since they landed Manti Te'o back in 2009. Kia is a talented 3-star linebacker at Punahou High School in Honolulu, HI. He is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 2nd-best player in the state of Hawaii and the 63rd-best linebacker in the nation.
Before signing with the Irish Kia held 15 offers from notable schools like Arizona, Arizona State, BYU, Michigan State, Oregon, Texas, USC, Utah, Washington, and Notre Dame among others. He was selected as an All-Star in the 2025 Polynesian Bowl. Kia has been committed to the Irish since January 15, 2024.
Ethan Long - DB
Ethan Long is a 6'2" 185lbs 3-star safety at Brunswick High School in Greenwich, CT. He is teammates with class of 2025 Notre Dame commits Blake Hebert and Matty Augustine, who will also be signing with the Irish on early signing day. Long is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 5th-best player in the state of Connecticut and the 45th-best safety in the nation.
Before signing with the Irish, he held 16 offers from such schools as Boston College, Duke, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, and Notre Dame among others. Long as been committed to the Irish since January 8, 2024.
Brandon Logan - DB
Brandon Logan was originally committed to play baseball at Vanderbilt, but that changed when he announced his decision to flip his commitment to Notre Dame on August 10, 2024. Logan is a dual-sport athlete and will play both baseball and football at Notre Dame. Logan is a 6'0" 185lbs 3-star safety at R. Nelson Snider High School in Fort Wayne, IN. He is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 12th-best player in Indiana and the 67th-best Safety in the nation.
Before signing with Notre Dame, Logan held 4 offers from Vanderbilt, Indiana, Iowa, and Notre Dame. He is a rising star athlete that Notre Dame feels will be a big contributor both on the football field and the baseball field.
Davion Dixon - DL
Davion Dixon is another talented defensive lineman added to the class of 2025 for Notre Dame. He is 6'2" 305lbs 3-star defensive lineman at Miami Palmetto in Miami, FL. Dixon currently holds the honor of being on the All Dade County 1st-team Defense as well as an FBU All-American. He is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 82nd-best player in the state of Florida and the 73rd-best defensive lineman in the nation.
Before signing with the Irish Dixon held 26 offers from such notable schools as Miami, Nebraska, Ohio State, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan State, Penn State, Syracuse, and Notre Dame among many others. Dixon has been committed to Notre Dame since April 21, 2023.
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