Notre Dame Class Impact: Tight End James Flanigan Commits

Notre Dame has landed an important pickup in the 2025 class with Green Bay (Wis.) Notre Dame Academy standout tight end James Flanigan committing to the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame beat out Michigan, Wisconsin and Stanford for the talented dual-threat tight end.

NOTRE DAME CLASS IMPACT

Flanigan is the seventh player to commit to Notre Dame in the 2025 class, the fourth offensive player and he's the only tight end commit in the class.

Flanigan joins an offensive class that already had big time quarterback Deuce Knight as well as running backs Justin Thurman and Daniel Anderson. Notre Dame also has commitments from defensive linemen Davion Dixon, CJ May and Joseph Reiff.

Coming into the class there were questions about how many tight ends Notre Dame takes in the class, and that's still a bit of a question. A lot of that will have to do with whether or not Notre Dame lands Carter Nelson in the 2024 class.

Looking at the need in the 2025 class, Notre Dame wanted one pass catching tight end and one player that is more traditional. If Nelson ends up picking the Irish, which is still a question, he would fill the more pure pass catcher role. Flanigan is more of a traditional tight end with how he is used. His game reminds me a lot of former Notre Dame standout Troy Niklas due to his blocking ability plus his potential as a downfield weapon in the pass game.

Notre Dame's 2024 tight end commit is Jack Larsen, who projects as more of a move tight end that can play in the wing, in the slot and move around presnap to get in blocking position. He is a strong route runner with big time ball skills. Flanigan is a perfect complement to Larsen due to his ability to play attached and be a dominant at the point blocker.

NOTRE DAME FIT - FILM ANALYSIS

Flanigan projects to the more traditional tight end (Y) role in the offense. He thrives lining up attached to the line of scrimmage and handling business in the run game. He gets to the second level well and he can also block well on the perimeter. He should thrive in Notre Dame's movement blocks as well on the counter/power schemes. As a pass catcher, Flanigan can stretch the field and is averaging over 22 YPC over the last two seasons.

Flanigan has an impressive frame, being listed around 6-5 and 225-230 pounds. He has plenty of room to fill out and I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if he's close to 245-250 pounds by the time he shows up at Notre Dame as a true freshman. He plays hockey and is a thrower on the track team (and a really, really good one), and once he focuses solely on football he's going to fill out that impressive frame quite nicely.

Where Flanigan really stands out, and where he earns his 4.5-star upside grade, is due to the athleticism that he brings to the position. Flanigan shows good foot quickness, balance, and he has the speed to stretch the field, with the ability to work the seams vertically and the ability to outrun defenders once he gets the ball in his hands. That power-speed-athleticism combination is as good as any tight end in the country.

Flanigan is a natural pass catcher with strong hands and body control. He doesn't catch it a bunch in high school (39 catches the last two years), but his tools are that of a player that is an every down, volume pass catcher. Right now Flanigan is more about dominating with talent and want to more than it is about him being a polished and refined player. He needs a lot of work as a route runner, from a release standpoint, from a top ends standpoint and working on his angles out of breaks. All of that are things that can be learned, and learned relatively quickly. The physical tools are there for him to be a strong route runner in time, but he'll need work there.

The Notre Dame Academy star is a dominant prep blocker and he projects to be dominant in the run game at the next level. He has the power in his hands and lower body to be that kind of physical point-of-attack blocker the Irish want and need on the edge. His athleticism should work well in the movement run game as well, and as he improves his pad level and at the snap footwork he will be even better.

Flanigan has the tools to be an outstanding dual threat player at the next level.

Be sure to check out the Irish Breakdown message board, the Champions Lounge

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

———————

Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and our premium message board! Click on the link below for more.

BECOME A MEMBER

Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time!

Join the Irish Breakdown community!
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channel
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunes
Follow me on Twitter: @CoachD178
Like and follow Irish Breakdown on Facebook

Sign up for the FREE Irish Breakdown daily newsletter