4-Star DL Brayden Parks Sets July 23 Commitment Date With Notre Dame, Oregon as Finalists

Four-star defensive lineman Brayden Parks has announced he will make his college commitment on Thursday, July 23, with Notre Dame and Oregon as his two finalists. The 2027 prospect out of Brother Rice in Chicago, Illinois, is among the most coveted unsigned blue-chip players remaining on the board in his class.

Parks informed Rivals' Hayes Fawcett of the commitment date and the two-school finalist list. His decision will end one of the more closely watched recruitments among interior defensive line prospects in the cycle.

A Short List With High Stakes

Fewer than 10 blue-chip prospects in the 2027 recruiting class remain uncommitted, making Parks one of the top available players at any position nationally. His choice between Notre Dame and Oregon represents a significant recruiting win in waiting for two programs that have invested heavily in his recruitment.

Notre Dame has pursued Parks as a primary defensive line target in the 2027 class. The Irish have built a strong recent track record along the defensive front and view Parks as a prospect capable of contributing at the highest level of college football. Oregon, meanwhile, has positioned itself as a consistent national recruiter under its current staff and is viewed as a legitimate threat to land the Chicago prospect over the Irish.

Parks is listed as a Rivals300 prospect, a designation reserved for the top-ranked players in a given recruiting cycle regardless of position. His ranking underscores the stakes of the July 23 announcement for whichever program ultimately secures his commitment.

Brother Rice, located on Chicago's south side, has produced notable college football talent in recent years. Parks's commitment will mark one of the higher-profile decisions out of the program and one of the final major dominos to fall among elite 2027 defensive linemen.