Class Impact: Bodie Kahoun Commits To Notre Dame

Notre Dame has picked up another commitment in the highly ranked 2024 class, with Roanoke (Va.) Patrick Henry linebacker Bodie Kahoun pledging to the Fighting Irish. Kahoun picked Notre Dame despite having offers from Tennessee, Florida State, Miami (Fla.), North Carolina, NC State, Stanford, Virginia Tech and plenty more.

Let's break down what the commitment of Kahoun means for the Notre Dame 2024 class and the Fighting Irish depth chart.

NOTRE DAME CLASS IMPACT

Kahoun is the 16th player to commit to the Notre Dame program in the 2024 class. He is the 8th defensive player and the 2nd linebacker in the Fighting Irish class, joining Omaha (Neb.) Westside linebacker Teddy Rezac.

Notre Dame landed back-to-back outstanding linebacker classes in the 2022 and 2023 cycles. The Irish landed a four-man class in 2022 and three more in the 2023 class. Notre Dame has moved two of the 2022 linebackers (Josh Burnham, Junior Tuihalamaka) to Vyper, but the Irish are still in a strong position at linebacker.

Both Nolan Ziegler and Jaylen Sneed redshirted in 2022, and the freshman class of Drayk Bowen, Jaiden Ausberry and Preston Zinter made up one of the nation's best linebacker hauls in the 2023 class. All three had some outstanding moments during spring practices.

Having so much youth on the roster, and so much talented youth, Notre Dame only needed a minimum of two linebackers in the 2024 class, but three was the target number. The talent of the 2022 and 2023 linebackers on the roster also meant the Irish staff could take some chances on high upside prospects at linebacker in the 2024 class, even if they had lower floors.

Rezac gave Notre Dame a player that fits at Rover, while Kahoun gives Notre Dame a player with a more traditional inside fit. Notre Dame needed either a high ceiling or a high floor player at inside linebacker in this class due to its recent success, and Kahoun gives the Irish a higher ceiling.

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 see him as more of a fit at the Mike position, especially as he adds more size and power as he physically matures.

Kahoun is listed at 6-3 and between 215-220 pounds. He has a frame that should allow him to add at least 15-20 more pounds of good weight. He arrives at the football with good power and authority, and if he learns to play with more bend and lowers his pads he'll be even more physical when he arrives at the football. That's my one big knock on Kahoun, he plays too high, especially when he tackles. It's a technical thing that can be corrected, and when it does his ability to deliver punishment will be enhanced.

Kahoun is a strong all-around athlete that shows good balance, foot quickness and pop as a hitter. He flashes good open field speed, but he's still quite raw from a technical standpoint, and this can mask his athleticism at times. Watch him play lacrosse and you'll see a young athlete with a lot more explosiveness and change of direction ability. You can see his range as a sophomore when he played a lot of free safety for Patrick Henry and had to open and run more frequently.

Playing high causes him to look tight at times as he changes direction, but there are enough flash plays on his highlights where he does show good bend, and then explodes downhill, shows impressive sideline range or good change of direction ability to know he has it in him.

What this means is that as he continues transitioning from a player that plans to focus on lacrosse as his primary sport to a player that is focused on football, those flash plays will become more of the norm. Then you'll see his athletic traits flash more and more on film. That potential is why you saw programs like Notre Dame, Miami (Fla.), Tennessee and Florida State making a run at him over higher ranked players.

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

Irish Breakdown Content

2023 Scholarship Chart
2023 Football Schedule

Notre Dame 2024 Scholarship Offers

2024 Commit Rankings - Offense
2024 Commit Rankings - Defense

2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Offense
2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Defense

———————

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

BECOME A MEMBER

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

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

Sign up for the FREE Irish Breakdown daily newsletter