2025 DL Gordy Sulfsted commits to Notre Dame football
Notre Dame has landed a surprise commitment. Cincinnati St. Xavier class of 2025 defensive lineman Gordy Sulfsted announced his pledge to the Fighting Irish Sunday afternoon.
This is one that has come out of the blue, as Sulfsted hasn’t even posted on social media that he earned an offer from Notre Dame. But today, he joined the Irish’s 2025 recruiting class as a scholarship prospect.
In late April, Blue & Gold reported that Sulfsted, who ranks as the No. 586 overall prospect and No. 50 defensive lineman in the country per the On3 Industry Ranking, was a prospect who the Irish staff was keeping an eye on. Position coach Al Washington and Co. have been looking for an interior defensive lineman to add, and they quietly have been pursuing the 6-5, 235-pounder.
Duke and Wisconsin were the schools highest on Sulfsted’s list and was planning to see both schools in June, but Notre Dame entering the mix with a scholarship was a game-changer. The three-star prospect camped for the Irish staff last summer, and it’s our understanding that he made it to South Bend again this past spring.
The Notre Dame staff scouted a handful of 2025 defensive line recruits during the spring evaluation period, and Sulfsted moved up the staff’s board.
Louisville, Purdue, Iowa, Rutgers, Miami, Washington, Stanford and Minnesota are among the other schools that offer Sulfsted.
During his 12-game junior season, Sulfsted posted 41 tackles (6 for loss) and 2.5 sacks. He also plays basketball at St. Xavier and averaged 5.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game in 2023. In December, Sulfsted had a three-point make go viral and made SportsCenter’s Top 10.
Sulfsted was named to the 2023 Ohio Southwest District first-team defense. He also made it on the 2023 Ohio Greater Catholic League (GCL) first-team defense and was honored as the GCL’s defensive lineman of the year.
He was listed on the Ohio All-State third-team defense, too.
Notre Dame now has 21 commitments in the 2025 class, a group that is listed as the No. 5 nationally per the Industry Ranking Football Team Recruiting Rankings.
Notre Dame puts finishing touches on 2025 D-line class
Never say never in recruiting, but with Sulfsted in the fold, the Irish should be done with class of 2025 defensive line recruiting — barring any decommitments.
The Irish currently have four other defensive linemen committed in 2025: Christopher Burgess Jr., Davion Dixon, Dominik Hulak and Joseph Reiff. Burgess projects as a strongside defensive end, while Dixon and Reiff trend toward being interior players. Hulak will start out at the vyper position, and Sulfsted will be a defensive tackle. Notre Dame sources say that the staff sees Sulfsted’s talents similar to the positions Rylie Mills has taken up in the Irish defense for the past few years.
Chicago Simeon’s Burgess is the highest-ranked recruit of the trio. The 6-4, 240-pound four-star is the No. 106 overall player, No. 15 EDGE nationally and No. 4 prospect in Illinois.
Elmhurst (Ill.) York Community’s Reiff is also a four-star and the No. 311 overall player, No. 26 defensive lineman in America and No. 7 prospect in the state.
Miami Palmetto’s Dixon, a three-star, is the No. 648 overall player, No. 56 defensive lineman in the country and No. 83 prospect in Florida.
Elmhurst (Ill.) Immaculate Conception’s Hulak is the No. 474 overall player and No. 50 linebacker nationally.
