Notre Dame 2024 Commits Big Board: Offense Edition
Notre Dame is off to a great start with its offensive class in the 2024 recruiting cycle. The Fighting Irish now have enough players in the class to start doing some ranking and grading. Below are my rankings, grades and analysis for the 2024 offensive commits.
As more players join the class we'll update the rankings and add them to this breakdown.
CLASS RANKING
1. CJ Carr, QB - 6-3, 190 - Saline (Mich.) High School
2. Cam Williams, WR - 6-2, 190 - Glen Ellyn (Ill.) Glenbard South
3. Guerby Lambert, OL - 6-7, 290 - West Roxbury (Mass.) Catholic Memorial
4. Kedren Young, RB - 5-11, 210 - Lufkin (Texas) High School
5. Micah Gilbert, WR - 6-2, 205 - Charlotte (N.C.) Christian
6. Peter Jones, OL - 6-5, 290 - Malvern (Pa.) Prep
7. Aneyas Williams, RB - 5-10, 195 - Hannibal (Mo.) High School
8. Styles Prescod, OL - 6-6, 270 - Hamilton (Ind.) Southeastern
9. Logan Saldate, WR - 5-11, 185 - Salinas (Calif.) Palma
10. Jack Larsen, TE - 6-3, 215 - Charlotte (N.C.) Catholic
11. Anthonie Knapp, OL - 6-4, 265 - Roswell (Ga.) High School
Here is analysis of each prospect (Note: Comps are about style of play and body comps, not career projections):
1. CJ CARR, QUARTERBACK
Hometown/High School: Saline, Mich./Saline
Height/Weight: 6-3, 190
IB Grade: 5.0 (Top 25 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0
Analysis: Michigan native CJ Carr isn't just one of the best quarterbacks in the 2024 class, he's one of the best overall players. A combination of outstanding talent and exceptional football intelligence, Carr has the makings of a future star. Carr has everything you want in a modern quarterback. He is smart, accurate, possesses a quick and compact delivery, is mobile and plays with a lot of guts. The 6-3, 190-pound signal caller has a strong arm now and it's only going to get better as he fills out and matures. Carr can rip a defense up from the pocket with his arm and mind, but what truly puts him into the elite category is that he's a playmaker off script and throwing off platform as well on top of being an elite thrower from the pocket.
ND Fit: Notre Dame wants a quarterback that can first and foremost be a great decision maker. Carr, like all young quarterbacks, will need to continue developing here but he shows a great football IQ. His decision making, timing and ball placement are perfect for the Notre Dame offense, and he's willing and able to push the ball down the field. Notre Dame doesn't "need" a quarterback that can make plays with his legs, but when that is there it makes the position even more dangerous, and Carr certainly has that ability.
Comp: Joe Burrow, LSU
2. CAM WILLIAMS, WIDE RECEIVER
Hometown/High School: Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard South
Height/Weight: 6-2, 190
IB Grade: 4.5 (Top 50 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0
Analysis: Williams exploded onto the scene as a junior, going from a good, Top 100-150 caliber prospect to one of the best wideouts in the 2024 class. A big reason for the jump was Williams starting to fill out his frame and a big jump in explosiveness. Williams is an outstanding vertical player that gets off the line quickly and shows an impressive second gear to get over the top of the defense. He's a smooth athlete that showed much-improved route running skills, and his feel for the game is outstanding. Williams has a big catch radius and shows the contested catch skill to thrive at the next level. The problem is high school defenders are rarely close enough to him to allow him to make those plays.
ND Fit: Williams projects to either outside position in the Notre Dame offense. He has the combination of size, length, speed, route running skills and ball skills to thrive as a volume player, which suits the boundary spot. Williams can take the top off the defense and win one-on-one. I could also see Williams fitting in perfectly as a field wide receiver. Part of that is the aforementioned speed and ability to get deep, but he also shows the ability to make plays after the catch and ability to get open against zone looks.
Comp: Davante Adams, Fresno State
3. GUERBY LAMBERT, OFFENSIVE LINE
Hometown/High School: West Roxbury, Mass./Catholic Memorial
Height/Weight: 6-7, 290
IB Grade: 4.5 (Top 50 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0
Analysis: Notre Dame needed a big time tackle class in 2024 and landing Lambert gives them that. He's one of the best edge blockers in the country, and his tools are truly elite. Lambert has the size/length/power profile Notre Dame covets on the edge. He's a physical blocker that drives through contact and has the potential to become a truly dominant run blocker. It's his pass blocking potential that sets him apart. Lambert has exceptional length, fast hands and a strong natural punch. The tools were always there, but as a senior he is showing an improved technical game that is allowing him to dominate in pass pro. His combination of length and athleticism is rare, and it allows him to handle any speed or counter moves, and his thick lower half and size allows him to swallow up power moves.
ND Fit: Lambert is a right tackle for Catholic Memorial, but he has all the tools needed to play both spots for Notre Dame. Assuming he can learn to play left handed, his unique skillset seems ideally suited for the left tackle position. When you look at the best tackles in the 2023 class - Charles Jagusah and Sullivan Absher - having Lambert able to play on the left side becomes even more important, and he projects to be able to thrive on that side as well.
Comp: Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame
4. KEDREN YOUNG, RUNNING BACK
Hometown/High School: Lufkin, Texas/Lufkin
Height/Weight: 5-11, 210
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 100 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Analysis: Young is one of the best backs in the 2024 class and his game has a little bit of everything. His size and power are the most noticeable parts of his game. At 5-11 and 210 pounds (at least), he has the frame to be a bell cow type of back, and Young shows the ability to take punishment, but he prefers to deliver it. He's not just a bruiser either; Young can deliver punishment, of course, but his running style is such that he only does that when needed, or the call requires it. Young possesses impressive foot quickness and balance for such a big back, which combines nicely with his ability to plan his foot in the ground and explode vertically. Add in the fact he is a decisive runner with the speed to hit home runs and you've got everything you need to dominate in the run game.
ND Fit: Notre Dame is a team that likes to run downhill, and that fits Young's game quite well. He's a physical runner that can deliver punishment, but his downhill game is far more diverse than that. Young is a great fit for the Irish ground game, which is centered around "Duo" and "Inside Zone" concepts that he's built for. Young can not only pick up the tough yards, but his vision-quickness combination allows him to make effective jump cuts, which those runs require. He is also a patient runner that can plant and go when needed, which combines with his speed to make him dangerous on outside runs and "Counter" concepts.
Comp: Javonte Williams, North Carolina
5. MICAH GILBERT, WIDE RECEIVER
Hometown/High School: Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Catholic
Height/Weight: 6-2, 205
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 150 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Analysis: The first thing you'll notice about his film is his elite ball skills. Gilbert has exceptional hands, his catch radius is outstanding and he’s extremely strong at the catch point. The second thing you'll notice is his physical strength and size, which combine with his elite pass catching skills to project him to being a volume pass catcher. What Gilbert lacks in pure foot speed he makes up for with foot quickness, agility and balance. Gilbert is a smooth athlete that can change direction with relative easy, and he can cut and get back to full speed in a hurry. These traits allow him to be an effective route runner in high school, and as his game gets even more polish it will become a significant strength of his. His game isn't sexy, but it's highly effective and he has the potential to be a high-level volume pass catcher.
ND Fit: Like the other pass catchers in this class, Gilbert has some positional flexibility in the Notre Dame offense, but the first spot I see him fitting in nicely is the boundary. His combination of size, strength and top notch catching ability make him fit very well into the boundary. He can be a volume pass catcher, which suits the boundary. Those traits also could fit well into the slot, where he can use his strength, high football IQ and ball skills to thrive over the middle much like we see from Jayden Thomas.
Comp: JuJu Smith-Schuster, USC
6. PETER JONES, OFFENSIVE LINE
Hometown/High School: Malvern, Pa./Malvern Prep
Height/Weight: 6-5, 290
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 150 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.0
Analysis: The first thing you notice about Jones is his size. He's listed at 6-5 and 290 pounds, but his frame is impressive. Jones isn't your typical lineman in that he doesn't get those pounds in his mid-section. The Malvern Prep star reminds me a lot of former Irish star Liam Eichenberg from a body type standpoint in that he has little fat, his weight comes from just being big everywhere. Broad shoulders, big chest, big arms, big core and thick legs. Jones is also a fundamentally sound player at tackle, which allows him to thrive in pass protection. He's a physical blocker that plays with an edge and shows the power to dominate in the run game.
ND Fit: Jones plays right tackle for Malvern Prep, and I could see him playing there at Notre Dame, but I graded him more as an interior player. Jones is a solid athlete, but thrives because he plays with a good base, has impressive power and he's efficient from a technique standpoint. As he adds even more size and strength, his skillset fits even better inside at guard, where could could not only be a dominant run blocker, but his pass protection skills would fit there even better as well. That is where my Tommy Kraemer comp comes from.
Comp: Tommy Kraemer, Notre Dame
7. ANEYAS WILLIAMS, RUNNING BACK
Hometown/High School: Hannibal, Mo./Hannibal
Height/Weight: 5-10, 195
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 200 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.0
Analysis: Williams is one of the best all-around backs in the 2024 class. A low-built runner, Williams makes plays as a runner, pass catcher and blocker. Williams is on the smaller side, but he is tough and willing to take, and give, punishment. Williams is a smooth athlete with outstanding balance, and he possesses top-level vision, patience and decisiveness as a runner. The Hannibal star shows the suddenness and anticipation skills to be an effective make-you-miss player in space. He isn't a burner, but Williams shows enough speed to rip off big plays, and that speed is aided by a very good initial burst out of his stance, and his ability to plant and explode vertically on outside/perimeter runs.
ND Fit: Notre Dame prefers backs that can do a little bit of everything, and that certainly fits what Williams brings to the game. He is an effective runner, which I addressed above, and his combination of vision, strength and quickness is ideally suited for Notre Dame's specific run scheme, which mixes double team, zone and mis-direction concepts. What puts Williams over the top as a great fit for Notre Dame is his ability to make plays in the pass game. He not only has good hands and skills in space, he's also shows top-notch downfield ball skills.
Comp: Kyren Williams, Notre Dame
8. STYLES PRESCOD, OFFENSIVE LINE
Hometown/High School: Hamilton, Ind./Southeastern
Height/Weight: 6-6, 270
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 250 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Analysis: There is a lot to like about Prescod from a natural tools standpoint. He has good length, a frame that should allow him to add a lot of really good weight, he shows some good natural strength and he's a quality two-way blocker. Prescod needs a lot of work from a technical standpoint. His pass pro technique is mostly hopping, he doesn't use his hands well and he doesn't play with a good base nearly as much as he needs to. His lack of technique at times masks just how athletic he is, but those natural tools are why this is a big pickup for for the Irish. Prescod gets out of his stance in a hurry, he moves with ease and he has fast hands. As he fills out and improves his technique he'll be a force on the edge.
ND Fit: Notre Dame needs pure tackles in the 2024 class and Prescod gives the Irish that kind of player. His combination of length and athleticism is ideally suited for the edge of the offense, and he shows the natural tools to play left tackle as well. Despite being technically raw, Williams shows a good feel for the game. As the technical parts of his game improve this will become an even greater strength and he should be able to strive on the edge.
Comp: Connor Williams, Texas
9. LOGAN SALDATE, WIDE RECEIVER
Hometown/High School: Salinas, Calif./Palma
Height/Weight: 5-11, 185
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 250 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Analysis: Saldate is a great complement the fellow wide receiver commits Cam Williams and Micah Gilbert. While those two wideouts are bigger, vertical players, Saldate is a do-it-all type of receiver. The Palma standout has very good speed, showing the ability to take the top off of defense, to beat defensive backs on crossers/overs, and the ability to make big plays after the catch. Not only is he fast, Saldate also has make-you-miss skills and the potential to develop into a strong route runner. The most surprising part of his game is how well he catches the football. Saldate has an outstanding catch radius for someone his size, he can win contested throws and his confidence as a pass catcher is tremendous. In many ways he catches the ball like a bigger receiver, but he's a slot.
ND Fit: Notre Dame views Saldate as a player that can thrive in the slot, but he isn't a slot only player. That versatility is important, but he was a key target for the Irish because of his ability to handle all the slot duties that Notre Dame wants in this offense. Saldate can do damage after the catch but also has the ability to stretch the field.
Comp: Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
10. JACK LARSEN, TIGHT END
Hometown/High School: Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Catholic
Height/Weight: 6-3, 215
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 250 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.0
Analysis: Let's start with the reasons that Larsen doesn't rank higher. He's not very big and he's not an overly explosive athlete. He doesn't have the size that made players like Michael Mayer and Cole Kmet so effective, and he lacks the speed of a Tommy Tremble. What makes Larsen so good is the fact he has a great feel for the game and his ball skills are as good as any tight end in the country. Larsen is an efficient route runner and he's athletic enough to get open in the intermediate and short zones. What I love about his game is that even if Larsen is covered the quarterback can still chuck the ball up and give him a chance, because the odds of him outplaying defenders for the ball is quite high.
ND Fit: Notre Dame basically has two tight end positions. There is the traditional attached role and there is a position that moves around, plays in a wing, plays in the slot and moves around a lot before the snap. The latter is where Larsen fits into the Notre Dame offense. His route running and ball skills could make him a dangerous third-down weapon, and as he gets stronger his ability to thrive in the run game will take a job. His feel for the game, route running and hands give him a chance to out-play the ranking I have for him right now.
Comp: Nick O'Leary, Florida State
11. ANTHONIE KNAPP, OFFENSIVE LINE
Hometown/High School: Roswell, Ga./Roswell
Height/Weight: 6-4, 265
IB Grade: 3.5 (Top 350 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.0
Analysis: Right now Knapp is a bit undersized, but he shows a solid frame that should allow him to get around 300 pounds. Despite his lack of size he does show above average length and heavy hands. As he adds more weight and strength he has the potential to be a mover in the run game. Knapp is a quality athlete that looks comfortable on the edge, and he's especially quick and explosive working in the run game. When he keeps his pads low and does keep a good base you can see Knapp's combination of power and quickness make an impact in the run game. I like the attitude and demeanor that Knapp plays the game with, and in that regard he fits very well with last year's offensive line group.
ND Fit: Notre Dame has talked to Knapp about possibly playing offensive tackle, and sources indicate he measured in with 34-inch arms. If that arm length is accurate he could have a chance to play tackle due to his foot quickness and length. That length doesn't really show up on film as much as I like, which is why playing inside seems ideal for Knapp. He also has the kind of physical, nasty demeanor that you want as an interior player at both guard and center. His potential versatility adds to his value as a prospect.
Comp: Jarrett Patterson, Notre Dame
UPSIDE RANKING
1. Guerby Lambert, OL - 5.0
2. Cam Williams, WR - 5.0
3. CJ Carr, QB - 5.0
4. Kedren Young, RB - 4.5
5. Styles Prescod, OL - 4.5
6. Micah Gilbert, WR - 4.5
7. Logan Saldate, WR - 4.5
8. Aneyas Williams, RB - 4.0
9. Anthonie Knapp, OL - 4.0
10. Peter Jones, OL - 4.0
11. Jack Larsen, TE - 4.0
GRADE KEY
5.0 - Elite player
4.5 - All-American caliber player
4.0 - Multi-year starter
3.5 - Key role player / Late career-starter
3.0 - Backup
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Irish Breakdown Content
2023 Scholarship Chart
2023 Football Schedule
Notre Dame 2024 Scholarship Offers
2024 Commit Rankings - Offense
2024 Commit Rankings - Defense
2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Offense
2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Defense
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