Notre Dame Film Room: 2024 Defensive Line Commit Owen Wafle

There may not be a more underrated recruit in the 2024 class for Notre Dame than Princeton (N.J.) Hun School defensive lineman Owen Wafle. He has gone under the radar since committing back in May but put together a phenomenal junior campaign.

Wafle brings some interesting playmaking potential on the interior of the defensive line. The New Jersey native could potentially project to either the nose or three technique position on the next level.

Here’s the Irish Breakdown film breakdown of Wafle.

PROSPECT PROFILE

Hometown/High School: Princeton, NJ/Hun School

Height/Weight: 6-3/290

IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 150 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5

Offers: Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Michigan State, Iowa, Maryland, Boston College, Minnesota, Illinois, Syracuse, West Virginia, Duke, Vanderbilt, Rutgers

FILM ROOM

Here is what Wafle brings to the table on film.

Size/Frame/Power - Wafle brings a nice size profile to the table. After playing around 265 pounds as a sophomore, the New Jersey native now sits at around 290 pounds. While he is a hair under 6-3, Wafle also has impressive length for the position to present a nice tackle radius. From a strength perspective, you would be hard pressed to find a better recruit at his age.

Wafle brings an absurd combination of lower body, upper body and core strength to the table. It’s clear that he doesn’t miss a day in the weight room. He also has a frame that should be able to carry over 300 pounds without much of an issue. That power profile is very evident in Wafle’s hand strength, where he showcases an incredible punch. He also shows off an impressive motor to make plays in pursuit and finish plays.

Athletic Skills - The initial quickness and burst that Wafle plays with is probably the best part of his game. He fires off the snap and quickly gains penetration consistently. Wafle is ideally a one gap penetrator who can create havoc in the backfield. Once he transitions laterally, Wafle can get rolling and get to top speed in a hurry. There is some slight tightness in his hips, which is why he projects best inside on the next level. Wafle does play with a solid level of bend for an interior defender, which should allow him to affect quarterbacks in the passing game.

Technique/Instincts - Wafle plays with tremendous pad level. He plays with a low center of gravity, which is tough for opposing offensive lineman to handle. The control he plays with is solid, showing the ability to control his explosiveness and change direction when it is needed. Wafle is an active player with his feet, also exploding on contact and harnessing his power profile.

His hands are consistent and powerful, showing the ability to get off of blocks well. In terms of counter moves, they aren’t really needed on the level. Wafle usually beats offensive lineman off the snap without much need for a counter. When he has to play at the point of attack, Wafle’s combination of power and length allow him to disengage and make plays. He also has a great tackle radius to finish plays as a tackler.

Run Game - In the run game, Wafle’s game is dedicated to his ability to create penetration and havoc. His anchor is also impressive, showcasing the talent to sit down and hold the point of attack. At his level, Wafle is simply the best player on the field. His power profile is something that opposing offensive lineman have a hard time dealing with. Wafle’s legs consistently drive on contact, on top of his ability to play with his hair on fire. That motor allows him to make a variety of plays working in pursuit. He finished a lot of plays on film.

Pass Game - The burst that Wafle plays with is beyond impressive. His initial quickness off the line is a tough task to counteract. The hand usage for Wafle is strong, easily able to work through contact and create some quick power in tight spaces. Pass rush moves will need to continue to develop for Wafle, who just honestly doesn’t need him much on his level. Simply, he overwhelms offensive lineman at the point of contact.

AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT

Wafle is a very linear player who likes to shoot gaps and create instant penetration. There are times where he needs to reign it in to a degree, causing him to get out of position to a degree. Playing with a little more proactiveness will allow him to make even more plays.

When Wafle wraps up, he is about as solid of a tackler that you will see. There are, however, moments where he is just flying in for kill shows. He creates big hits but there are times where he doesn’t wrap up consistently. As the ball carriers get bigger and more talented, he will need to hone in on tackling technique to be more consistent in that area.

NOTRE DAME FIT

In Notre Dame’s system, Wafle could potentially forecast at either a three technique or nose on the next level. His combination of length, explosiveness, motor and athleticism give him a lot of options to develop. His best fit may be at nose tackle if the defense moves more toward a penetration style one gap system. In that role, he could be an absolute headache with his ability to create havoc on the interior.

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Irish Breakdown Content

2023 Scholarship Chart
2023 Football Schedule

Notre Dame 2023 Scholarship Offers
Notre Dame 2024 Scholarship Offers

2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Offense
2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Defense

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