2025 DL Gordy Sulfsted goes in depth on Notre Dame commitment
It was quite the road for Cincinnati St. Xavier defensive lineman Gordy Sulfsted to end up on Notre Dame class of 2025 commitment list. But once 6-5, 235-pounder had the opportunity to pick the Fighting Irish, he jumped on it.
“It’s been a journey,” Sulfsted told Blue & Gold. “I’m very grateful for the opportunity to play for them.”
Sulfsted’s recruiting journey with Notre Dame began in June 2023 when he performed at one of the staff’s camps, but his exposure to South Bend was years before that. He first went to a game inside Notre Dame Stadium during his freshman year, and he saw the Irish play when he was even younger than that.
Notre Dame’s interest in Sulfsted, who ranks as the nation’s No. 587 overall prospect and No. 51 defensive lineman according to the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking, picked up in the spring. The staff hosted him for a visit April 16.
“I got to see practice and had a great tour of the campus and facilities,” Sulfsted said. “It’s an awesome place. It’s going to be an easy transition from Catholic school to Catholic school. That’s definitely a positive; it’s a great fit for me.
“Building more of a relationship and connection with Coach [Al] Washington was great. He showed me film of where he sees me. And the strength and conditioning coach (Loren Landow) is a big deal to me because I feel I have a lot of developing to do. I have a lot of faith in the Notre Dame staff to help get me to where I want to go.”
The message to Sulfsted following his ND visit was that the staff would be by his school in May to evaluate him further. Washington and Co. already had four defensive lineman committed, but their plan was to take another interior player. Sulfsted was on their radar for an offer.
Clearly, the staff liked what they saw. They offered Sulsfted a scholarship on May 17.
“They offered me, and I said I was in,” noted Sulfsted. “I had some thinking to do during the day, but I made the decision to commit.
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“It was really cool to get on the phone with Coach [Marcus] Freeman, Coach [Al] Golden and Coach Washington and tell them that I was committing.”
Sulfsted picked the Fighting Irish over offers from Iowa, Miami, Stanford, Washington and a handful of others. Duke and Wisconsin were the favorites in his recruitment, and he was going to officially visit both schools in June. Those trips are off the table now.
“It’s too good of an opportunity to pass up,” said Sulfsted about committing to Notre Dame on the spot. “It’s such a perfect fit for me. I know a lot about the program, and I trust the coaches. It’s a great fit.”
The Notre Dame staff has a specific vision in mind for Suflsted in their defense as an interior defensive lineman.
“They see me bouncing around those positions,” he said. “They’re comparing me to Rylie Mills. Hopefully, I can get to that size and be that athletic guy that I need.”
Sulfsted is looking at using his Notre Dame official visit for the weekend of June 7. He will enroll at the university next summer.
