Notre Dame 2024 Commits Board
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Notre Dame is looking to put together another outstanding recruiting class in the 2024 cycle. Below is the Irish Breakdown analysis of each player. As Notre Dame lands more prospects we'll add them to this board, so make sure you stay locked in to this page.
NOTRE DAME COMMITS (23)
QB CJ Carr - 6-3, 190 - Saline (Mich.) High School
RB Aneyas Williams - 5-10, 195 - Hannibal (Mo.) High School
RB Kedren Young - 5-11, 210 - Lufkin (Texas) High School
WR Cam Williams - 6-2, 190 - Glen Ellyn (Ill.) Glenbard South
WR Micah Gilbert - 6-2, 205, Charlotte (N.C.) Christian
WR Logan Saldate - 5-11, 185, Salinas (Calif.) Palma
TE Jack Larsen - 6-3, 215 - Charlotte (N.C.) Catholic
OL Peter Jones - 6-5, 290 - Malvern (Pa.) Prep
OL Anthonie Knapp - 6-4, 265 - Roswell (Ga.) High School
OL Styles Prescod - 6-6, 270 - Hamilton (Ind.) Southeastern
OL Guerby Lambert - 6-7, 290 - West Roxbury (Mass.) Catholic Memorial
DE Cole Mullins - 6-4, 240 - Hoschton (Ga.) Mill Creek
DE Bryce Young - 6-5, 245 - Charlotte (N.C.) Christian
DE Loghan Thomas - 6-4, 210 - Katy (Texas) Paetow
DT Sean Sevillano Jr. - 6-2, 300 - Clearwater (Fla.) Academy International
LB Teddy Rezac - 6-4, 195 - Omaha (Neb.) Westside
LB Bodie Kahoun - 6-3, 220 - Roanoke (Va.) Patrick Henry
LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa - 6-2, 230 - Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco
CB Karson Hobbs - 6-1, 180 - Cincinnati (Ohio) Moeller
CB Leonard Moore - 6-2, 175 - Round Rock (Texas) High School
S Kennedy Urlacher - 6-1, 180 - Chandler (Ariz.) High School
S Taebron Bennie-Powell - 6-1, 180 - West Chester (Ohio) Lakota West
S Brauntae Johnson - 6-3, 170 - Fort Wayne (Ind.) North Side
(Note: Comps are about style of play and body comps, not career projections)
COMMIT BREAKDOWNS - OFFENSE
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 quarterback 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, but what truly puts him into the elite category is that he's a playmaker off script and throwing off platform as well.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
COMMIT BREAKDOWNS - DEFENSE
COLE MULLINS, DEFENSIVE END
Hometown/High School: Hoschton, Ga./Mill Creek
Height/Weight: 6-4, 240
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 100 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Analysis: Mullins checks in at over 6-4 with well above average length and a strong frame. I can't wait to see him get some time working with Matt Balis, because his game could explode at that point. Mullins is a powerful player already and he plays with a high motor, but he's much more than a high-effort player. Mullins is a strong athlete for the edge, possessing a really quick first step, top-notch closing speed and the combination of agility and lateral movement skills to fit very well at the Vyper position. A 240-pound defender that can flow laterally and close on the football the way Mullins does when he's playing inside linebacker is just not something you see very often. He'll need to shore up his edge technique but this is a talented edge player with a lot of tools.
ND Fit: Right now Mullins plays both Mike linebacker and defensive end, but he's definitely an edge player for Notre Dame. The question there is where on the edge he plays. Mullins has traits that could fit at Vyper or Field End. I actually like his pass rush potential and range as a Vyper, where he can play in a two-point stance and set the edge at a high level, get after the quarterback and effectively drop into coverage. His power and frame could allow him to eventually move to the strong side, where he has the pass rush potential to give that position something it hasn't had in several years.
Comp: Marcus Smith, Louisville
BRYCE YOUNG, DEFENSIVE END
Hometown/High School: Charlotte, N.C./Christian
Height/Weight: 6-5, 245
IB Grade: 3.5 (Top 350 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Analysis: Young has the length/power combination that Notre Dame has clearly coveted since Marcus Freeman arrived back in 2021. The Charlotte Christian star has an elite frame, possessing the potential to add a lot of good weight, and his hand strength and natural power is impressive. Young is still growing into his frame and improving his coordination, but he showed top notch long speed for his size, and when his technique is right he shows a good burst off the edge. Young has all the skills you want in a player that should be dominant against the run, and as his pass rush repertoire improves he should develop into a strong all-around defender.
ND Fit: The combination of length, power and quality athleticism are traits that make his projection to the field end position easy to make. Young currently doesn't have field end mass, but with his tremendous frame that will come in short time, perhaps even before he arrives at Notre Dame. Young will fill out, of that I have no doubt, but possessing the length and natural power is where you start to get excited about what Young will become down the road. It's not completely out of the question that Young even outgrows the edge and ends up inside, but right now I really like the field end projection.
Comp: Chauncey Golson, Iowa
LOGHAN THOMAS, DEFENSIVE END
Hometown/High School: Katy, Texas/Paetow
Height/Weight: 6-4, 210
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 150 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Analysis: Thomas has an impressive combination of length-frame-athleticism. He's now measuring in over 6-4, and his 210-pound frame has plenty of room for natural growth. Despite being a thin 200+ pounds as a junior, Thomas shows impressive upper body strength and the ability to hold up and win against much bigger defenders. The burst he shows off the edge stands out, and Thomas shows the athleticism to win on the edge and the closing speed needed to be an impact pass rusher. Once he adds more weight room size and strength and continues to enhance his technique, you'll see Thomas quickly develop into a force on the edge.
ND Fit: Notre Dame wanted and needed a more "true" Vyper in this class. That means an edge player that can do a little bit of everything and can move around the defense a bit. It means a player that can be a pass game disruptor off the edge, a defender that can be stout against boundary side runs, a guy that can drop into coverage, and a player that can play off the ball a bit or rush the passer from different spots.
Comp: Josh Allen, Kentucky
SEAN SEVILLANO JR., DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Hometown/High School: Clearwater, Fla./Academy International
Height/Weight: 6-2, 300
IB Grade: 3.5 (Top 350 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.0
Analysis: Sevillano is an impressively powerful football player. He's extremely weight room strong, and when his technique is right he shows that on the field. His ability to disengage with blockers, and at times even throw them aside, is what stands out the most about his game. Sevillano is a short, stout defensive tackle that projects as a strong two-gap player up the middle. Right now he doesn't play with very good pad level, and that actually prevents his power from dominating to the level it should. When Sevillano learns to play lower off the ball, do a better job working his feet through contact and using his hands better his game could take off. The Clearwater Academy standout shows a good vertical burst when he does stay low, which makes another part of his game that has room for improvement.
ND Fit: There is no doubt the position that Sevillano fits in the Notre Dame defense. Interior players for the Irish have to be able to do a little bit of everything, meaning playing over the center and over the guards, but the nose in the Irish defense is primarily an over the center player. Notre Dame wants and needs players that add more beef, and ideally a player that can not only two-gap, but can also penetrate. Sevillano has the beef that Notre Dame wants and needs more of.
Comp: John Penisini, Utah
TEDDY REZAC, LINEBACKER
Hometown/High School: Omaha, Neb./Westside
Height/Weight: 6-4, 195
IB Grade: 3.5 (Top 350 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Analysis: Notre Dame wants long athletes on defense and it wants/needs to keep adding more speed on that side of the ball. This young man is very long and he can fly. He's close to 6-4 with long arms and has been reported to run between 4.48 and 4.52 in the 40-yard dash. That speed shows up film as well, with Rezac showing excellent alley speed when he's lined up at safety, and he shows impressive sideline speed and range when playing on the second level. Rezac also flashes outstanding closing speed and he's very comfortable in space, showing impressive change of direction skills. Rezac is a more than willing tackler, but he's quite thin right now and will need to fill out and add more power to be an every down backer.
ND Fit: Rezac is a great fit for the Rover position in the Notre Dame defense. I know the Irish coaches have spoken with him about maybe growing into an inside player, but the Rover spot is perfect for him. He's incredibly comfortable in space and shows the ability to cover a lot of ground in coverage. Rezac also does a good job finding routes as he works into zones and he can run with any back and tight end in coverage.
Comp: Pete Werner, Ohio State
BODIE KAHOUN, LINEBACKER
Hometown/High School: Roanoke, Va./Patrick Henry
Height/Weight: 6-3, 220
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 250 caliber player)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Analysis: Kahoun has the kind of frame that should allow him to fill out quite nicely. Already listed at 220 pounds, Kahoun should be able to easily get over 230 pounds and add a lot of power, which is why I like his projection to the Mike position. The Patrick Henry star is a smooth all-around athlete that shows good balance, foot quickness and impressive downhill closing speed. His testing numbers are outstanding, and as his technique and feel for the game improves you'll see that speed show more and more. Kahoun spent most of his prep career playing safety, so he's still learning to play the short-area game that linebacker requires, but his range and coverage skills are top notch and are already strengths of his game. Kahoun's combination of size and speed is why Kahoun has such a high upside grade.
ND Fit: Kahoun projects as an inside linebacker for Notre Dame. The Irish staff has mostly talked to him about playing the Will position, but I see him as more of a fit at the Mike position, especially as he adds more size and power as he physically matures. As Kahoun improves his technique and his speed starts to shine more, I could see him being an even better fit at Will, and that is something I'll be looking for in the fall.
Comp: Alex Anzalone, Florida
KYNGSTONN VILIAMU-ASA, LINEBACKER
Hometown/High School: Bellflower, Calif./St. John Bosco
Height/Weight: 6-2, 230
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 100 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Analysis: Viliamu-Asa is arguably the best pure inside linebacker in the 2024 class, which makes this a big pickup for the Irish. Although he could thrive at both Mike and Will, I really like the Mike fit in this defense. He's a smooth inside linebacker that can impact the game in three different phases. His short area quickness, instincts, block destruction skills, talking ability and power allow him to dominate the run game, he shows the range and instincts needed to thrive in coverage (especially zone looks), and his explosiveness, timing and ability to get through tight spaces makes him an impact blitzer. Viliamu-Asa has one of the highest floors in the country, and this is despite him missing his sophomore season with an injury. Viliamu-Asa also comes from a winning program and is an ideal fit off the field at Notre Dame.
ND Fit: Notre Dame doesn't view Viliamu-Asa as a pure Mike or Will, they like his ability to play both inside spots, but there's no doubt he is viewed as an inside linebacker in the Irish defense. He has the combination of instincts, physicality, range and tackling ability to be an impact player in the middle of the Irish defense.
Comp: Nick Bolton, Missouri
KARSON HOBBS, CORNERBACK
Hometown/High School: Cincinnati, Ohio/Archbishop Moeller
Height/Weight: 6-1, 180
IB Grade: 3.5 (Top 350 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.0
Analysis: The first thing you notice about Hobbs is he's a bigger cornerback, showing good height and impressive length. As a junior he was used to play a lot more man coverage, which allowed him to use that length much more to his advantage. Hobbs also showed impressive ball skills and a feel for playing routes during his junior season. He is a willing tackler that has a chance to be a force on the perimeter in the run game and screen game as he fills out and gets stronger. The knock of Hobbs, right now, is that he doesn't show top-level athleticism or explosiveness. He's smooth, but his transitions are a bit tight end he doesn't have the big-time speed to make up for it.
ND Fit: It's easy to see why the Notre Dame staff likes Hobbs. He's long, he's physical, he's smart and he has a lot of swagger. With his body type, there is a chance that as he matures and gets older, and gets into the Notre Dame strength program, his explosiveness and speed will take a jump forward. If that happens there's no doubt that Hobbs will tap into his potential and become a key player in the Irish secondary. Hobbs has the physicality to be a boundary corner, and he could even transition to safety down the road.
Comp: Devin Butler, Notre Dame
LEONARD MOORE, CORNERBACK
Hometown/High School: Round Rock, Texas/Round Rock
Height/Weight: 6-2, 175
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 150 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Analysis: Cornerbacks coach Mike Mickens has a very long track record of finding and developing long cornerbacks, and it goes all the way back to his days at Bowling Green and then Cincinnati. Moore certainly fits that mold, possessing both elite height (6-2) and length. The Round Rock standout is a flexible and smooth athlete that changes direction with ease. His ability to plant and drive downhill is outstanding, and his instincts and ball skills are two of his highest graded areas. You want a cornerback that gets his hands on the ball a lot, and Moore certainly does that. Despite being on the thin side, Moore is a willing and effective tackler. As he gets more weight room strength his ability against the run and perimeter screen game will be outstanding.
ND Fit: Moore plays mostly off-man in high school, but he possesses all the traits needed to thrive in Notre Dame's man coverage defense. His range and tackling ability are great fits for the field cornerback position. His strength, instincts, ball skills and speed potential also fit very well into the boundary position. That ability to play both positions only adds to Moore''s fit at Notre Dame, and his importance in the class. I also wouldn't be shocked if at some point Moore fills out a bit and even gets a shot at safety if the cornerback spots are already filled. He's a corner, no doubt, but that flexibility only enhances him as a prospect.
Comp: Trayvon Mullen, Clemson
KENNEDY URLACHER, SAFETY
Hometown/High School: Chandler, Ariz./Chandler
Height/Weight: 6-1, 180
IB Grade: 3.5 (Top 300 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.0
Analysis: The first thing you'll see when you look at highlights of Urlacher is his hitting ability. This is a young man that clearly embraces the physical part of the game. Urlacher is a thumper, and it's only going to become an even greater strength as he adds more strength and fills out his frame. The Chandler standout shows well above average speed and ideal foot quickness, which should allow him to make quick transitions as he improves his footwork/technique. Urlacher shows ideal range playing the alleys, and he shows the ability to make quick and decisive reads despite not being an overly experienced player. Urlacher has a lot of room to continue improving and he appears to just be scratching the surface of what he'll end up being on the next level.
ND Fit: Urlacher gives Notre Dame an alley safety that can be a major weapon in the run game, but he also has talent that should allow him to match up against opposing tight ends. Notre Dame likes to use its safeties in an interchangeable manner, and Urlacher has the range to play off the hash as well. The safety position has been a major problem from a tackling standpoint in recent seasons, and Urlacher upgrades that area.
Comp: Alohi Gilman, Notre Dame
TAEBRON BENNIE-POWELL, SAFETY
Hometown/High School: West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West
Height/Weight: 6-1, 180
IB Grade: 3.0 (Top 500 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.0
Analysis: We haven't seen Bennie-Powell play the position he's projected to play at Notre Dame, but he'll get that chance as a senior. As a rover/outside linebacker, Bennie-Powell showed impressive block destruction tools and tackling ability. His short area quickness and ability to make plays on the ball and get off blocks actually projects quite well at rover, a position he could play for Notre Dame in certain looks. Bennie-Powell shows quality instincts and he makes a number of heady plays on the ball and as a tackler. Despite having a solid 40-yard dash time at Notre Dame's summer camp, Bennie-Powell doesn't show that kind of speed and range on film, and his lateral quickness/change of direction skills aren't fluid.
ND Fit: Bennie-Powell spent his junior season playing more as an outside linebacker than he did a defensive back due to the presence of Minich and Ohio State 2023 safety signee Malik Hartford. His game was all about playing downhill and being an effective run defender and blitzer, and that downhill part of his game is where he will fit into the Notre Dame defense. Bennie-Powell will be making a transition to a deep safety position in 2023 for Lakota West, but I could see him being a rover type of player down the road.
BRAUNTAE JOHNSON, SAFETY
Hometown/High School: Fort Wayne, Ind./North Side
Height/Weight: 6-3, 170
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 100 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0
Analysis: Johnson has all the physical traits you want in a modern day safety. He's extremely long, he is fast, he's a smooth and fluid athlete, and although being just 170 pounds he has some good natural strength. As he fills out and adds more weight room strength he'll be an even more effective tackler. Johnson isn't a Top 100 player because of his tackling ability, however, that is because of his top notch athleticism. The Fort Wayne native has exceptional range thanks to his combination of initial burst, long strides and top end speed. He showed all of that off at least year's Irish Invasion and as a wide receiver. Once his technique improves it will combine with his explosiveness and easy change of direction to give him a chance to be a highly disruptive cover player, whether that's playing center field, in man coverage or playing the alleys.
ND Fit: Johnson is an outstanding two-way player for North Side, and he's a more productive wide receiver than he is a safety. He could easily play wideout at the next level, but safety is where his game is ideally suited from an upside and potential standpoint. Johnson has the kind of range and coverage potential that Notre Dame has largely lacked with its safety signees since signing Kyle Hamilton back in 2019.
Comp: Jessie Bates, Wake Forest
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