Notre Dame 2024 Recruiting Class - Final Look
Notre Dame has officially signed its talented and deep 2024 recruiting class. It's a group that received high marks on both sides of the ball and it was without question a gap closing class for Marcus Freeman, Chad Bowden and the rest of the Notre Dame staff.
With the class now signed it's time to put it all together in one feature. Here's a look at the Notre Dame 2024 class, with grades and analysis for each prospect.
NOTRE DAME 2024 CLASS
QB CJ Carr - 6-2½, 195 - Saline, Mich./Saline
RB Aneyas Williams - 5-10, 200 - Hannibal, Mo./Hannibal
RB Kedren Young - 5-11, 225 - Lufkin, Texas/Lufkin
WR Micah Gilbert - 6-2, 205 - Charlotte, N.C./Christian
WR Logan Saldate - 5-11, 185 - Gilroy, Calif./Palma
WR Cam Williams - 6-2, 195 - Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard South
TE Jack Larsen - 6-3, 212 - Charlotte, N.C./Catholic
OL Peter Jones - 6-5, 300 - Coatesville, Pa./Malvern Prep
OL Anthonie Knapp - 6-4½, 275 - Roswell, Ga./Roswell
OL Guerby Lambert - 6-6, 290 - West Roxbury, Mass./Catholic Memorial
OL Styles Prescod - 6-5½, 270 - Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern
DE Cole Mullins - 6-4, 240 - Hoschton, Texas/Mill Creek
DE Loghan Thomas - 6-4, 210 - Katy, Texas/St. Edward (Ohio)
DE Bryce Young - 6-5½, 245 - Charlotte, N.C./Christian
DT Sean Sevillano Jr. - 6-1½, 325 - Clearwater, Fla./Clearwater Academy
LB Bodie Kahoun - 6-3, 215 - Roanoke, Va./Patrick Henry
LB Teddy Rezac - 6-3½, 185 - Omaha, Neb./Westside
LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa - 6-3, 230 - Inland Empire, Calif./St. John Bosco
CB Karson Hobbs - 6-1, 180 - Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller
CB Leonard Moore - 6-2, 175 - Round Rock, Texas/Round Rock
S Taebron Bennie Powell - 6-1, 185 - Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota West
S Brauntae Johnson - 6-1½, 185 - Fort Wayne, Ind./North Side
S Kennedy Urlacher - 5-11, 180 - Chandler, Ariz./Chandler
NOTRE DAME PLAYER PROFILES
OFFENSE
CJ CARR, QUARTERBACK
Height/Weight: 6-2½, 195
Hometown/High School: Saline, Mich./Saline
IB Grade: 5.0 (Top 25 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0
Analysis: Carr is a highly intelligent quarterback with a lot of arm talent. While he doesn't throw the ball downfield much for his high school, the arm strength is there to power the ball down the field. Carr also shows the willingness and ability to get a lot of zip up the seams and on perimeter throws. As he fills out and gets stronger you'll see the ball really jump out and get to his wideouts in a hurry. Carr changes arm angles naturally, and can make plays outside of structure as a thrower. His timing and ball placement are top notch, and Carr is one of the smartest quarterbacks in the class. At times Carr will take some unnecessary risks which result in turnovers, but more often than not his grittiness leads to him making a lot of big plays.
Notre Dame 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 for his age. 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. While he's not the pure runner that past quarterbacks have been, Carr's mobility in the pocket and escapability makes him a challenge in the pocket.
ANEYAS WILLIAMS, RUNNING BACK
Height/Weight: 5-10, 200
Hometown/High School: Hannibal, Mo./Hannibal
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 150 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Analysis: Williams is arguably the best all-purpose back in the country. His numbers are absurd, with the Missouri star going for over 4,000 rushing yards and 3,000 receiving yards in his career while scoring over 150 touchdowns. I don't care what level you play at those are elite numbers. His foot quickness and balance are special, and his ability to make make sudden moves and immediately get back to full speed makes him a nightmare to bring down. He is a natural runner with top notch vision and an excellent feel for the game. Williams is a big-time pass catcher, possessing strong hands and talent as a route runner. Williams isn't the biggest back, but he is physical when he needs to be and hard to get a clean shot on.
Notre Dame 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.
KEDREN YOUNG, RUNNING BACK
Height/Weight: 5-11, 225
Hometown/High School: Lufkin, Texas/Lufkin
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 100 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0
Analysis: Young is a physical runner that can hand out a lot of punishment, but you aren't one of the nation's best backs just because you're physical. There is so much more to Young's game. He has excellent balance and foot quickness for a bigger back, and his ability to make defenders miss in space with quick, sudden moves is impressive. You don't see many backs with his size that can make the moves he can, both behind the line and in space. Young is a fundamentally sound back for his age, he shows good patience, his vision is top notch and he's an efficient runner. Young gets downhill quickly and when he gets a crease he can hit home runs. This is an outstanding running back.
Notre Dame Fit: Young is one of the best pure running backs in the 2024 class. The Texas standout can do a little bit of everything with the ball in his hands. Young can play physical ball, he can slash, he can hit home runs and he's more than capable out of the backfield. Young can thrive in downhill runs (Inside Zone, Duo), and he has the combination of vision and speed to rip off big runs on perimeter and gap scheme plays.
MICAH GILBERT, WIDE RECEIVER
Height/Weight: 6-2, 205
Hometown/High School: Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Christian
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 150 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Analysis: Landing Gilbert gives Notre Dame a boost in size and strength. He's listed at 6-2 and 205 pounds, but he is built well and is quite strong for his age. Gilbert is a long-armed athlete that has an impressive catch radius, and his ability to dominate at the catch point in 2023 really stood out and improved his grade. We saw this from him on offense and defense this season. Gilbert lacks burner speed, but he's a smooth athlete that has the length, route running skills and ball skills to go with enough speed to make plays down the field. The North Carolina native showed a surprising ability to make plays after the catch as a senior, and some of it translates well to the next level.
Notre Dame Fit: Landing Gilbert was always important for Notre Dame, but it became an even better pickup after his senior season. Gilbert projected more as a potential slot/field receiver earlier in his career, but he put legit boundary receiver skills on display in his final high school campaign. He was healthy, and Gilbert dominated as a pass catcher in his final season. Most of the boundary receivers on the current roster are older, so landing a player with legit boundary ability in the 2024 class was key. While I see him as capable of being a playmaker in the boundary, Gilbert brings a diverse game that can fit at multiple receivers spots in the Irish offense.
LOGAN SALDATE, WIDE RECEIVER
Height/Weight: 5-11, 185
Hometown/High School: Gilroy, Calif./Palma
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 250 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.0
Analysis: When I heard Notre Dame was making a run at Saldate I wasn't expecting to like his game nearly as much as I did. There's nothing he does that is elite, but he just knows how to play the game of football. Saldate is a quality route runner that shows a really good feel for getting open. He changes tempo effectively when attacking defensive backs, but he can turn it up when he needs to. I was impressed with how well he catches the ball over the middle of the field for his size. Saldate is a smooth athlete that changes direction with ease, and those traits give him the potential to become an even more impactful route runner.
Notre Dame Fit: Saldate was the third commitment in Notre Dame's talented 2024 receiver class. While Cam Williams and Micah Gilbert project initially outside, Saldate brings a lot of slot skills to the table. He's a smooth athlete that can work open as a route runner, he has strong hands and focus, he can make plays in traffic, he can make plays with the ball in his hands and he shows a really good feel for the game. Saldate has enough size, athleticism and ball skills to play the outside Z position as well, but he projects best as an inside slot receiver, making him an ideal complement to the other wideouts.
CAM WILLIAMS, WIDE RECEIVER
Height/Weight: 6-2, 195
Hometown/High School: Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard South
IB Grade: 5.0 (Top 25 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0
Analysis: Williams has continued to get better and better and better throughout his career. When Notre Dame landed him after his sophomore season it was a strong pickup, but his junior season was even better. As a senior he became a true five-star player. Williams dominated in every phase of the game. He can stretch the field with game breaking speed, he is dynamic after the catch, his route running has improved every season, and he has consistently good hands. Williams was a home run hitter in the return game, and his play at safety during his senior season showed he could play that position at the next level as well. His combination of speed, fluid athleticism, play strength and feel for the game is rare.
Notre Dame Fit: Williams is everything Notre Dame wanted and needed in the 2024 receiver class. Notre Dame needs more speed, Williams has big time speed. Notre Dame needs more outside receivers, he can dominate outside. Notre Dame needs more playmakers, and he's one of the best playmakers in the country. Landing Williams gives the Irish the kind of game-breaking receiver it needs a lot more of, and he has the talent to come in and make an immediate impact.
JACK LARSEN, TIGHT END
Height/Weight: 6-3, 212
Hometown/High School: Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Catholic
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 250 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.0
Analysis: I completely understand why Larsen isn't loved by recruiting services. In a business built on physical traits and measurables, Larsen isn't going to blow anyone away. He's not all that big and he's not an elite athlete. That likely why he dropped in the rankings, but I think we are missing out a bit on Larsen. Yes, he lacks those elite measurables, but this kid knows how to play and he knows how to win snap after snap. He is a smart route runner, a quality athlete and his feel for the game is really impressive. Larsen can play all over and his hands/ball skills are truly elite. Sleep on him at your own peril, this kid can play.
Notre Dame Fit: Notre Dame signed a big blocking tight end in the 2023 class (Cooper Flanagan), and the only remaining signee in the 2022 class is Eli Raridon, who is over 6-7 and about 250 pounds. Notre Dame was looking for a different type of tight end in the 2024 class and it focused in on Larsen as the top target very early on. He can play attached, but his game is more about moving around, either in wing situations, or outside in slot and outside alignments. Larsen is the perfect complement to both the 2023 class tight end (Flanagan) and the 2025 tight end commit (James Flanigan).
PETER JONES, OFFENSIVE LINE
Height/Weight: 6-5, 300
Hometown/High School: Coatesville, Pa./Malvern Prep
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 200 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.0
Analysis: Jones is a punishing football player, that's absolutely the first thing you notice when you put in his film. The Pennsylvania native plays with a nasty disposition and he clearly enjoys playing in the trenches. Jones is a thickly built young athlete, and he has some length to him, which I like. His hand play needs to improve, but he has heavy hands and he can move people in the run game. Jones works well to the second level, he improved his movement skills as a senior (in pace) and although he lacks the lateral quickness I prefer on the edge, he comes off the line with some quickness and pop. That's why I really like his game inside, where he can not only be a run game mover, his pass pro skills fit nicely in tighter spaces.
Notre Dame Fit: Jones is exactly what you think of when you think of a Harry Hiestand type of lineman. He's big, he's strong, he has some length, he has some positional versatility and he loves to play physical football. While he could play right tackle at the next level, Jones projects best inside at guard, where his physicality and ability to dominate in tight spaces should thrive.
ANTHONIE KNAPP, OFFENSIVE LINE
Height/Weight: 6-4½, 275
Hometown/High School: Roswell, Ga./Roswell
IB Grade: 3.5 (Top 300 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Analysis: I wasn't high on Knapp when he originally committed to Notre Dame, but his senior film was more impressive. Knapp is an athletic lineman, there's no doubt about that, and he showed me a lot more physicality as a senior. Knapp plays with an edge, and he will battle in the run game. He's undersized, and that's my biggest concern, and why he grades as the lowest ranked player in the offensive class. His overall skillset is good, which is why his upside grade is high. Knapp does have really long arms for a guy who isn't all that tall, which combines with a strong athletic profile and quickness to make him an effective edge player in pass protection. I want to see him bend his knees more.
Notre Dame Fit: A left tackle for Roswell, Knapp projects as a guard or center in the Notre Dame offense. Guard is where Notre Dame is recruiting him at the moment but he has plenty of skills that could thrive at center as well. His combination of athleticism and power potential should allow him to develop into a quality dual-threat blocker at the next level.
GUERBY LAMBERT, OFFENSIVE LINE
Height/Weight: 6-6, 290
Hometown/High School: Boston, Mass./Catholic Memorial
IB Grade: 5.0 (Top 25 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0
Analysis: I really liked Lambert when Notre Dame landed him, grading him as a Top 50 overall player even before he committed. Lambert was even better as a senior and he now grades as a five-star recruit. Where to begin with Lambert. He has an elite frame with exceptionally long arms, and Lambert shows the natural power to dominate at the point of attack. He's a work in progress still from a technical standpoint, but Lambert is athletic, can bend and he drives through contact well. Lambert needs the most work with pass game technique, but his lateral quickness, agility, punch and elite length give him the tools to eventually grow into an elite, first-round draft pick caliber all-around player.
Notre Dame Fit: Notre Dame absolutely needed to add tackles to its 2024 class and Lambert is one of the best tackles in the country. He fits the Irish offense due to his ability to be dominant in the run game and potential in pass protection. He needs more work, but the tools are there for him to be a dominant all-around player. Lambert plays right tackle in high school, but he has all the tools you want in a left tackle as well.
STYLES PRESCOD, OFFENSIVE LINE
Height/Weight: 6-5½, 270
Hometown/High School: Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 200 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Analysis: Prescod is a work in progress, and he might need time to develop, but I love his tools and potential. The first two things you see when you pop in Prescod's senior film is his impressive length and athleticism. Those two traits project him quite nicely to offensive tackle. Prescod shows a good punch and he bends quite well. His lateral quickness and change of direction skills improved quite a bit as a senior, although his technical footwork is quite raw. Prescod gets after it in the run game, and after a year or two in the strength program he'll be able to be an effective mover. There's a lot to like about this young man's ability.
Notre Dame Fit: Notre Dame needed 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.
DEFENSE
COLE MULLINS, DEFENSIVE END
Height/Weight: 6-4, 240
Hometown/High School: Hoschton, Ga./Mill Creek
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 150 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Analysis: I had Mullins graded as a Top 100 recruit after his junior season, but his season-ending knee injury drops him down a bit. If he can get back to full speed Mullins could be one of the biggest steals of the class. Mullins has a quality frame with good length, and I love his pop when he takes on blockers. His ability to set the edge with force stands out on film, and his explosiveness off the line is something the defense wants and needs more of. The fact he doesn't play on the edge full-time has limited his pass rush repertoire, so that will need to be improved, but his combination of burst, length, power and closing speed should allow him to develop a strong pass rush game. Mullins also plays the game with a great motor and fire.
Notre Dame Fit: Mullins played both Mike linebacker and on the edge during his prep career, and he brings some versatility to the Notre Dame class. There are parts of his game that fit very nicely at the Vyper position, and others that fit quite nicely into the defensive end position. Mullins could start his career at either spot, but his ultimate position will be determined partly due to need, and partly due to how he fills out. But adding his versatility to the class was important.
LOGHAN THOMAS, DEFENSIVE END
Height/Weight: 6-4, 210
Hometown/High School: Katy, Texas/St. Edward (Ohio)
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 150 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0
Analysis: There are very few players in this class that have the upside that Thomas brings to the table. Thomas is an extremely long and explosive athlete that possesses very rare speed for an edge player. His speed alone gives him a chance to be an impact pass rusher at the next level, but he also shows the tools to drop into coverage when needed. Thomas is quite raw from a technical standpoint, and his pass rush repertoire needs a lot of work, but you just can't teach his natural tools. He was much more productive as a senior, and playing at St. Edwards was very good for Thomas. He will need some time in the weight room, and he'll need a lot of coaching, which is why his grade is lower, but his upside is enormous.
Notre Dame 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. That's exactly what Thomas adds to the class.
BRYCE YOUNG, DEFENSIVE END
Height/Weight: 6-5½, 245
Hometown/High School: Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Christian
IB Grade: 4.5 (Top 50 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0
Analysis: Young blew up faster than expected, both physically and his game. He was always a toolsy player you hoped would fill out and pan out, but as a senior he became a legit big time player. Young has everything you want in a big time edge player. He's exceptionally long, there is still plenty of room to grow into his frame, he is explosive out of his stance, his closing speed stands out and he was highly, highly productive as a senior. Young was absolutely dominant as a senior, and he looked nothing like the player he was the previous season. His hand play also took a big jump, and when you combine that with his explosive burst and length it made him unblockable at the prep level in both the run game and pass game.
Notre Dame Fit: The combination of length, power and athleticism are traits that make his projection to the field end position easy to make. Young filled out nicely as a senior, which made the fit even easier. As his pass rush repertoire improves he should develop a strong all-around skillset for the position. 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, and it was a big need for the Notre Dame 2024 class.
SEAN SEVILLANO JR., DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Height/Weight: 6-1½, 325
Hometown/High School: Clearwater, Fla./Clearwater Academy
IB Grade: 3.5 (Top 350 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.0
Analysis: Sevillano is on the shorter side and he doesn't seem to have great length, but he makes up for it in any others. The first is that he's incredibly strong, both in the upper body and lower body. Sevillano anchors extremely well at the point of attack, but his power allows him to blow blockers off the ball, which combines with a nice first step and quality motor to allow Sevillano to be highly productive up the middle. He looks like a space eater, there's no doubt about that, but he has more to his game than that. His technique and hand play need work, but he has the raw power and girth to eventually be a stout player up the middle of a college defense.
Notre Dame Fit: Notre Dame desperately wanted to add some beef to the interior of its defensive line, and Sevillano certainly adds that. His skillset also fits well into the Irish 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. Sevillano can do both, but his best fit is playing over the center. That position ideally has a player that can not only two-gap, but can also penetrate. Sevillano showed that the last two years.
BODIE KAHOUN, LINEBACKER
Height/Weight: 6-3, 215
Hometown/High School: Roanoke, Va./Patrick Henry
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 250 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Analysis: Kahoun is still just scratching the surface of the player he could be. The 2023 season was his first full season as a linebacker, and he put up some outstanding numbers. Kahoun is a long athlete with an impressive frame, which is why I could see him being an easy 240 pounds in college. The Virginia native has good foot quickness, and as his footwork improves you'll see his change of direction improve as well. Kahoun shows very good open field speed, and he arrives at the football with a lot of force. He's still learning the game of football, but he shows a good feel inside and his block destruction improved as a senior.
Notre Dame 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 could see him being an active Mike as well, 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.
TEDDY REZAC, LINEBACKER
Height/Weight: 6-3½, 185
Hometown/High School: Omaha, Neb./Westside
IB Grade: 3.5 (Top 350 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Analysis: Rezac has a career trajectory that is similar to current Rover Jack Kiser in that he is a high school safety that will move down to the second level. Notre Dame took a big chance on Rezac, but they love his potential. He's long and skinny, but he still arrives at the football with some pop. Rezac is instinctive and makes a lot of plays at the ball, but it's his speed and athleticism that really stands out and is why he got a scholarship from Notre Dame. Rezac can absolutely fly, and he's also a smooth and sudden athlete that moves with ease. He'll need to fill out and get a lot stronger, but his ability to play with range and fly around the field is top notch.
Notre Dame Fit: Notre Dame is recruiting Rezac as a Rover, although there is the possibility he could grow into more of an inside backer. Rezac plays all over the field for Westside, lining up anywhere from free safety to slot defender to edge rusher to off ball linebacker. That versatility fits into the Rover position quite well, and his skill set fits into the position as well.
KYNGSTONN VILIAMU-ASA, LINEBACKER
Height/Weight: 6-3, 230
Hometown/High School: Inland Empire, Calif./St. John Bosco
IB Grade: 4.5 (Top 50 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0
Analysis: Viliamu-Asa has the complete package for what you want in an inside linebacker. He is powerful and instinctive, showing the ability to beat blocks to the edge or to stack-and-shed on his way to the ball carrier. His range as a senior improved as he gets further removed from the knee injury he suffered as a sophomore. Viliamu-Asa explodes downhill and arrives at the football with some nastiness. He made quick reads, takes good angles to the ball and makes a ton of plays in space. Viliamu-Asa also gets into his drops quickly, picks up routes with ease and does a good job getting into throwing lanes. He wasn't use as much as a blitzer as a senior, but his timing and closing speed allow him to thrive there as well.
Notre Dame Fit: Viliamu-Asa projects as an inside linebacker for Notre Dame, but one of the best parts of his game is that he fits just as well at Mike linebacker as he does the Will linebacker spot. Viliamu-Asa also helps continue upgrading the size/speed/power combination at inside linebacker. Notre Dame is at the point where it needs to continue adding impact talent, and Viliamu-Asa is one of the best backers in the country in the last two classes.
KARSON HOBBS, CORNERBACK
Height/Weight: 6-1, 180
Hometown/High School: Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 250 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Analysis: Hobbs is another member of the defensive class that made a big jump as a senior. The Cincinnati native plays a ton of press man coverage, so his transition into the Notre Dame defense should be easy. The biggest jump we saw from Hobbs in 2023 was his playing speed. His long speed is outstanding, and he plays the ball extremely well down the field. Being able to find and impact the football is one of his best assets. Hobbs is very physical at the line and in coverage, as as he cleans up his footwork and hand technique he'll be even cleaner in transitions. Hobbs is a smart football player, bt he's willing to be physical and he plays the game with a ton of swagger.
Notre Dame 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.
LEONARD MOORE, CORNERBACK
Height/Weight: 6-2, 175
Hometown/High School: Round Rock, Texas/Round Rock
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 150 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Analysis: Notre Dame corners coach Mike Mickens likes long cornerbacks with high ceilings, and Moore fits that mold perfectly. He's listed at 6-2 and he has long arms. Moore has the frame to add good weight, but he's already a willing tackler. Moore has excellent long speed, but he transitions quite well, something you don't see as much with such a long cornerback. Moore has pure man skills thanks to his length/speed combination, but he also makes a lot of plays on both sides of the ball. He's instinctive and smart, and with time working with Mickens he has a chance to be an outstanding prospect. Once his footwork gets cleaned up you'll really see his game take off.
Notre Dame 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.
TAEBRON BENNIE-POWELL, SAFETY
Height/Weight: 6-1, 185
Hometown/High School: Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota West
IB Grade: 3.5 (Top 350 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.0
Analysis: Bennie-Powell was always a physical player, but he showed as a senior he can be that kind of punishing tackler in space and on the backend as well. I questioned Notre Dame landing Bennie-Powell, but he made a really nice jump as a senior. In fact, even though he fell short of earning a four-star grade, his overall jump was one of the highest in the class. The two biggest reasons for his jump is that Bennie-Powell showed he can play in space, and his athletic skills looked better. I felt Bennie-Powell had tight hips and his lateral quickness as a junior was not what you want to see. I was impressed with how easily he changed directed as a senior.
Notre Dame Fit: Notre Dame needed safeties in a bad way in the 2024 class, so landing Bennie-Powell as part of a three-man safety class was key for the Irish. Bennie-Powell transitioned to deep safety as a senior after playing closer to the line of scrimmage in previous seasons. He looked comfortable on the back end, which showed he is capable of playing deeper, something Notre Dame needed.
BRAUNTAE JOHNSON, SAFETY
Height/Weight: 6-1½, 185
Hometown/High School: Fort Wayne, Ind./North Side
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 100 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0
Analysis: Notre Dame needed an impact safety in this class and Johnson has all the tools to become that player. He's a long athlete with outstanding long speed and range. Johnson is a smooth defender that shows easy change of direction and transition skills. Notre Dame needs safeties that can play the post/deep middle, and Johnson has the potential to be outstanding playing over the top. But he's not just skinny and fast, Johnson is a willing hitter that can come downhill and strike. He'll need to add a lot of strength and fill out his frame, but Johnson has everything else you want and need at safety. He oozes potential and playmaking ability, something Notre Dame clearly needs a lot more of at safety.
Notre Dame 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.
KENNEDY URLACHER, SAFETY
Height/Weight: 5-11, 180
Hometown/High School: Chandler, Ariz./Chandler
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 250 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.0
Analysis: As you would expect from an Urlacher, the first thing you see on film is a defender that not only delivers punishment on ball carriers, but he really enjoys it. Urlacher isn't the biggest guy, but he's a highly impactful tackler. I love his attitude and demeanor in the run game. The Arizona native has very good range downhill, he's a quick starter and wide receivers struggle to handle him. He's a strong form tackler as well. Urlacher is a quality athlete that shows good suddenness, change of direction and closing speed. I don't see much of him in coverage, so that's still a question mark, but the tools are there.
Notre Dame 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.
GRADE KEY
A — Elite / College Football Playoff caliber
B — Outstanding / Top 15 caliber
C — Solid / Borderline Top 25 caliber
D — Subpar / Not good enough
F — Disaster
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2024 Class Rankings - Offense
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2024 Class Grades - Defense
Two-Year Grades - Offense
Two-Year Grades - Defense
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