'27 IL DT Brayden Parks (Offer)
- Thread starter BobbyMac
- Start date
But NT isn’t a position that you walk in and play. It takes most 2-3 years to build to the size strength. What I think doesn’t matter but I’d rather have Parks than one of the highly rated DEs.
allenm5333
Well-known member
we could have Sev, Dixon, Hola, Gray, and Armel at Nt next year.
MeanGreenBeans
Well-known member
At least one of those 5 will likely transfer. And I just don't think Mukam is a contributor for a championship caliber defense.
MeanGreenBeans
Well-known member
Yes probably making too much of Singer's comment.
IrishInOntario
Well-known member
Guys, if ND can pull Fakatou, who is almost definitely going to outgrow the DE position, he's far greater impact recruit than Brayden Parks. In a penetrating one gap defense, having guys on the interior that reset the line of scrimmage rather than stalemate it are far more important.
Don't get me wrong, I'd take Parks in an instant and I think he's an excellent player and going to be a really good college football player wherever he ends up, but in terms of DL recruits in this cycle, he's down my board as a priority. For me it goes...
1. David Folorunsho (DT)
2. Abraham Sesay (DE)
3. Marcus Fakatou (DT... Will be eventually)
4. Jackson Vaughn (DE)
5. Aidan O'Neil (DE)
6. Brayden Parks (DT)
7. Xavier Muhammad (DT)
IMO, if they don't get Parks they will have lost the #6 DL target on my board among the committed and uncommitted players they're in on... I'm not about to lose sleep over it if he goes elsewhere.
By the the way, Xavier Muhammad has blown up to about 265lbs and will be 275-280lbs before he steps foot on a college campus. He has an easy 300lb frame ala Chris Burgess. Marcus Fakatou has an enormous frame. Easily could wind up 310+lbs ala Jerry Tillery.
Don't get me wrong, I'd take Parks in an instant and I think he's an excellent player and going to be a really good college football player wherever he ends up, but in terms of DL recruits in this cycle, he's down my board as a priority. For me it goes...
1. David Folorunsho (DT)
2. Abraham Sesay (DE)
3. Marcus Fakatou (DT... Will be eventually)
4. Jackson Vaughn (DE)
5. Aidan O'Neil (DE)
6. Brayden Parks (DT)
7. Xavier Muhammad (DT)
IMO, if they don't get Parks they will have lost the #6 DL target on my board among the committed and uncommitted players they're in on... I'm not about to lose sleep over it if he goes elsewhere.
By the the way, Xavier Muhammad has blown up to about 265lbs and will be 275-280lbs before he steps foot on a college campus. He has an easy 300lb frame ala Chris Burgess. Marcus Fakatou has an enormous frame. Easily could wind up 310+lbs ala Jerry Tillery.
allenm5333
Well-known member
Agree with all this. One gap and line games. We won with Howard Cross at NT. These guys higher ceilings. I would Muhammed above Parks based on talent but both play different roles,
Singer’s comment was that he was making a mock class and Parks wasn’t gonna be in it. He said with the way things are trending he wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t end up at ND
Rocketman84
Well-known member
You know things have changed when a possible 2 year run on the DLine includes 3 or 4 possible 5 stars and we are worried about missing on Parks
IrishInOntario
Well-known member
The only reason I have Parks ahead of Muhammad is because with Parks' frame I'm essentially 100% certain he's going to be a good college football player. Muhammad is much more like Chris Burgess in that his best position is DT and he'll have plus athleticism at the position, but he'll have a couple years of development before he's ready to meaningfully contribute there. The upside is immense, but the floor is low as well. Parks doesn't have near the upside, IMO, but he's college ready and he's likely to be a surefire contributor.
The other thing that has become notable is how much Marcus Freeman clearly trusts ND's strength staff to put the mass on more athletic, mobile players to have to them ready to contribute at the size they need to be. They're not afraid to take a slightly undersized guy and blow him up as long as the strength and nutrition staff think he has the frame to carry weight and maintain athleticism.
Irish Norseman
Well-known member
So Justin Scott is serving Brayden Parks lattes?
allenm5333
Well-known member
Interesting discussion on IB podcast. They discussed how ND was playing more left and right side DT. This would mean anl move away from true nose/3t
NewEnglandGuy
Best of the Rest
Something I haven’t seen discussed: Parks actual size?
He is listed as 6’3” on 247, ESPN, and his X page. 6’0 3/4” on On3
Freeman at the combine was 6’0 5/8”
Al Washington was listed by BC as a player at 6’1”
Easy to find pics on the web of Parks standing with the coaches. His hair appears to make him look taller, look past that, he is MUCH closer to 6’1” than 6’3”. Max 6’1 1/2”.
-Recent ND DT with similar size and NFL career earnings
Cross - 6’1 3/8” - 1,356,211 - after 2026
Kurt Hinish - 6’1 1/2” - 4,063,505 - 2026 currently unsigned
Donovan Hinish - 6’1” - N/A
-Recent ND drafted DTs
Louis Nix - 6’2 3/8” - 1,283,388
Sheldon Day - 6”0 5/8” - 8,159,183 - 2026 currently unsigned
Jerry Tillery - 6’6 1/2” - 22,273,489 after 2026 season
Rylie Mills - 6’6 3/8” - 2,044,623 after 2026 season
Gabriel Rubio - 6’5 1/4” - 1,131,888 after 2026 season
Current DT roster:
Brewu 6’1 1/2”
Gray 6’5”
Onye 6’5”
Hughes 6’3”
Mukam 6’3”
Burgess 6’4”
Golden 6’4”
Other interior/swing recruits:
Folorunsho - listed at 6’3” and 6’4” on the services - good pic of him with Cignetti who has a history of 6’3” height, and he definitely shorter.
Muhammad - listed at 6’3” - 6’5” - towers over freeman in their pic
Fakatou - listed at 6’6” and 6’7” - towers over everyone
O’Neil - listed at 6’5”
He is listed as 6’3” on 247, ESPN, and his X page. 6’0 3/4” on On3
Freeman at the combine was 6’0 5/8”
Al Washington was listed by BC as a player at 6’1”
Easy to find pics on the web of Parks standing with the coaches. His hair appears to make him look taller, look past that, he is MUCH closer to 6’1” than 6’3”. Max 6’1 1/2”.
-Recent ND DT with similar size and NFL career earnings
Cross - 6’1 3/8” - 1,356,211 - after 2026
Kurt Hinish - 6’1 1/2” - 4,063,505 - 2026 currently unsigned
Donovan Hinish - 6’1” - N/A
-Recent ND drafted DTs
Louis Nix - 6’2 3/8” - 1,283,388
Sheldon Day - 6”0 5/8” - 8,159,183 - 2026 currently unsigned
Jerry Tillery - 6’6 1/2” - 22,273,489 after 2026 season
Rylie Mills - 6’6 3/8” - 2,044,623 after 2026 season
Gabriel Rubio - 6’5 1/4” - 1,131,888 after 2026 season
Current DT roster:
Brewu 6’1 1/2”
Gray 6’5”
Onye 6’5”
Hughes 6’3”
Mukam 6’3”
Burgess 6’4”
Golden 6’4”
Other interior/swing recruits:
Folorunsho - listed at 6’3” and 6’4” on the services - good pic of him with Cignetti who has a history of 6’3” height, and he definitely shorter.
Muhammad - listed at 6’3” - 6’5” - towers over freeman in their pic
Fakatou - listed at 6’6” and 6’7” - towers over everyone
O’Neil - listed at 6’5”
IrishInOntario
Well-known member
Taking an updated "stab" at the 2027 class based on recent developments and the way players seem to be trending. As always, this is just for fun and will inevitably change as the board evolves...
QB: Champ Monds
RB: Lathan Whisenton
RB: Isaiah Rogers
WR: Julius Jones Jr
WR: Jackson Coleman
WR: Osani Gayles OR TE: Malik Howard
TE: Titus Hawk
OL: Olu Olobubola
OL: Layton von Brandt
OL: James Halter
OL: Richie Flanigan
DE: Aidan O'Neil
DE: Abraham Sesay
DE: Jackson Vaughn
DT: David Folorunsho
DT: Xavier Muhammad
LB: Amarri Irvin
LB: Roman Igwebuike
CB: Xavier Hasan
CB: Ace Alston
NB: John Gay
S: Zayden Gamble
S: Tavares Harrington
LS: Sean Kraft
Guys that ND continues to recruit to the bitter end and will take no matter what...
OL: Albert Simien
DE/DT: Marcus Fakatou
DT: Brayden Parks
LB: Kaden Henderson
QB: Champ Monds
RB: Lathan Whisenton
RB: Isaiah Rogers
WR: Julius Jones Jr
WR: Jackson Coleman
WR: Osani Gayles OR TE: Malik Howard
TE: Titus Hawk
OL: Olu Olobubola
OL: Layton von Brandt
OL: James Halter
OL: Richie Flanigan
DE: Aidan O'Neil
DE: Abraham Sesay
DE: Jackson Vaughn
DT: David Folorunsho
DT: Xavier Muhammad
LB: Amarri Irvin
LB: Roman Igwebuike
CB: Xavier Hasan
CB: Ace Alston
NB: John Gay
S: Zayden Gamble
S: Tavares Harrington
LS: Sean Kraft
Guys that ND continues to recruit to the bitter end and will take no matter what...
OL: Albert Simien
DE/DT: Marcus Fakatou
DT: Brayden Parks
LB: Kaden Henderson
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IAIrish
The Dude Abides
Sign me up for this type of box checking class every year, Oline/Dline driven, replete with playmakers on both sides at the skill positions and most importantly, a Dude at qb... I'm in.
Crazy Balki
Site Assigned Optimist
I think if ND doesn't end up with Parks, that's more of an indication that ND is going to end up with somebody better like Fakatou and/or Muhammad.
Obviously, neither has the sheer size of Parks, but I think the need for a 320+ space eater is overrated. Miami had the most dominant defensive line in the country last year. None of their DT's eclipsed 305.
Fakatou, Muhammad and Folorunsho are 280+ currently. All three can easily add another 20 pounds, and maintain their sheer athleticism.
Obviously, neither has the sheer size of Parks, but I think the need for a 320+ space eater is overrated. Miami had the most dominant defensive line in the country last year. None of their DT's eclipsed 305.
Fakatou, Muhammad and Folorunsho are 280+ currently. All three can easily add another 20 pounds, and maintain their sheer athleticism.
allenm5333
Well-known member
I may have had a misunderstanding of the Parks situation. I thought ND may be cooling on him. Is it Parks who is cooling on ND?
irish4ever
Well-known member
Terry Jillery? Wow!
I think Indiana had the most
Dominate line last year and I don’t think they had one guy over 290
allenm5333
Well-known member
Yup. Different defense but I am curious what direction Ash is going in. Are we going to play more left and right side DTs? Some odd fronts? Honestly, there is so much we don't know about that I just wanted athletic dudes with length
I could see us lining up a lot of Boubcar and Dunham at DE and Keeley and Young inside on pass rushing plays. Young played a lot of snaps inside last year. Get your best pass rushers on the field then have Sneed flying in with KVA
allenm5333
Well-known member
Yup. But i could see them coming out in a 3-3-5, 3-4, 5-2. Any odd spacing front. Lots of versatility
I think we are going to see them get extremely bold at times if they truly believe that the defense is as good as they think it can be. ie. If the defensive backfield is overwhelming teams on their own then I can see one set of downs being played straight up in more or less the base defense. Then next time around going after them with an overwhelming pass rush look followed up by a look that is all about stopping the run because we think our backfield is so nasty if you try to pass.
laughingirish92
Well-known member
our DL should be faster and overall more athletic than IU this upcoming season and they won't have a monster 2nd or 3rd string or so former 5 star coming in to give the main guys a rest