Notre Dame eyeing 2027 Chicago Simeon defensive tackle Corey Randolph

The Notre Dame football program is tracking a Chicago Simeon defensive lineman for the third consecutive recruiting cycle.

In the previous two years, the Fighting Irish offered scholarships to two dominant prospects from the Chicago Public League powerhouse: four-star recruits Christopher Burgess Jr. and McHale Blade. Now, Notre Dame is keeping tabs on Corey Randolph, a 6-foot-3, 277-pound defensive tackle in the 2027 class.

Burgess — the No. 8 defensive lineman nationally, No. 4 prospect in Illinois and No. 53 overall player in the 2025 class — signed with Notre Dame and is enrolled as a freshman. The next year, Blade — the No. 6 player in Illinois, No. 26 edge rusher nationally and No. 212 overall player in the 2026 class — committed to Michigan after the Irish picked up two pledges from other edge rushers in his class.

Rivals has not rated Randolph. But at least three FBS schools have. Entering his junior season, Memphis, Western Kentucky and Miami (Ohio) are the schools that have offered him a scholarship. Seven Power Four programs have also contacted him, including the Irish, which hosted him on campus for the Purdue game.

“The director of recruiting advancement, Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa, sent me a game day invite,” Randolph told Blue & Gold. “When I was on campus, we said what’s up. I thanked him for the visit. He asked how everything was going, and I told him it was great.”

Simeon is 5-3, and Randolph is making his presence felt up front. In the first five games of his junior season, he had 12 tackles, including two for loss. Statistics from the other three outings have not been posted. But when coaches flick on the film, they see a sizable prospect who can become a contributor at the next level.

“They like my physicality and my strength,” Randolph said. “They really love my hands, too. That’s what everybody says. … My hands are crazy big. I’m always working on my technique.”

Randolph said he models his game after recent NFL first-round draft picks Dexter Lawrence and Jalen Carter.

“They’re big and strong, and I just like their motor,” he said. “I really like Dexter Lawrence’s motor.”

Following the footsteps of Simeon standouts, Randolph has developed his own relationship with Notre Dame

With the help of Burgess and Blade’s recruitments, Randolph has built a bond with defensive line coach Al Washington. When Notre Dame’s fourth-year assistant saw Randolph last month, he noticed the junior had been in the weight room. It was their first in-person meeting since the spring.

“Coach Washington was able to see that I got bigger from the last time we met, too,” Randolph said.

Randolph refined his work ethic by watching Blade, Burgess and Michigan State defensive lineman Mikeshun Beeler over the years. He has practiced in a way that incorporates their best qualities into his own game.

“Those two, they were like big brothers to me, man,” he said. “And Blade, he’s like a big brother, too. I’m a junior and I’m still learning from the older guys. From when I was a freshman, learning from Mikeshun. As a sophomore, learning from Chris. Now a junior, learning from my boy Blade. Those guys just seem like big brothers to me.

“I’ve just been learning, picking up the little stuff that I’ve been seeing. Like from Mikeshun, always practicing on the side on his technique, on his bull rush and all that type of stuff. From Chris, always running with the skilled players. Always trying to beat the skilled players. From Blade, always studying.

“I just make sure I always try my best to do the stuff that they do to get better.”

Like it did for Burgess and Blade, he hopes his dedication pays off with an offer from the Irish. After all, he fell in love with the program and the campus during his first Notre Dame game day visit. Randolph hopes it won’t be his last.

“Just the culture,” he said. “As soon as I walked into the school — when you walk down to the stadium — man, it was just beautiful. Then, when we were watching the game, after every touchdown, you know that wave that they’d be doing and those pushups. It was just beautiful. I just saw how much love they had for the school.”