Notre Dame Once Again Prioritizing Tools And Upside With 2024 Defensive Line Group

The 2023 defensive line class for Notre Dame ended up being a very enigmatic group for the Irish. After losing Keon Keeley during the cycle, who eventually ended up with Alabama, as well as failing to secure a commitment from Ohio State signee Jason Moore, it left a strange feeling amongst Notre Dame fans and recruiting followers.

The staff was still able to sign a talented four-man defensive line class, including Brenan Vernon, Boubacar Traore, Devan Houstan and Armel Mukam. While there is some rawness to that group, there is no question that the upside is immense. If developed properly, it has a chance to be special in the end, even if it did not end nearly as strong as it could have.

Flash forward to the 2024 recruiting class, the Irish staff has already landed a commitment from New Jersey native Owen Wafle, who brings a high floor and underrated tools to develop. The rest of the class has a lot of questions that need to be answered. One thing that remains the same, Notre Dame is again prioritizing tools and upside in 2024.

THE HEADLINERS

Defensive line recruiting begins and ends with Chicago (Ill.) St. Ignatius star Justin Scott. There are of course the obvious reasons, him being a five-star caliber defensive tackle from a prestigious catholic school in Chicago. That makes him a “can’t miss” recruit if you are Notre Dame.

What makes him such a talented football player? Of course he’s very athletic. Scott has some absurd explosiveness and short area quickness for a player his size. It is, however, that frame that immediately catches your attention. At 6-5 and 310 pounds, Scott has very little bad weight on his frame. He also is an incredibly long defender that provides a lot of range from the middle of a defense.

Scott is special. That shouldn’t be news to any Notre Dame recruiting followers.

Charlotte (N.C.) Christian defensive end Bryce Young should be another player that Irish fans are very family with. It isn’t just because he is talented, or because the staff is very high on him, but because he is the son of former Notre Dame great Bryant Young.

That, of course, will bring initial intrigue. Then you see his frame and are immediately flooded with the possibilities. Young is verified at 6-5 and 240 pounds already, boasting a frame to eventually grow into a playmaking big end on the next level with impressive movement skills and absurd length. Things appear in a very good spot with Young and this one looks like Notre Dame’s to lose currently.

Notre Dame is also in a good position with Cheshire (Conn.) Academy pass rusher Jacob Smith, who is the longer and twitchier member of the talented Smith brothers. At 6-4 and 227 pounds, Smith has the profile of a really talented standup rusher on the next level.

He is another player with above average length to make a variety of plays in space. Notre Dame was included in the Smith brother’s top ten schools list a few weeks ago and the Irish feel very good about their position. Smith is an ideal Vyper fit on the next level with substantial upside to work with.

LONG ON POTENTIAL

Notre Dame is also doing a good job of recruiting several other defensive lineman who bring an intriguing amount of tools to the table, both athleticism and length specifically. There are some things to figure out in terms of fit and priority, but there are several talented recruits to get excited about.

One of the more intriguing players is Avon (Conn.) Old Farms standout Benedict Umeh, who brings an absurd combination of length and alignment versatility. Umeh could potentially play either big end or three technique on the next level. While he is a bit raw, his upside rivals some of the best in the class.

A player that Notre Dame is hoping to get on campus this spring is Olney (Md.) Good Counsel pass rusher Darien Mayo. The 6-6, 240-pound edge is one of the toolsiest defensive lineman in the 2024 class. He only started playing football it’s a junior but is expected to take a massive leap as a senior. Getting more in the DMV area is also a big priority for the Irish staff so Mayo could be a player that kills two birds with one stone.

Speaking of upside, Springfield (Mo.) Glendale star Kellen Lindstrom has all the tools to develop into a substantial playmaker on the college level. The 6-6, 240-pound defender is both long and physical. Lindstrom could potentially fill a role as a Vyper or eventually fill out as a big end ideally.

Another newer player to the board is Drexel Hill (Pa.) Monsignor Bonner standout Mylachi Williams, who is an ideal Vyper fit on the next level. At 6-5 and 210 pounds, he is in need of a lot of development. You can’t teach the combination of length or twitchiness that he brings to the table. With proper coaching, Williams could be a star on the next level. He will be on campus on April 22nd for the Blue-Gold Game.

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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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