Notre Dame Football 2023 Recruiting Class
A look at the outstanding Notre Dame 2023 recruiting class.
NOTE DAME SIGNEE LIST
Kenny Minchey, QB, 6-2, 205, Hendersonville (Tenn.) Pope John Paul II
Jeremiyah Love, RB, 6-1, 195, St. Louis (Mo.) Christian Brothers
Braylon James, WR, 6-3, 185, Round Rock (Texas) Stony Point
Jaden Greathouse, WR, 6-2, 210, Austin (Texas) Westlake
Rico Flores Jr., WR, 6-1, 190, Folsom (Calif.) High School
Kaleb Smith, WR, 6-1, 180, Frisco (Texas) Reedy
Cooper Flanagan, TE, 6-5, 240, Concord (Calif.) De La Salle
Charles Jagusah, OL, 6-6, 305, Rock Island (Ill.) Alleman
Sam Pendleton, OL, 6-4, 305, Pfafftown (N.C.) Ronald Reagan
Sullivan Absher, OL, 6-7, 300, Belmont (N.C.) South Point
Joe Otting, OL, 6-4, 270, Topeka (Kan.) Hayden
Christopher Terek, OL, 6-6, 305, Glen Ellyn (Ill.) Glenbard West
Brenan Vernon, DE, 6-5, 250, Mentor (Ohio) High School
Armel Mukam, DE, 6-4, 250, Woodberry Forest (Va.) School
Boubacar Traore, DE, 6-4, 255, West Roxbury (Mass.) Catholic Memorial
Devan Houstan, DT, 6-5, 270, Hagerstown (Md.) Saint James School
Jaiden Ausberry, LB, 6-2, 215, Baton Rouge (La.) University Lab
Drayk Bowen, LB, 6-2, 230, Merrillville (Ind.) Andrean
Preston Zinter, LB, 6-3, 215, Lawrence (Mass.) Central Catholic
Christian Gray, CB, 6-1, 175, St. Louis (Mo.) University Christian
Micah Bell, CB, 5-11, 165, Houston (Texas) The Kinkaid School
Adon Shuler, S, 6-1, 190, Irvington (N.J.) High School
Ben Minich, S, 6-0, 185, Cincinnati (Ohio) Lakota West
2023 SIGNEE ANALYSIS
KENNY MINCHEY, QUARTERBACK
Hometown/High School: Hendersonville, Tenn./Pope John Paul II
Height/Weight: 6-2, 205
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 100 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Analysis: Minchey is considered one of the smartest quarterbacks in the country, and he shows an outstanding feel for the game. His timing as a passer is as a good as any quarterback in the class, and his ball placement is top notch as well. Minchey has a quick, compact release and he can get a lot of zip on intermediate throws and throws out to the sideline. Minchey shows good touch and accuracy on deep balls, and he makes up for a lack of elite arm strength with arm speed and timing. The Tennessee native can also effectively change arm angles and remain accurate and throw with zip. Minchey is not really a runner, but he's a quality athlete that moves around well in the pocket. Minchey isn't overly tall, but he possesses a sturdy lower half, and his well-built frame should allow him to play strong in the pocket and absorb punishment.
Notre Dame Fit: Minchey was certainly a great fit for Tommy Rees, and we'll have to see if he's as ideal of a fit in the new offense. I have a hard time thinking that the Gerad Parker offense won't have a need for a really smart, accurate, playmaking quarterback with impressive arm talent. I'm sure Minchey will fit in quite nicely.
JEREMIYAH LOVE, RUNNING BACK
Hometown/High School: St. Louis, Mo./Christian Brothers
Height/Weight: 6-1, 195
IB Grade: 4.5 (Top 50 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0
Analysis: Love is one of the highest risers following the 2022 season. The Christian Brothers star was always an explosive athlete with loads of potential, but as a senior he looked a lot more like a running back. Love improved his technique and overall feel for the position. His patience and anticipation skills improved a great deal, and he started to run with much better pad level and authority. Love also started to fill out his frame, and he could do more of the "dirty work" when the Christian Brothers coaches allowed him to do so. He remained an explosive home run threat that is an impact player in the pass game. Love can thrive out of the backfield, but his length and downfield ball skills allow him to be used on the outside in certain packages. Love turned his game up in the postseason, which shows he's a big game player.
Notre Dame Fit: More of a dynamic utility player when he committed, Love showed all the traits of a pure running back in his final season. There's still technical work to do, but Love showed in his final season he can be an every down back that is a weapon as a runner, pass catcher and blocker. Notre Dame's coaches can also be creative with Love, who has the ball skills of quality wide receiver, which should allow the Irish staff to be diverse in how they employ him, whether it's out of the backfield or lining him up outside in either empty or 21 sets.
BRAYLON JAMES, WIDE RECEIVER
Hometown/High School: Round Rock, Texas/Stony Point
Height/Weight: 6-3, 185
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 100 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0
Analysis: James only falls down the list because of how outstanding Jagusah and Love were in their final seasons. After transferring to Stony Point, James also saw his game improve. James is a long and explosive receiver that can take the top off the defense. His ball skills improved in his final season of high school, which made him an even better one-on-one player down the field even when he wasn't running by defenders. James explodes off the line and quickly gets on defenders, but its his second gear that makes him truly dangerous. Despite his length, James is also an impressive after-the-catch player that can make defenders miss and then use his speed to burst through creases. James is still quite raw as a route runner, which is why he isn't a Top 50 recruit. If he can learn the nuances of the game he could be special.
Notre Dame Fit: James played inside some in high school, and he does possess the tools that could allow him to make plays after the catch, but he's ideally suited for the perimeter positions. Right now the X position is where his game is best suited due to his ability to stretch the defense and his lack of route running prowess. As he fills out his frame, gets stronger and becomes a more technically proficient player I could see James moving to the boundary and becoming a player capable of doing the "volume" things at a high level as well. The talent is immense, he just has to put it all together.
JADEN GREATHOUSE, WIDE RECEIVER
Hometown/High School: Austin, Texas/Westlake
Height/Weight: 6-2, 210
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 100 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0
Analysis: Greathouse was a prolific high school player that finished his career with 232 catches, 4,035 receiving yards (19.1 YPC) and 53 touchdowns. He also returned five punts for touchdowns. His senior season was actually his lowest production campaign since his freshman year, which was due to Greathouse being a bit banged up at times and breaking in a new quarterback. Make no mistake, he is one of the most advanced and physical receivers in the country. Greathouse is a highly skilled technician with outstanding ball skills, and when he was combined with current Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik he was incredibly dominant. Greathouse makes up for a lack of explosive speed with physicality, a great feel for the game and strong route running skills. Greathouse also has excellent vision and after-the-catch ability.
Notre Dame Fit: It will be interesting to see how Notre Dame's offense evolves under new leadership. Under the previous regime, Greathouse projected as a pro-style slot player, but one that could move all around the offense. There are aspects of his game that could fit very well into the boundary, so I could see him being a volume player in the boundary as well, and his after-the-catch skills and strength make him a good field for the field position. I usually prefer him as a boundary player because of the aforementioned traits. One thing is certain, he'll be a very good blocker no matter where he lines up.
RICO FLORES JR., WIDE RECEIVER
Hometown/High School: Folsom, Calif./Folsom
Height/Weight: 6-1, 190
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 200 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Analysis: Flores is one of the more polished wide receivers in the entire country. His overall feel for the game and ability to get open has always been impressive, and it only got better in his final season. Flores has solid size and strength, and he can do a little damage after the catch, but what makes him such a talented prospect is what he does before and up to the catch point. Flores gets off the line extremely well, which allows him to play a bit faster than you'd expect. His feel for the nuances of the game are outstanding, which allow him to manipulate defenders quite well. Flores is quick into and out of breaks, and he accelerates well on vertical breaks. These tools allow him to maximize his separation potential. Flores has strong hands and he's very confident in his ability. He attacks the football and catch make strong grabs in traffic.
Notre Dame Fit: Flores has a combination of size, route running ability and ball skills to be an ideal fit for the X receiver position. I'm curious to see how the current offense evolves, because there are some schemes where he could play into the boundary as well, but the field is where he's the best fit. If Notre Dame runs a more traditional pro style offense there should also be consideration to put him in the slot. That versatility only adds to his impact as a prospect, and the reality is his ball skills play well all over.
KALEB SMITH, WIDE RECEIVER
Hometown/High School: Frisco, Texas/Reedy
Height/Weight: 6-1, 180
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 150 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Analysis: Smith has confirmed 4.49 speed, and that burst shows on film as well while playing wideout and as a return man. Smith gets off the quickly and his acceleration out of breaks is impressive. He shows the foot quickness and suddenness you want in an after-the-catch player, and his vision with the ball is impressive. Those traits also allow him to be a strong route runner. Smith shows impressive quickness getting out of his breaks, but he also shows the understanding you need to work proper angles to gain additional separation. He finds soft spots in the zone and he's a focused pass catcher. All of those traits fit very well as a pro-style slot, but they also combine with his vertical skills and deep ball tracking ability to project as an X receiver as well. Smith has clean hands and is a confident, away from the body pass catcher.
Notre Dame Fit: I see Smith as the ideal slot receiver in any offense. His ability to work open, his elusiveness after the catch and his second gear make him dangerous with the ball in his hands. He's a smart wideout that knows how to win off the line. One thing I like about Smith is that he could also be a shifty outside receiver to the field, which gives intriguing options. Smith and Greathouse also bring impact punt return potential to the Notre Dame special teams.
COOPER FLANAGAN, TIGHT END
Hometown/High School: Concord, Calif./De La Salle
Height/Weight: 6-5, 240
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 250 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Analysis: Flanagan is a bit of a throwback tight end in many ways. He's already well over 240 pounds and he's still not close to filling out his frame. He should easily get to 260 pounds, and his game is suited perfectly to the attached tight end positions. Flanagan is a physical blocker that thrives in that part of the game. He is a solid route runner, but he'll need a lot of work in this regard. Flanagan shows a good feel for finding openings against zone looks, but he'll a lot of refinement as a route runner against man coverage and on more downfield speed cut type routes. Flanagan shows strong hands and he's physical at the catch point. He's a pretty smooth athlete for his size, and I could see him getting a bit more explosive in college. Flanagan played in a run-oriented offense that masked his potential a bit.
Notre Dame Fit: Flanagan is without a doubt a player that projects to be an attached tight end. His physicality in the run game is such that I could even see Flanagan working his way into an edge blocking role as a true freshman. He has some ball skills and athletic traits that make me think he could move around a bit, but that's a bit of projection at this point.
CHARLES JAGUSAH, OFFENSIVE LINE
Hometown/High School: Rock Island, Ill./Alleman
Height/Weight: 6-6, 305
IB Grade: 5.0 (Top 25 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0
Analysis: Jagusah is the prototype for a Notre Dame offensive lineman. The Alleman star is massive, athletic, physical and strong. He was always talented, but as a senior his game took a massive leap and he went from a five-star upside guy to an elite prospect in the moment. Jagusah has all the traits you want and need from an elite offensive tackle. He is massive, long, athletic, physical and powerful. Jagusah shows top-notch short-area quickness and power, and as a senior he showed the lateral speed and change of direction to thrive on the edge. The scary part is that Jagusah still isn't close to his full potential due to the need for a lot of technical advance. As he learns the finer points of the game, Jagusah has a chance to become a star at either tackle or guard.
Notre Dame Fit: Jagusah showed as a senior that he could play left tackle, but his best position might be somewhere else. His combination of length, power and run game dominance is perfectly suited for the right tackle position. There he could thrive as an elite run blocker and still show off his evolving pass rushing prowess. I also wouldn't be opposed to see Jagusah move inside to guard if that gets him on the field faster. Moral of the story, find a place where you want a physical and dominant blocker and put Jagusah there. Jagusah's combination of size and power could allow him to get on the field early.
SULLIVAN ABSHER, OFFENSIVE LINE
Hometown/High School: Belmont, N.C./South Point
Height/Weight: 6-7, 300
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 200 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Analysis: Absher has a fun highlight tape, and he got even better as a senior. I'm impressed by his ability to play with very good pad level despite being so tall. Absher explodes off the ball, drives his feet through contact and he's a punishing run blocker. He seems to thoroughly burying opponents into the ground and embarrassing people .... within the rules. Absher shows me good balance, agility and flexibility, traits that should project well to the pass game. Honestly, that's what keeps him from having an even higher upside grade. I love the run game tools and talent I see, but I've literally only seen Absher pass block twice in his prep career, and it's hard to truly project how well he'll do in this area until I see more of it. The tools are there, but will he be comfortable in space? That's my only question, and it drags down his grade and ranking.
Notre Dame Fit: Absher has the length and foot quickness to play offensive tackle, but him being an outside player or a space player is more about size and projection. He is a tackle in high school but his lack of experience in pass pro raises questions. That's partly why I'd still like to see Absher move inside, where I know his game is suited quite well. He's a bit tall for an interior blocker, but he bends well and his physicality and finishing skills are perfect for guard. We'll have to see if he can get comfortable at tackle, but I know Absher can thrive inside.
SAM PENDLETON, OFFENSIVE LINE
Hometown/High School: Pfafftown, N.C./Ronald Reagan
Height/Weight: 6-4, 305
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 200 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Analysis: Pendleton saw his grade took a big jump as a senior and the Ronald Reagan blocker was truly outstanding. In the sports writers All-State team, only big time 2024 quarterback Jadyn Davis earned more first-team votes than Pendleton, and that includes fellow commit Sullivan Absher. It speaks volumes about how dominant Pendleton was in 2022. He shows impressive length for a guy with more of a guard body, which combines with his overall athletic skills and outstanding natural power to project him to be a very good interior pass blocker. But let's be real, I love Pendleton because he is a nasty, punishing run blocker. His footwork improved this season, maximizing his foot quickness and helped him dominate off the ball and also thrive on movement blocks and on the second level.
Notre Dame Fit: Pendleton is a pure interior player, of that I have no doubt. While he could work at center if the need arose, I prefer Pendleton at guard. I want him at a position where he can just fire off the ball and deliver punishment. Pendleton is an outstanding finisher that projects to be a dominant run blocker at the next level. His character and leadership traits also make him a potential captain candidate down the road.
JOE OTTING, OFFENSIVE LINE
Hometown/High School: Topeka, Kan./Hayden
Height/Weight: 6-4, 270
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 250 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Analysis: Otting is a very unique player with lots of potential. He's still on the thin side, but Otting seems to have a good frame that should allow him to add at least 20 pounds. The question will be if Otting can maintain his athleticism as he adds more and more strength. Otting is a nimble athlete, something you can see on the gridiron and the basketball court. His movement skills and ability to get up to the second level are as good as any blocker in this class, and he shows a very good power with his hands. Despite being a smaller, athletic player, Otting shows the kind of nasty demeanor you want from an interior player at Notre Dame. Otting is a punishing blocker for his size, which adds to his upside grade. He didn't make the big jump as a senior that I wanted, but Otting still oozes potential.
Notre Dame Fit: Although he plays guard in high school, Otting projects extremely well to center thanks to those traits. He stays low coming off, he shows fast hands and that punch will allow him to snap and strike effectively. The center in the Notre Dame offense has to be good getting to the second level, and Otting certainly fits that mold. Other than size, which matters, he has all the tools needed to thrive at center.
CHRISTOPHER TEREK, OFFENSIVE LINE
Hometown/High School: Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West
Height/Weight: 6-6, 305
IB Grade: 3.5 (Top 400 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.0
Analysis: Terek is a really physical and imposing blocker, and his desire to punish opponents makes his film fun to watch. Terek seems to relish the opportunity to bury an opponent, and he's an impressive finisher at the prep level. He's a massive young man that looks to be around 6-5 and a solid 300 pounds already. His ability to quickly fire off the ball, stay low and drive his feet allows him to thrive in the run game. Terek isn't overly fleet of foot, and he isn't a great in-space player, which fits well inside (see below). That can cause him some issues at tackle, but his length, punch and quickness out of his stance should allow him to thrive in pass protection as a guard.
Notre Dame Fit: Terek has the length and size of a tackle, but his physical style of play and athletic skills are more ideally suited inside. Terek is the traditional "phone booth" player, which means playing in tight spaces will give him the best chance to thrive. He's a bit too long to play center, so a move to guard is what I see in Terek's future, and his physicality will fit quite nicely there.
BRENAN VERNON, DEFENSIVE END
Hometown/High School: Mentor, Ohio/Mentor
Height/Weight: 6-5, 250
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 150 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0
Analysis: Vernon has a thick, powerful frame, one that could easily get to around 300 pounds. He put a bit too much weight on too early, but he slimmed down for the all-star game, which should allow the Irish to build him up properly. Mentor uses Vernon primarily as a space eater. He has very good length, flashes powerful hands, a strong lower body and the power to be a force at the point of attack. His get off can be inconsistent at times, but when he is right he shows disruptive ability against the run. Vernon's grade drops a bit due to a lack of production and some minor injury woes, but he has a lot of upside. There's definitely a lot to work with, but he's raw.
Notre Dame Fit: I think he has the tools to be a run-stuffing end or a disruptive interior player. That versatility, which will depend in large part to how big he gets, adds to Vernon's value. He's a power player, that's for sure, and he needs work as a pass rusher, but I love his potential to be an impact run defender for the Irish.
Note: It should be noted that part of Vernon's drop in my rankings is a lack of access to senior film. Outside of a couple of clips here and there, and of course the all-star game, I saw very, very little of his senior season.
ARMEL MUKAM, DEFENSIVE END
Hometown/High School: Woodberry Forest, Va./Woodberry Forest
Height/Weight: 6-4, 250
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 200 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0
Analysis: The next two spots are very interesting, because a case could be made the No. 10 and No. 11 players are also the two with the most natural gifts. That's certainly true for Mukam, who is still very much learning the game of football. Mukam has a lot of tools, including really impressive length, natural power and an impressive first step. He's surprisingly twitchy on the edge and he made a lot of plays as a senior. I was impressed with how much more comfortable he was playing as a senior, even though he still needs a ton of technical work. Mukam has fast hands, tremendous length and he packs a punch. Once he learns how to use his hands bette and gets more experience I see him game exploding. He's a true low-floor/high-ceiling player.
Notre Dame Fit: I could see Mukam moving inside, but I really want to see him stay on the edge. I absolutely love his potential as a big end in the Notre Dame defense. His power, length and initial burst are really impressive, and he has a natural feel as a pass rusher off the edge. If he blows up too much he could easily slide inside and be a highly productive three-technique. He needs a lot of work, but man I love this kid's upside.
BOUBACAR TRAORE, DEFENSIVE END
Hometown/High School: West Roxbury, Mass./Catholic Memorial
Height/Weight: 6-4, 255
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 250 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0
Analysis: Traore fell quite a bit as a senior after ranking as a Top 150 prospect after his junior season. His upside is still enormous, and if you see below you'll see he's the No. 1 ranked player in the defensive class from an upside standpoint. Traore has truly elite length and powerful hands. He's athletic for his size, showing an impressive first step for his size, very closing speed and fast hands. There are few players in the country that possess his length, but right now Traore is still incredibly raw. He doesn't play with consistent pad level and his technique is very much a work in progress. He was injured for a chunk of his senior season as well, which dragged down his grade.
Notre Dame Fit: Make no mistake, if Traore hits his ceiling he could be a star, he has that kind of talent, but he's just incredibly raw right now. I love Traore as a big end as well, and he's more natural playing off the edge than he is in the few snaps where I've seen him inside. If he can learn the nuances of the game and stay healthy Traore could be a star, but he's this low because of the injuries and just raw he is at this point.
DEVAN HOUSTAN, DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Hometown/High School: Hagerstown, Md./Saint James School
Height/Weight: 6-5, 270
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 150 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Analysis: Houstan has really grown on me over the last year, and he rose up the rankings quite a bit as a senior. At 6-5 and 270 pounds with a broad and thick frame, Houstan will have a chance to be a legit 300-pounder early his career. Houstan has powerful and quick hands, which combines with his size and power to make him a force up the middle. When he keeps his pads low, Houstan also shows a really nice burst off the line and he has disruptive playmaking potential, especially when playing over the center. He'll need to play with consistently better leverage and enhance his hand technique, but when those come Houstan has a chance to be a force.
Notre Dame Fit: Houstan has a chance to play either interior position in a four-down defense, and he could also play on the edge in three-man looks. I like him as more of an interior guy, and I could really see him being an impact player at the nose spot. If he is able to get up to 300 pounds like I think, Houstan has the athletic skills at that size to really give the Irish a playmaker right up the middle, which would be huge.
JAIDEN AUSBERRY, LINEBACKER
Hometown/High School: Baton Rouge, La./University Lab
Height/Weight: 6-2, 215
IB Grade: 4.5 (Top 50 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0
Analysis: Ausberry has an outstanding combination of football intelligence and athleticism. Yes, he lacks ideal size, but Ausberry has all the tools you need to be a truly dominant college linebacker. The New Orleans native is smooth and explosive, and his ability to quickly diagnose, shoot gaps and blow up run plays is special. Ausberry shows excellent change of direction ability, which combined with his instincts and speed allows him to be a highly disruptive pass defender. He was incredibly productive as a high school player and projects to be that in college as well. Ausberry needs to fill out and add more weight room strength, and when that comes he'll have a chance to be outstanding.
Notre Dame Fit: Ausberry is a bit on the raw side technically from both a block destruction and footwork standpoint, but those are traits that can be addressed quickly. The range, athleticism and playmaking ability that Ausberry possesses make him a great fit for the Will linebacker spot. Ausberry's intelligence, leadership and tackling skills could fit very nicely at the Mike position, assuming he can fill out well.
DRAYK BOWEN, LINEBACKER
Hometown/High School: Merrillville, Ind./Andrean
Height/Weight: 6-2, 230
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 100 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0
Analysis: Bowen had an outstanding senior season, dominating as both a running back and linebacker. He's one of the best all-around athletes in the class. Bowen shows outstanding box explosiveness, possessing the ability to quickly plant and explode through holes. Bowen is a powerful tackler and despite being on the raw side he makes a ton of plays on the football, which was an area I wanted to see him improve upon in his final season. Bowen has good range but he's not quite as rangy as Ausberry and not quite as natural in coverage, but he's still good in that area. Bowen will need to work on block destruction and improve his feel for the position, but his tools are tremendous.
Notre Dame Fit: Bowen was sort of a Rover/Will player as a junior, but my projection for him changed quite a bit in his final season. He filled out to 230 pounds and looked a lot more like a pure inside linebacker. Bowen has the range and athleticism to play Will, but I can't help but envision that power, frame and playmaking ability lining up at Mike. We know he has the leadership and communication ability to thrive at Mike.
PRESTON ZINTER, LINEBACKER
Hometown/High School: Lawrence, Mass./Central Catholic
Height/Weight: 6-3, 215
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 150 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Analysis: Zinter was another fast riser as a senior. His senior film was outstanding, but the Massachusetts native also had a bit of a growth spurt. He looked to be at least an inch (if not more) and at least 10-15 pounds bigger as a senior, and that also came with a jump in explosiveness. Zinter appears to have really good length, and he played a lot more off back linebacker in 2022. He's not a burner, but Zinter gets downhill in a hurry and he is rangier than you'd expect. He's a smooth athlete and when he plants and drives he covers a lot of ground. Zinter is a strong player and a quality tackler, but he was also a pretty darn good high school tight end.
Notre Dame Fit: Zinter could play two positions at Notre Dame, bot the Mike spot and potentially he could grow into a Vyper. I really want to see Zinter get a chance at the Mike spot. His size, power and short-area quickness combines well with his downhill speed, length and power to make him a potential tackling machine as a Mike player. If he can't work up the depth chart, or if he gets a bit too big for Mike, he could come off the edge.
CHRISTIAN GRAY, CORNERBACK
Hometown/High School: St. Louis, Mo./De Smet
Height/Weight: 6-1, 175
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 100 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0
Analysis: Gray made a huge jump as a senior, going from a Top 150 caliber prospect to being just on the border of being a Top 50 player. Gray always showed a good feel for coverage, showing the ability to thrive in man looks and when playing off the receiver. As a senior, Gray showed off the 4.41 speed he was reported to have that didn't always show up on film during his junior season. His speed was easy to see as a senior. Gray has excellent agility and closing speed, and he's extremely long. Combined with his strong instincts in coverage, Gray's athleticism and length allowed him to make a ton of plays on the ball, and he did so against an outstanding schedule.
Notre Dame Fit: Gray could easily play either cornerback spot in the Notre Dame defense. He is long, rangy and a strong tackler, which would allow him to thrive at the field position, where Cam Hart plays. I think Gray has even better press skills and shows big time man coverage skills, which combined with his length and functional strength make him an even better fit in the boundary position.
MICAH BELL, CORNERBACK
Hometown/High School: Houston, Texas/The Kinkaid School
Height/Weight: 5-10, 165
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 150 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0
Analysis: There is no question that Bell is the fastest and most explosive player in this class. Heck, Bell is one of the fastest and most explosive players in the entire country. The Houston native was a 1,000-yard rusher, a lock down corner and a dynamic return man in high school. He's extremely raw technically, which drops his grade down a bit, and he's a bit short. But Bell is able to make up for that lack of size with blazing speed, fluid athleticism and surprisingly good ball skills for a player his size. If he was more technically proficient Bell would be a bit higher on this list, but it's hard not to get very excited about his speed and potential in the Irish defense.
Notre Dame Fit: His lack of size projects Bell to the field positions, where he could be a strong man player on the outside, and a really pesky nickel back. He is similar in size to TaRiq Bracy but he's a lot faster, which is saying something. Bell's range and tackling ability could also allow him to thrive playing off man when playing outside. Bell should also get a shot to be an impact return man for the Irish.
ADON SHULER, SAFETY
Hometown/High School: Irvington, N.J./Irvington
Height/Weight: 6-1, 190
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 200 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Analysis: Every year there's a player that I rank lower than I expected based on my grades, and I feel that the player in question is going to make me look really bad for where I rank him. This year Adon Shuler is that player (Ben Minich is the other). I really like Shuler's film, and his character is even better. He's a smart football player, he's a quality athlete, he makes a ton of plays and he's a physically hitter in the alley. Shuler shows quick feet and loose hips, which translate well to coverage, and he has good range on the back. He's not the biggest player and there's nothing he's great at, which kept his grade down a bit, but the thing is Shuler is just flat out a good football player.
Notre Dame Fit: At the very least, Shuler is going to be an impact special teams player for the Irish. I really like his fit as a safety as well. He's versatile and can do a little bit of everything. Shuler can play the roof a bit, but he's at his best when he's coming down hill and playing in the alleys. Shuler is a really smart football player with captain potential.
BEN MINICH, SAFETY
Hometown/High School: Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota West
Height/Weight: 6-0, 185
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 250 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Analysis: Minich is another player that has a chance to make me look bad with my ranking, but him being here also shows just how special this defensive class can be. He's the 12th player on my board, but he also grades out as a 4.0-star recruit and as a Top 250 national recruit. You could make a case for any of my bottom four players to rank much higher, that's how good the class is and how close these players are. Minich ranks this low mainly because of his size and lack of any elite traits, but like Shuler he's just an outstanding football player. Minich has good speed, he's smooth and he's rangy. His senior season was outstanding and he showed more playmaking ability and the skills to play all over the field.
Notre Dame Fit: Minich was more of an alley player after his junior season, but a senior he showed the combination of athleticism, intelligence and playmaking skills that fit in several roles at safety. Minich showed the ability to play over the top as a senior, and his man skills really stood out. Minich could be an early special teams player, but his playmaking skills and football IQ could help him work on the field early in his career.
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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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