BREAKING | 2025 LB/DE Dom Hulak Commits To Notre Dame
It seemed like only a matter of time and that time came earlier this week.
On Friday, Dom Hulak went public, announcing his commitment to Notre Dame over offers from schools like Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Purdue, Minnesota and Louisville among others.
“Football-wise, it prepares you for everything, going to the NFL,” he told Irish Sports Daily. “Then anything after football, education-wise and everything; the Notre Dame degree, even if I don't go pro, it means a lot, even just a degree because it's Notre Dame.”
The Irish seemed to be in a good spot with the 2025 Illinois defender once they offered him a scholarship back in March and that position has only strengthened recently, thanks in large part to Director of Recruiting Chad Bowden.
“Ever since they offered me, I think I've talked to Chad every week,” Hulak said. “And these past two weeks were super serious. He wants me there and within these last two weeks it was always on my mind, 'What's the best place for me?' It was tough. It was definitely tough.”
Hulak has made multiple trips to South Bend this year, including a stop for the USC game last month.
By the time he spoke with Bowden on Tuesday night, both sides seemed to sense the time was coming.
“He was just going on about how Notre Dame's the best option for me, how I could succeed as a person in every way,” Hulak said of Bowden. “He talked about that for half an hour and he's like, 'Why not?'
“And I said, 'Why not?' I was like, 'Yeah, let's do it.'
“Then he's like, 'Just sleep on it and call me Wednesday morning and I'll get you on the phone with Coach (Marcus) Freeman.' I'm like, 'Awesome.'”
The Immaculate Conception standout slept on and said he woke up “proud,” ready to do it.
So, he got on the phone with Freeman and made it official.
“Oh man, he was excited,” Hulak said of Freeman. “I don't even know how to explain it. He was excited. He was hyped.”
That got Hulak even more excited.
“It definitely shows I'm going to be a big part of that team and I'm definitely adding on to what the '25 class has so far,” he said. “Being able to also be part of his team and be a player at Notre Dame is just awesome.”
Hulak gives the Irish eight verbal commitments in the Class of 2025 and four on the defensive side of the ball, joining defensive linemen CJ May, Joseph Reiff and Davion Dixon.
Hulak is excited about joining the group. He’s close with Reiff, a fellow Illinois native, and has become close with Irish quarterback commit Deuce Knight.
“When he first texted me, I was like, 'Wow!'” Hulak said of Knight. “ When I heard the story of how he told Chad, 'I need the numbers of everybody that you want on this team.' So when I heard that I was one of those, it definitely showed something and then being able to talk to him and him just reaching out really shows that I'm going to be a big part of this team on the defensive side of the ball for him too.”
The 6-foot-3, 235-pounder will bring versatility with his ability to play multiple positions, but is likely to start off at the Irish’s ‘Money’ position, a hybrid defensive end/linebacker spot.
“That's where I play now and that's what I've always been playing. I love rushing the edge, getting to the quarterback or the running back and then also dropping back, playing linebacker or just going downhill and hitting somebody.”
Notre Dame Under Armour Military Appreciation Performance Polo (
$74.99 $18.99) 