Four-star DL Brandon Davis-Swain proud to be Notre Dame’s first 2024 commitment
West Bloomfield (Mich.) High’s Brandon Davis-Swain made a surprise announcement April 23, committing to Notre Dame seemingly out of the blue.
The four-star class of 2024 defensive lineman didn’t have major expectations or plans going into his visit for the Notre Dame Blue-Gold Game, but his recruitment changed in a big way by the day’s end.
“I didn’t know I was going to commit today,” Davis-Swain told Blue & Gold just hours after his decision. “It was an in-the-moment type of thing.”
Davis-Swain met new Notre Dame defensive line coach Al Washington for the first time, and it’s safe to say they clicked on Saturday. After all, it was Washington who Davis-Swain informed of his commitment.
“I told Coach Washington, and he was excited and hyped,” Davis-Swain explained. “He told some other coaches, and they were all excited too. It was a great experience.”
The 6-4, 250-pounder also got to talk with head coach Marcus Freeman about his decision.
“He was hyped as well and congratulated me,” recalled Davis-Swain.
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First commit of Notre Dame’s 2024 class
It’s a big deal to become Notre Dame’s first pledge of a cycle, and Davis-Swain holds that title for the 2024 class.
“It’s really cool to me to be the first commitment,” he stated.
While there’s a ways to go between now and when he can make his commitment official on National Signing Day for the 2024 class, Davis-Swain is locked in with his Notre Dame decision.
“I love the school and campus, and Coach Washington and I really hit it off when I was on campus,” Davis-Swain said. “The academics are great. I love the feeling of the environment within that coaching staff.”
“It is pretty early, but I always teach my son to be a leader,” his father, Brandon Davis, added. “We don’t follow what everyone else is doing; follow your heart. When he told me what he wanted to do and how he was feeling, I told him to go with his heart. That’s the most important thing.
“I think it’s a perfect fit. He’s big on vibes, and he got that vibe at Notre Dame. It’s going to be great. They have Coach Freeman taking over the program and leading it in the right direction. He’s going to be in great hands. Notre Dame with its academics — you can’t beat it.”
During his sophomore season in 2021, Davis-Swain recorded 18 sacks and 12 tackles for loss, per M Live. He was named to the 2021 Michigan Division 1-2 Associated Press All-State football team.
“They said I can play three-technique inside and then go outside at five-technique as a defensive end,” Davis-Swain said of his fit at Notre Dame.
“He’s been working hard,” his father added. “Ever since he was a young kid, I knew he was going to play football at this level. To see it manifest is a dream come true and all praise to God.”
Davis-Swain ranks as the nation’s No. 94 overall player and No. 8 defensive lineman per the 2024 On3 Consensus.
On3’s own rankings are a bit higher on the 6-3, 245-pounder than the industry average. On3 lists him as the No. 63 player nationally and No. 7 defensive lineman. Per the On3 Consensus and On3’s own rankings, he’s the No. 3 player from his home state of Michigan.
