Ranking The Notre Dame 2021 Recruiting Class: Offense
Notre Dame landed one of the best offensive hauls in the country, with the Irish landing at least one Top 200 recruit at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end and offensive line.
Notre Dame signed six offensive players that were ranked in the Top 100 by at least one recruiting service, and ten that ranked among the Top 250 by at least one service.
This is one of the most balanced offensive classes to sign with Notre Dame during the Brian Kelly era. With the class signed, and many already on campus, it's time to rank the 2021 signees.
The grades and rankings are a combination of the current grade and upside grade.
1. BLAKE FISHER, OFFENSIVE LINE
Hometown/School: Avon, Ind. / Avon
Size: 6-6, 330
IB Grade: 4.5 (Top 50 caliber player)
Fisher is a massive individual, and as a senior he was in much better condition and he clearly put in work reshaping his body. The result was him having a brilliant final high school season, which boosted him into the number one spot in the class.
The 330-pound tackle shows surprisingly nimble feet for someone his size, and that was even more enhanced this past season. He's quick off the ball, changes direction well and his leg drive this past season was impressive. His quickness on the edge in pass protection was much improved this season, and he looked even more natural as a tackle than he did in previous seasons.
Fisher is a powerful blocker that can truly dominate and manhandle opponents. The Avon star is a bully on the field, and I mean that as a compliment. He throws around smaller defenders and his finishing ability is elite. Fisher plays with the kind of nasty demeanor you want in an elite run blocker.
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Fisher played with a much better base as a senior, which helped improve his ability to play in space in the pass game. His improved pad level and base made him highly effective on the backside getting reaches or going down for cuts. Fisher had a much better all-around game as a senior.
Prior to his senior season I had Fisher pegged to ultimately move inside to guard. Although I still believe he could be truly special inside, as a senior he looked more than capable of staying outside and playing at a very high level at tackle.
Hometown/School: San Diego, Calif. / Helix
Size: 6-2, 205
IB Grade: 4.5 (Top 50 caliber player)
Buchner is an advanced passer that still has plenty of room to improve from a technical aspect. At the end of the day, however, Buchner's combination of arm talent, athleticism and playmaking ability makes him a truly special prospect. Only 2018 signee Phil Jurkovec and 2011 signee Everett Golson graded out as high at quarterback in the Brian Kelly era.
Buchner does not the pure arm strength at Jurkovec and Golson possessed, but it still grades out well. What makes his arm talent elite is that his arm strength is enhanced by an incredibly quick release. Not since Jimmy Clausen signed has a Notre Dame quarterback signee showed the advanced feel for playing the position that Buchner displayed as a junior. His anticipation and timing are excellent, and there is snap after snap on film where Buchner is releasing the ball before his receiver is out of his break. His ability to throw receivers open is on the level you’d expect from a college quarterback, not a high school junior that missed all but one game the previous season.
Buchner is incredibly diverse, which is part of the reason is intangible grade is so high. He can play a clean game from the pocket, he can be a gunslinger that changes his arm angles and throws on the run, and he look like a run-throw quarterback, evidenced by his 1,610 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns on the ground.
The altered throwing motion he displayed during the summer and him not playing as a senior due to California canceling the high school season give me cause for some slight concern, and it's why he is no longer a five-star. Based on the last game film we saw from Buchner, he also must continue improving his footwork, which is a driving force behind him being off target when he does miss.
3. LORENZO STYLES JR., WIDE RECEIVER
Hometown/School: Pickerington, Ohio / Central
Size: 6-0, 180
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 100 caliber player)
I liked Styles quite a bit as a junior, but his senior performance was significantly better, and he became a sure-fire Top 100 prospect in my view. Styles was recruited by some programs as a cornerback, but it is on offense where his game truly shines, and that was obvious during his final season of high school. Styles looked far more comfortable playing on offense, and his opportunities to carry the ball out of the backfield showed there's even more to his game than athleticism.
The Pickerington (Ohio) Central standout is an explosive athlete, and after breaking down his junior film I mentioned there was still another gear for him. We saw that gear during his senior year, as Styles showed an exceptional burst on offense and special teams. He could turn short gains into home runs, and his ability to take the top off the defense is there, even though he didn't get a chance to do it much in high school.
Styles has quick feet, top-notch change of direction skills and good strength for his size. Those traits give him the potential to eventually develop into an outstanding route runner, but right now they make him dynamic with the ball in his hands. Styles' combination of suddenness and explosiveness makes him a dangerous offensive weapon.
One thing that has always surprised me about Styles is that although he is quite thin and doesn't have an overly imposing physique, he's quite physical and strong. That only enhances his ability to make plays after the catch, and those traits combine with his suddenness to give him potential to be a difference maker as a punt returner.
4. DEION COLZIE, WIDE RECEIVER
Hometown/School: McDonough, Ga. / Athens Academy
Size: 6-3, 200
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 150 caliber player)
The first thing that stands out about Colzie is his tremendous size. He's every bit of 6-4, and his length is just as impressive as his height. Although listed between 190-205 pounds, Colzie has the kind of frame that reminds me a great deal of Miles Boykin, meaning he could end up as a 6-4, 225-pound type of player that can stretch the field and dominate on the outside.
Colzie wasn't challenged much in high school, so he didn't have to use his length and strength to dominate as much due to the low level of opposition. In college he'll either struggle to adjust, or the uptick in competition will cause him to get the most out of his game. If the latter happens he could develop into an outstanding wideout, one as good - if not better - than Boykin. If what I'm told about his character and work ethic is accurate, expect that to happen, and you'll see Colzie's enormous upside (see below) take hold.
Colzie has a natural feel as a route runner, possessing the foot quickness and body control to be precise and clean with his top ends, and once he develops the nuances of the position he'll become a very difficult matchup. Colzie is also athletic enough to do damage after the catch. In that way his game is similar to former Irish star Chase Claypool.
The Athens star has top-notch hands and ball skills. He tracks the deep ball well, can make contested catches, shows supreme confidence in his hands and he is more than willing to work the middle of the field.
Hometown/School: Metairie, La. / Rummel
Size: 6-0, 200
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 150 caliber player)
Diggs is listed at 6-0 and 200 pounds, but he has a squatty build and the frame to add a lot of good weight and to reshape his body. I think he'll be an easy 210+ when its all said and done. He's not a burner by any means, and he's likely a 4.6 type of back from a speed standpoint. What I like about Diggs is he gets downhill in a hurry and maximizes the speed he does possess.
His best asset is tremendous foot quickness, agility and balance. Diggs makes up for a lack of speed with impressive make-you-miss ability for a big back, especially in space. When he gets a clean run track he can plant and explode vertically, and he overcomes a shaky prep offensive line with impressive instincts that allow him to find room to work.
As a senior, Diggs showed enhanced power and leg drive, and his suddenness showed improvement as well. It made him an even more effective interior runner. These traits combine nicely with his vision and instincts for the position. His ability to use angles and tempo to set up moves is advanced, and impressive.
Diggs wasn't used much in the pass game besides screens, but he shows the ability to catch the ball down the field, and his camp work shows a back with impressive route running ability and the skill to track the ball down the field. His all-around game is strong, and he's just scratching the surface of how good he can be.
Hometown/School: Clarkston, Mich. / Clarkston
Size: 6-4, 295
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 150 caliber player)
Spindler spent most of his prep career playing guard, and ultimately that is where his game projects best. As a senior, however, Spindler got a chance to play tackle, and he handled the position well. At the very least he could move to tackle if it meant getting him on the field, and that versatility only enhances his ranking. A case could be made that Spindler has the combination of skills to play at four different positions along the offensive line.
When you pop on the film the first thing you notice about Spindler is his physicality. Also a standout high school wrestler, Spindler plays with good pad level and he has powerful hands. More importantly, he knows how to use his hands and he shows an advanced feel for leverage and angles. He bullies opponents at the line of scrimmage, and Spindler plays with the kind of edge and aggressiveness you want in a big-time blocker.
Spindler is a strong finisher thanks to his combination of strength, powerful hands, good technique and leg drive. As he improves his knee bend you'll see him become even more dominant with this part of his game.
The Clarkston standout shows the athleticism needed to be a dominant college player. His initial burst is outstanding, he fires off the line, he is quick getting around on pulls/traps and he's comfortable working in space. There is work to be done, but his unique skillset could give Spindler a chance to make a push up the depth chart early in his career.
Hometown/School: Hartwell, Ga. / Hart County
Size: 6-3, 215
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 150 caliber player)
Berrong is one of the most improved players in the class. He was good as a junior, but his game improved quite a bit in his final season as he began to fill out his frame.
When you look at his size and frame Berrong looks more like a hybrid player, but when you break down his film his blocking is the first thing you notice. Like former Irish tight end Tommy Tremble, Berrong is a ferocious blocker from both an attached and flexed position despite not being the biggest player. Although he is listed at 6-3 and 215 pounds by Notre Dame, Berrong is now closer to 245 pounds.
Berrong always had good vertical speed, but as a senior he showed a much improved burst off the line. He spent the offseason working with former Georgia wideout Terrence Edwards, and you could see that work pay off during his senior season. Berrong was a more efficient route runner, and he showed and improved feel for finding soft spots in the zone.
Even when he’s guarded an accurate quarterback can put the ball high and let Berrong outplay the defender for the football. He has extremely fast hands, attacks the football and tracks the football quite well. I love how late Berrong shoots his hands to the football; it makes it much harder for defenders to read when the ball is about to arrive.
8. AUDRIC ESTIME, RUNNING BACK
Hometown/School: Nyack, N.Y. / St. Joseph's (N.J.)
Size: 6-1, 215
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 200 caliber player)
Backs with Estime’s size (6-1, 215) are supposed to be physical runners, and when the occasion calls for it the St. Joseph’s star is certainly that. Estime is a vertical, one-cut runner that can hammer teams when it is needed. His leg drive is impressive, he shows a quick dip-and-rip and he can finish runs with authority.
What surprised me was how smooth Estime is as a runner. He has tremendous balance for a big man and he’s a surprisingly nimble runner. Estime isn’t an overly sudden athlete, but he knows how to set up defenders, and his combination of balance and power makes him extremely hard to bring down in space.
Estime can take some time to get going and he doesn’t have an elite burst, but he does possess an impressive second gear that allows him to rip off long runs. Think of him as a faster version of Tony Jones Jr. in this regard. Estime is an efficient runner that shows very little wasted motion, from both a technique standpoint and when he’s in space. That helps him maximize the speed and athleticism he does possess.
The St. Joseph’s star is a fundamentally sound and efficient runner, and I love the fact he always puts the ball in his outside arm, but doesn’t switch the ball when he has to cut. He protects the ball well, he plays with great pad level and he shows a tremendous feel for the position. He isn’t used much in the pass game, but he catches the ball clean when called upon, and his size and power should allow him to develop into a great pass blocker.
9. JAYDEN THOMAS, WIDE RECEIVER
Hometown/School: Paulding County, Ga. / Pace Academy
Size: 6-1, 185
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 300 caliber player)
Thomas is a strong complement to Styles and Colzie, which adds to his value in this class. While Styles is more of a field player that should thrive in the slot, and Colzie is more of a boundary player, Thomas has a diverse skill set that fits in well at all three wide receiver positions.
Thomas has above-average speed and he's a quality all-around athlete. He's smooth, fluid and shows the ability to do damage after the catch. You wouldn't expect a player that lacks top-level speed to be as good with the ball in his hands as Thomas is at the prep level, but his balance, vision and strength allow him to shine.
His feel for route running is impressive, and it's even more impressive when you consider he splits the year playing football and baseball. Thomas knows how to use his size to get off the line, and his feel for the nuances of route running is outstanding. Thomas also has good ball skills and he's an excellent blocker.
Thomas has battled injuries each of the last two seasons, which is a concern and drags down his grade a bit. He also appears to be much bigger than his listed 185 pounds by Notre Dame.
10. CALEB JOHNSON, OFFENSIVE TACKLE
Hometown/School: Ocala, Fla. / Trinity Catholic
Size: 6-6, 275
IB Grade: 3.5 (Top 400 caliber player)
Johnson is tall and has a very good frame, one that should allow him to get well over 300 pounds. He's not as long as you might expect a 6-7 player to be, but he's plenty long enough to play on the edge.
The Trinity Catholic standout is a quality all-around blocker that grades out well as a run blocker and pass blocker. In the run game, he shows a good vertical burst off the line and shows good leg drive. Johnson is a waist bender and he's not incredibly flexible, but he is quick off the ball, he plays with a strong base and his lower body leg drive is impressive.
Johnson anchors well in the pass game and his combination of technique and good base allows him to re-direct well. Johnson is a smart blocker that shows a good feel for angles and leverage, and he's effective working on the second level. He doesn't shoot his hands quite as well as you'd like, but he shows a good punch, and this is certainly a teachable and correctable attribute. When he does get his hands away from his body, Johnson shows good natural power.
There are always areas where a young linemen must keep getting better, but I'm impressed with Johnson's footwork. He's an efficient blocker that maximizes the physical traits he possesses.
Hometown/School: North Oaks, Minn. / Totino-Grace
Size: 6-7, 280
IB Grade: 3.5 (Top 400 caliber player)
Alt is listed at 260 pounds by services but Notre Dame has him listed at 280. Despite the growth as a senior, Alt is still thin, which is actually a good thing. When you have a pumped up or filled out player at 260 or 280 pounds it is going to be extremely hard to get him to 300 pounds without him losing athleticism and quickness.
Alt has the kind of thin but broad frame that should make it much easier for him to not only fill out, but to do so while adding more explosiveness without losing his foot quickness. He looked thicker as a senior, so he is clearly already starting to fill out, but there is still plenty of room for growth.
His foot quickness is impressive for a future offensive lineman. Alt is quick off the ball, he has loose hips and the fact he’s a tight end means he is used to running routes and working in space. That should give him a good chance to be a much better movement blocker than most tackles. Despite looking to be about 15-20 pounds bigger as a senior he did not show any drop off in quickness or fluidity, which is a great sign.
Alt needs to get a lot stronger, but part of the reason I like him as a prospect is his attitude and toughness. He competes hard in the run game, and I absolutely love how much he drives his feet through contact. Alt is just scratching the surface as a prospect, and if he fills out his frame and taps into his full potential he could be a multi-year starter at Notre Dame.
Hometown/School: Wadsworth, Ohio / Wadsworth
Size: 6-7, 240
IB Grade: 3.5 (Top 400 caliber player)
Evans hauled in 19 passes for 306 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior tight end, but he passed for 2,132 yards and 23 touchdowns as a senior quarterback. Evans was also a first-team All-Ohio punter with a 43.1 per punt average.
He is a big target and the first thing that stands out about his game is his size. While Berrong projects as a tight end capable of moving around the field, Evans has the kind of size that projects best to eventually be more of an attached player.
Evans moves well for his size, and his offseason work has shown improvements from a speed standpoint compared to his junior season. He has solid speed for his size, but I like how nimble he is with his feet. Evans is fluid and smooth, which you don't often see from a player his size. The Wadsworth standout gets off the line quickly as a route runner and blocker, and he projects well from a route running standpoint with more technical work.
Evans has the size and power to become a dominant blocker at the next level. If he can stay at tight end this will be the area where he can get on the field the fastest, and if he can improve his route running technique and continue developing his athleticism he will out-play his current grade.
Hometown/School: Palos Heights, Ill. / Marist
Size: 6-4, 290
IB Grade: 3.0 (Top 500 caliber player)
The first thing that stands out about Coogan is his toughness and willingness to get after it in the run game. That is clearly the strength of his game at this point, and it projects to be his best asset at the next level if he continues making improvements as a player.
Listed between 290-300 pounds, Coogan has filled out his frame relatively well over the last year, and there is still room for him to keep filling out. He needs to reshape his body and add more weight room strength, but size won’t be an issue for him once he gets to his peak frame potential.
The Marist standout is a fundamentally sound player in most areas. He plays with a good base and despite having some hip tightness he’s able to play with a flat back and good leverage. Coogan shows impressive short-area quickness and he comes off the line with a strong burst, which combines with his pad level to allow him to get very good movement off the line. Coogan is a good finisher and he plays with an edge.
14. RON POWLUS III, QUARTERBACK
Hometown/School: Granger, Ind. / Penn
Size: 6-3, 230
IB Grade: 2.5
This is an interesting signing. Powlus shows off good arm strength, showing the ability to push the ball down the field. The ball jumps out of his hand and he can spin it pretty well.
His grade is as low as it is for a number of reasons. Powlus isn't an overly accurate passer, at least he wasn't in high school. The system Penn runs doesn't exactly promote the skills of a dropback passer, and that could be part of it, but he was a pretty inconsistent thrower.
Powlus also isn't the most mobile quarterback, and while he plays with a good base and shows good mechanics, he isn't the quickest athlete either.
UPSIDE RANKING
There are two ways that Irish Breakdown grades players, and both factor into the ultimate grade. One way is an overall view of the current skillset and the floor a player possesses. The other is to view players for what they could be, and that upside way of looking at things is more related to their ceiling, or what they could be if everything goes right.
The above grades involve a combination of the current and future projection for each player, but the ranking below looks only at where I would rank the players in the class based on their ceiling. Essentially, if everyone reaches their full potential this is how I would rank the class.
GRADE KEY
5.0 - Elite player
4.5 - All-American caliber player
4.0 - Multi-year starter
3.5 - Key role player
3.0 - Backup
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