Chicago defensive tackle Brayden Parks set to visit Notre Dame for Irish Invasion
Chicago defensive tackle Brayden Parks set to visit Notre Dame for Irish Invasion
The godson of a Notre Dame legend is on his way to South Bend.
Class of 2027 defensive tackle Brayden Parks will participate in the program's Irish Invasion event this weekend. Parks just so happens to have some Fighting Irish lineage as his godfather is Chris Zorich, who was an All-American nose guard on ND's 1988 national championship team. Zorich is also good friends with Parks' father, Marlon, since their days as high school teammates at Chicago Vocational. Additionally, his second cousin is Tony Jones Jr., who played running back for the Irish from 2016 to 2019.
The Brother Rice (Chicago, IL) product recently wrapped up a visit to Oregon where he camped and impressed, and a trip to Ohio State follows after his visit with the Fighting Irish. The 6-foot-3, 305-pounder has a rare blend of speed, quick feet and power for his size, and his recruitment is just heating up. Auburn, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Oregon, Texas and USC are among the schools who have offered him.
He has been clocked running a 4.8-second 40-yard dash and has a 350-pound bench press. Certainly he is a rare breed.
Parks is teammates with Quentin Burrell, a top wide receiver prospect whom the Fighting Irish are interested in as well. Parks is part of a strong contingent of defensive line talent in the Chicago area, which also features 2028 prospect Caleb "Bonecrusher" Tucker, a 6-foot-5, 367-pound defensive tackle from reigning Illinois Class 7A champ Mount Carmel (Chicago, IL).
Because of his numerous visits to South Bend throughout his life, Notre Dame fans have reason to be optimistic that Parks could play on the Irish defensive line like his godfather.
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