2021 Big Board: Notre Dame Commits
Notre Dame will look to land one of the nation’s premier classes, one that will close the gap between Notre Dame and other title contenders.
Below is a breakdown of the current class, including their current national rankings. As new players join the class they will be added to this breakdown. Right now the board is broken down by position.
2021 COMMITS (24)
Tyler Buchner, QB, 6-2, 200, La Jolla (Calif.) Helix
Logan Diggs, RB, 6-0, 200, Metairie (La.) Rummel
Lorenzo Styles Jr., WR, 6-1, 170, Pickerington (Ohio) Central
Deion Colzie, WR, 6-4, 195, Athens (Ga.) Academy
Jayden Thomas, WR, 6-1, 205, Atlanta (Ga.) Pace
Cane Berrong, TE, 6-4, 220, Hopewell (Ga.) Hart County
Mitchell Evans, TE, 6-7, 240, Wadsworth (Ohio) High School
Blake Fisher, OL, 6-6, 330, Avon (Ind.) High School
Rocco Spindler, OL, 6-5, 290, Clarkston (Mich.) High School
Caleb Johnson, OL, 6-7, 290, Ocala (Fla.) Trinity Catholic
Joe Alt, OL, 6-7, 260, Fridley (Minn.) Totino-Grace
Patrick Coogan, OL, 6-5, 275, Chicago (Ill.) Marist
Jason Onye, DE, 6-5, 245, Warwick (R.I.) Bishop Hendricken
Will Schweitzer, DE, 6-4, 215, Los Gatos (Calif.) High School
Devin Aupiu, DE, 6-5, 225, Oxnard (Calif.) Pacifica
Gabriel Rubio, DT, 6-5, 290, St. Peter’s (Mo.) Lutheran
Prince Kollie, LB, 6-2, 200, Jonesborough (Tenn.) Crockett
Kahanu Kia, LB, 6-2, 215, Honolulu (Haw.) Punahou
Ryan Barnes, CB, 6-2, 180, Gaithersburg (Md.) Quince Orchard
Philip Riley, CB, 6-0, 190, Valrico (Fla.) Bloomingdale
Chance Tucker, CB, 6-1, 170, Encino (Calif.) Crespi
JoJo Johnson, CB, 5-11, 180, Merrillville (Ind.) High School
Justin Walters, S, 6-2, 175, Bolingbrook (Ill.) High School
Joshua Bryan, PK, 6-1, 185, Chatsworth (Calif.) Sierra Canyon
Analysis of each 2021 commit:
QB Tyler Buchner, 6-2, 200, La Jolla (Calif.) Helix
SI99: No. 55
ESPN: 4-star - No. 39 overall
247Sports: 4-star - No. 88 overall
Rivals: 4-star - No. 111 overall
Composite: 4-star - No. 65 overall
IB Grade: 4.5
Upside Grade: 5.0
Film Analysis: Buchner had a monster junior season, throwing for 4,474 yards, 53 touchdowns and getting picked off six times. He’s an advanced passer that still has plenty of room to improve from both a physical and technical aspect. Buchner does not have a bazooka for an arm, but it grades out well from a pure strength standpoint. What makes his arm talent elite is that his arm strength is enhanced by an incredibly quick release.
Not since Jimmy Clausen have I seen a Notre Dame quarterback prospect show the advanced feel for playin the position that Buchner displayed as a junior. He’s quite advanced when it comes to anticipation and timing. There is snap after snap where Buchner is releasing the ball before his receiver is out of his break, and there are even downfield throws where the receiver is just getting into his release when Buchner lets the ball go. 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.
One area where I’d like to see Buchner improve is that he has a tendency to come off his back foot too early and throws too much off his front foot. This can alter his release point, which leads to some bouts of inaccuracy. He’s not inaccurate from a completion-incompletion standpoint in high school, but his ball placement isn’t as good as it can be, and if he can clean this up his precision as a passer will take off.
Full Buchner Film Breakdown
Junior Highlights
RB Logan Diggs, 6-0, 200, Metairie (La.) Rummel
Rivals: 3-star
247Sports: 3-star
ESPN: 3-star
IB Grade: 4.0
Upside Grade: 4.5
Film Analysis: Diggs is listed at 6-0 and 195 pounds, but he has a squatty build and the frame to add a lot of good weight. 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. When it comes to footwork and moves he reminds me of faster version of former Notre Dame standout Lee Becton, who rushed for 1,044 yards (6.4 YPC) back in 1993 for the Irish.
Like Becton, Diggs makes up for a lack of speed with impressive make-you-miss ability, and he has a similar dead-leg move in space that makes him hard to get a clean shot on. When he gets a clean run track he can plant and explode vertically, but he overcomes a shaky offensive line with impressive instincts that allow him to find room to work.
Diggs wasn't used much in the pass game besides screens in high school, 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.
WR Deion Colzie, 6-4, 195, Athens (Ga.) Academy
ESPN: 4-star - No. 72
247Sports: 4-star - No. 115
Rivals: 4-star - No. 143
Composite: 4-star - No. 98
IB Grade: 4.0
Upside Grade: 5.0
Film Analysis: Colzie is a perfect fit for Notre Dame's boundary receiver spot. He has top-notch height and length, he has the skills to be an excellent one-on-one player and he has the speed to stretch the field.
His speed is already above-average for his size, and Colzie has the potential to take another jump in explosiveness once he gets in the Notre Dame strength program. Much like Miles Boykin and Chase Claypool before him, I anticipate Colzie seeing a boost in deep speed once he gets to Notre Dame and starts to develop.
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. 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.
Colzie is also athletic enough to do damage after the catch. In many ways he has a combination of both Boykin and Claypool, which is likely a big reason the Notre Dame staff made him such a top priority, and why he's one of the nation's best pass catchers.
Full Colzie Film Evaluation
Junior Highlights
WR Lorenzo Styles, 6-1, 170, Pickerington (Ohio) Central
Rivals: 4-star - No. 51
247Sports: 4-star - No. 130
ESPN: 4-star - No. 248
Composite: 4-star - No. 115
IB Grade: 4.0
Upside Grade: 4.5
Film Analysis: Styles is a unique prospect that is a legit four-star recruit as both a wide receiver and cornerback. Notre Dame is recruiting him for offense, but should the need ever arise he could easily slide over to cornerback and thrive. That versatility is part of what makes him such a valuable prospect, and why he grades out so high on my board.
The Pickerington (Ohio) Central standout is an explosive athlete, and the scary thing is I believe there’s another gear in there that he can tap into once he is done growing and gets into a college strength and conditioning program. When his technique is right he shows an explosive burst off the line, but his acceleration on vertical routes and once he gets the ball in his hands is impressive.
Styles has quick feet, top-notch change of direction skills and he has good strength for his size. Those traits give him the potential to eventually develop into an outstanding route runner, and they are skills that should allow him to continue getting better and better with the ball in his hands. Right now, Styles is more about being a guy that can turn a crease into a big play, or a guy that can stretch the field. As his technique improves and he focuses just on offense you’ll see his after-the-catch traits improve.
Styles fits in well to both field receiver positions in the Notre Dame offense. His vertical speed, ball skills and route running potential fit well to the X (outside) spot, and his quickness, ability to win off the line, speed to outrun defenders across the field and after-the-catch potential fit into the slot position just as well.
Full Styles Film Breakdown
Junior Highlights
WR Jayden Thomas, 6-1, 205, Atlanta (Ga.) Pace Academy
ESPN: 4-star - No. 221
Rivals: 4-star
247Sports: 3-star
Composite: 4-star - No. 308
IB Grade: 4.0
Upside Grade: 4.0
Film Analysis: 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.
The 6-1, 205-pound receiver is ideally suited for the two outside positions, where he can use his length, strength and advanced route running technique to thrive.
Thomas has above-average speed and he's a strong 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, 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.
Full Thomas Film Evaluation
Junior Highlights
TE Cane Berrong, 6-4, 220, Hartwell (Ga.) Hart County
SI99: No. 44
ESPN: 4-star - No. 49
Rivals: 3-star
247Sports: 3-star
Composite: 4-star - No. 226
IB Grade: 4.0
Upside Grade: 4.5
Film Analysis: Berrong as a junior reminds me a great deal of former Irish standout Cole Kmet as a high school junior. Kmet was a prep wideout for much of his career before finally starting to fill out as a senior. I’m not sure Berrong will get quite as big as Kmet, but I love his long frame and how much potential he has to fill out. The Hart County tight end is already an outstanding prep player, but the more his frame fills out the more dominant, and hard to defend, he’ll become.
During the summer at the Irish Invasion camp he showed the same thing you see on film, this is a young man that can flat out run for his size. Berrong’s vertical speed is impressive, and he possesses the speed to outrun defenders across the field or to attack the seams in a hurry. Berrong shows good quickness off the line, but he’ll need to improve his footwork as a route runner in order to limit how choppy he is as a route runner.
His length combines quite nicely with his ball skills to make him a highly effective one-on-one player. 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.
Berrong is a more than willing blocker. He comes off the line aggressively and has very strong hands. His technique in the run game needs a lot of work, especially in regards to bringing his hands quickly and with force at the snap. Once that improves and he adds more strength this will be a strength of his game at the college level.
Full Berrong Film Breakdown
Junior Highlights
TE Mitchell Evans, 6-7, 240, Wadsworth (Ohio) High School
Rivals: 3-star
247Sports: 3-star
ESPN: 3-star
IB Grade: 3.5
Upside Grade: 4.0
Film Analysis: Evans hauled in 19 passes for 306 yards and seven touchdowns. He is a big target and the first thing that stands out about his game is his size. Some have talked about him possibly moving to offensive tackle down the road, but hopefully that is not the staff's plan. With Joe Alt already in the class taking another project offensive tackle to go with Pat Coogan would be a poor strategy.
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. He's is fluid and smooth, which you don't often see from a player his size. Evans gets off the line quickly as a route runner and blocker, and he projects well from a route running standpoint with more technical work.
The Wadsworth standout can use his size to do damage down the seams, he is a quality route runner and he shows a great feel for finding soft spots on the field against the zone and when working across the field. Evans has strong hands and catches the ball effectively away from his body. He has the tools to be a great red zone weapon, which you've already seen from him at the prep level, with seven of his 19 catches going for touchdowns.
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.
OL Joe Alt, 6-7, 260, Fridley (Minn.) Totino-Grace
Rivals: 3-star
247Sports: 3-star
ESPN: 3-star
IB Grade: 3.0
Upside Grade: 4.0
Film Analysis: Alt is listed at 255 pounds, but Alt is still thin, which is actually a good thing. When you have a pumped up or filled out player at 255 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.
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. 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.
In some ways, being undersized and not as strong as other top prospects could actually help him down the road. He has to work harder to get movement, he has to really drive his feet through contact to dominate, and he’s picked that up. Once he gets to around 300 pounds and once he gets a couple years in a college strength program under his belt, if he keeps that leg drive going he could become an impact blocker in the run game.
Alt will need A LOT of work in pass protection, and his hand play needs a lot of work as well. He’s quite raw in pass protection, especially from a footwork standpoint, and his hand placement is erratic, but he’s not an offensive lineman, so I don’t expect him to be great in either of those areas at this point.
OL Patrick Coogan, 6-5, 275, Chicago (Ill.) Marist
Rivals: 3-star
247Sports: 3-star
ESPN: 3-star
IB Grade: 3.5
Upside Grade: 4.0
Film Analysis: 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.
Coogan is listed between 275 and 290 pounds, and during the summer he looked closer to 275 than the 290 he’s listed at by 247Sports. Either way, Coogan has the kind of frame that should allow him to get to 300 pounds with relative ease. 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.
Coogan is a good trapper, but he’s not an ideal player in space. Although he’s listed as a tackle by the recruiting services, he’s a guard in high school and projects to play on the interior at the next level. Inside he can mask his lack of overall lack of quickness and athleticism that would hurt him in the pass game.
OL Blake Fisher, 6-6, 330, Indianapolis (Ind.) Avon
SI99: No. 68
Rivals: 5-star - No. 25
247Sports: 4-star - No. 85
ESPN: 4-star - No. 102
Composite: 4-star - No. 52
IB Grade: 4.5
Upside Grade: 5.0
Film Analysis: Fisher is the kind of player you usually find in the South. He’s an incredibly massive and physical mauler, but he possesses surprising foot quickness for someone that is every bit of 6-6 and 330 pounds. Fisher has the raw tools to be a truly elite offensive lineman at the next level. Like all young linemen he’ll need a lot of work on his body and with his technique, but this young man’s tools are special.
Being big and strong is important, and Fisher has tremendous length and girth. He’s also quite strong, but what makes Fisher such a dominant player is that beyond the physical gifts he plays the game with a nasty and aggressive demeanor. Being big only takes you so far; the great ones have an edge to their game, and Fisher shows that kind of edge as a prep player. He seems to enjoy punishing defenders, and his ability to explode at the snap, stay low and drive defenders off the ball is elite. Just as important, Fisher is a finisher.
At times Fisher looks slow on the edge in pass protection, and there are plenty of snaps where you see good foot quickness. The difference between the good snaps and the sloppy snaps is all about footwork and technique. Fisher has a unique ability to bend for such a massive player, but at times he lifts up too much at the snap, and that’s when he looks slower out of his stance. When he keeps his base and sinks his hips he shows the ability to quickly get to the edge rushers, and his foot quickness/agility allows him to mirror effectively.
I gave Fisher two pass blocking grades, one as a tackle and one as a guard. He projects to be a quality pass blocker at tackle, but as a guard his combination of size, length, power and foot quickness projects to be elite as a guard. That leads me to the one question mark about Fisher, will he end up at tackle or guard? The question isn’t can he play tackle, I believe he absolutely can. The question is do you leave him at guard where he can be a Top 100 caliber player, or do you transition him to guard where he can be truly elite.
Quenton Nelson is the only player Notre Dame has landed in the last decade that has the guard upside that Fisher brings to the game, but he could also stay at tackle and be a multi-year starter.
OL Caleb Johnson, 6-7, 290, Ocala (Fla.) Trinity Catholic
247Sports: 4-star
ESPN: 4-star
Rivals: 3-star
Composite: 4-star - No. 323
IB Grade: 3.5
Upside Grade: 4.0
Film Analysis: 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.
OL Rocco Spindler, 6-5, 290, Clarkston (Tenn.) High School
ESPN: 4-star - No. 64
Rivals: 4-star - No. 67
247Sports: 4-star - No. 93
Composite: 4-star - No. 60
IB Grade: 4.0
Upside Grade: 5.0
Film Analysis: Spindler is an intriguing prospect in that while he plays guard and projects best to the interior, he's athletic and long enough to move outside if the need arose. That kind of versatility is the first thing that stands out when look at his addition to the class.
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 strong hands. 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.
Another trait you want in a top blocker is the ability to finish, and Spindler grades out well with this part of his game. Finishing at the prep level just requires size and strength, but to be a strong finisher in college you must also play with good technique, know how to play angles, have strong hands and stay locked onto defenders. Spindler shows the ability to not only throw his weight around, but he stays locked on, keeps his pads in good position and uses his technique to be an effective finisher. 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. Those traits make him arguably the nation's best interior blocker, but they are also the traits that make me think he could even play tackle if the need arose.
DE Devin Aupiu, 6-5, 225, Oxnard (Calif.) Pacifica
Rivals: 3-star
ESPN: 3-star
247Sports: 3-star
IB Grade: 3.5
Upside Grade: 4.5
Film Analysis: Aupiu is listed at 6-5 and 220 pounds, but his frame is outstanding. Aupiu should be able to get to 250 pounds with relative ease, and his length is truly outstanding. Defensive line coach Mike Elston loves long athletes on the edge, and Aupiu has top-notch length.
Like most young linemen, Aupiu needs to add a lot of strength, but he has a solid punch. What jumps out at me is how well Aupiu uses his length. In most instances he does an excellent job of keeping blockers off his body, and his block destruction potential is impressive. As he gets stronger this should become a major weapon in his arsenal against the run game.
Aupiu will need to enhance his overall pass move repertoire, but he shows a natural feel for getting under the pads of tackles on the edge. His close is good, and as he adds more strength and grows into his body he should develop a better natural burst.
Right now his overall skillset is ideally suited for the Vyper position in the Irish defense. He would need to show the ability to drop into coverage, but his frame and edge rushing potential fit that position well.
DE Jason Onye, 6-5, 245, Warwick (R.I.) Bishop Hendricken
Rivals: 3-star
247Sports: 3-star
ESPN: 3-star
IB Grade: 3.5
Upside Grade: 4.5
Film Analysis: Onye has exceptional length, and when he learns how to properly use that trait it will become a signifiant strength of his game. The Rhode Island end has the ideal frame for the strong side position in the Irish defense. He’s listed between 240 and 250 pounds, and if that’s accurate then he’s a thin 240-250 pounds. There is plenty of room to add size and reshape his upper body, and his lower body is long and thick.
Onye is a tough and competitive young defender. His game needs a lot of technical work, but he’s aggressive and has impressive natural tools. Even when he is late with his hands, Onye is able to knock blockers off his body and then lock them out. The Bishop Hendricken standout can toss blockers off his body, and as his hand technique improves his ability to disengage with force will be greatly enhanced.
The 6-5 end shows a top-notch burst off the edge, especially when he stays low out of his stance. With his long legs he can cover a lot of ground in a hurry, which helps him with his get off and also allows him to close extremely well on the quarterback. His open-field speed is impressive for his size, and he shows the ability to explode to the sideline to chase runners.
Onye comes from a program that is very well coached, you can see that when you break down games, but he’s still incredibly raw as a player, and there's a reason for that. Onye didn't start playing football until his sophomore season, but in year two he was at the point where he registered 76 tackles and 15 sacks.
Full Onye Film Breakdown
Junior Highlights
DE Will Schweitzer, 6-4, 215, Los Gatos (Calif.) High School
Rivals: 3-star
247Sports: 3-star
ESPN: 3-star
IB Grade: 3.5
Upside Grade: 4.0
Film Analysis: Anyone that has followed me over the years knows I absolutely love versatile players, and Schweitzer is a versatile athlete. On film he makes plays off the edge, from an inside backer spot, against the run, as a pass rusher and in coverage. As an inside linebacker, Schweitzer shows good downhill quickness, he's nimble for a player his size and he makes clean reads. His footwork in coverage is solid and he shows good in-the-box range. He's not someone who is going to dominate running to the sideline, but in the box he can be an effective linebacker.
Where Schweitzer really stands out is as an edge player. He shows an impressive first-step (burst) off the line. Schweitzer gets off the line in a hurry and he quickly eats up the gap between himself and the tackles he faces. He will need to fill out his frame and add a lot of strength to stick on the edge, but that is where his game is ideally suited. He shows strong hands, and the natural pop is there, but he must fill out, and he looks to have the frame to do that.
Schweitzer's range and experience in coverage makes him a great fit for the Vyper position. He can run with tight ends and backs to the sideline, and he can run with tight ends up the field, something you don't often find with an edge player with his length.
There's a lot of projection to this pick up for Notre Dame, but there's a lot of impressive tools to work with for strength coach Matt Balis and defensive line coach Mike Elston. I like Schweitzer's frame and athleticism, he's a really smart player and makes a lot of plays. The only question is can he fill out enough to play on the edge and can he continue to enhance his pass rushing moves. If he does, he'll have a chance down the road to be a productive player in the Irish defense.
DT Gabriel Rubio, 6-5, 290, St. Peter’s (Mo.) Lutheran Of St. Charles
SI99: No. 66
Rivals: 4-star - No. 106
247Sports: 4-star - No. 149
ESPN: 4-star - No. 161
Composite: 4-star - No. 116
IB Grade: 4.0
Upside Grade: 4.5
Film Analysis: There are two things that stand out about Rubio when you see him both in person and on film. He has great size and he plays with an incredible motor. Notre Dame needs more size up the middle of its defense. Defensive line coach Mike Elston has done a great job recruiting athletic penetrators in recent seasons, and the last two classes he’s worked on adding more size, and Rubio brings that. He’ll need to keep adding weight room strength, but Rubio is built well, has long arms and his hands have good pop.
Rubio has good vertical speed, showing the ability to explode into blockers or into gaps effectively, and when he wins the leverage battle he’s extremely hard to handle due to his combination of natural power, leg drive and motor. Rubio can get off blocks at the prep level, and as his technique gets enhanced it should be a part of his game in college as well.
The 6-5, 290-pound tackle doesn’t have great lateral speed, which I think makes him a better fit for the nose tackle position, because the nose is more of a vertical position, and that’s where his athletic talents are at their best. You don’t usually see nose players that are 6-5, but Rubio plays with impressive leverage for such a big prospect. He bends well, stays low and drives into blockers with force.
Don’t get me wrong, Rubio can certainly play three-technique, but as a three-technique I think he’s more of a powerful run defender. As a nose tackle I believe he can not only thrive in the run game, but there you see his motor and pass rushing skills project even better. He could be a highly disruptive nose tackle in the Irish defense, but the fact he can play both adds to his grade and value as a prospect.
Full Rubio Film Breakdown
Junior Highlights
LB Kahanu Kia, 6-2, 215, Honolulu (Haw.) Punahou
Rivals: 3-star
247Sports: 3-star
Composite: 3-star
IB Grade: 3.5
Upside Grade: 4.0
Film Analysis: Kia plays all over the field for Punahou. You will see him line up in space, on the edge and in the middle of the defense as a linebacker. That versatility is likely something that attracted the Notre Dame staff to Kia.
He is a smart and instinctive football player, he's fundamentally sound and he's a quality tackler. Kia knows how to play football, and it allows him to make a lot of plays at the prep level. He takes on blocks extremely well, plays with sound footwork and shows a knack for beating blockers to the football. I like how Kia drives through ball carriers, and he rarely stops moving his feet.
Kia isn't an overly explosive athlete and he lacks the ideal range to be a great cover player on the outside, but he's instinctive in coverage. As an inside linebacker, especially as a Mike linebacker, his length and feel in coverage should allow him to thrive.
Right now, at 6-2 and 215 pounds Kia lacks ideal girth to play immediately, but he has the kind of frame that should allow him to fill out quite a bit in time. In that regard, serving a mission could benefit him from a football standpoint by giving him time to allow his body to mature before his eligibility clock starts moving. Despite a lack of girth at this time, Kia is strong and physical at the point of attack. Once he fills out his frame you can expect his power to become even more impactful.
LB Prince Kollie, 6-2, 200, Jonesborough (Tenn.) Crockett
247Sports: 4-star - No. 91
ESPN: 4-star - No. 213
Rivals: 4-star - No. 239
Composite: 4-star - No. 153
IB Grade: 4.0
Upside Grade: 4.5
Film Analysis: Right now, Kollie's frame and game is all about the rover position. He's listed at 6-2 and 200 pounds, but he's still on the thin side. He's rangy and brings a lot of pop, but his body right now is ideally suited for playing in space. Despite his lack of bulk, Kollie arrives at the football with force. He can play sideline-to-sideline, but he can also plant, drive on the ball and deliver punishment. His length and strong hands also make him extremely difficult to block on the perimeter.
Kollie has extremely long arms and is a fluid athlete. He's quick and has impressive top-end speed. All those traits give him exceptional range, and they are why he fits in so well at rover. Kollie is also a dominant prep wide receiver, and that experience as a pass catcher helps him as a pass defender. He knows what opponents want to do, and his range and athleticism allows him to cover a lot of ground.
Kollie projects to be a top-notch space player in coverage, but he also has top-level run defense traits, especially on the perimeter. He is also an effective edge rusher in high school, showing good timing, speed off the edge and closing ability. That kind of all-around skillset with that kind of athleticism for a perimeter player is extremely hard to find, but it's incredibly important for the Notre Dame rover position. Kollie grades out extremely well in all of the areas required for the rover position in Clark Lea's defense.
With his length and frame, I could see Kollie adding enough size to eventually play inside. Notre Dame doesn't need a 240-pounder inside, especially at the Buck position. Kollie could eventually get to the size where he could hold up inside. He certainly has the foot quickness, instincts and punch to play inside, and that is why he is so versatile. Kollie could certainly play rover for his entire career, but the fact he could play inside if need be adds to his value as a prospect.
CB Ryan Barnes, 6-2, 180, Gaithersburg (Md.) Quince Orchard
Rivals: 3-star
247Sports: 3-star
ESPN: 3-star
IB Grade: 4.0
Upside: 4.5
Analysis: The first thing you should notice about Barnes is his elite size. He’s not only tall (6-2), but he has exceptional arm length. Even more important, he knows how to use that trait to excel in coverage. Barnes has fast hands and he’s quite good at the line of scrimmage. As he improves his hand play once he’s transitioned and when playing zone it will complete the package for him.
Barnes needs to get physically stronger in coverage and as a tackler, but he is more than willing to come downhill and mix it up in the run game. The effort is there, the desire is there, and once the weight room strength catches up tackling and defending the run will be a strength of his game.
If you’re someone that is obsessed with speed you probably won’t fall in love with Barnes as a prospect, but he is a high-quality all around athlete with good long speed. His length allows him to erase any lack of speed he might have. He’s a smooth athlete with fluid hips and his transitions are easy, another trait that allows him to play fast.
From a technical standpoint he’s solid, but there are some things he needs to clean up with his footwork in off coverage and with his hands once he transitions, but he has a strong foundation. Barnes plays both off and press man, and he thrives at both. In many ways he reminds me of a faster, more fluid version of Robert Blanton. Long, physical, smart and a playmaker.
CB JoJo Johnson, 5-11, 180, Merrillville (Ind.) High School
Rivals: 3-star
ESPN: 3-star
247Sports: 3-star
IB Grade: 3.5
Upside Grade: 4.0
Film Analysis: I had a chance to see Johnson work out at Notre Dame’s summer camp back in 2019. He made my top performers list for his performance, and the first two traits that stood out to me were his foot quickness and competitiveness. Johnson has exceptionally quick feet, and in high school it shines most on offense, but that is because he has more experience on that side of the ball.
His agility and flexibility are ideally suited for the cornerback position, but he just doesn’t have much experience at the position. Watching Johnson on film as a senior, he looked like an athletic player that was still learning how to play that position.
Johnson has a knack for coverage and his ball skills on defense are outstanding, which shouldn’t be surprising for a player with his experience on offense. The issue for Johnson is he lacks the footwork and experience with the nuances and finer points of the position. In high school he was getting by on God-given athletic talent, and now he is going to a program that has a position coach that is an excellent teacher.
Once Johnson learns the technique needed for the position and gets more experience as a defensive player I believe he has the requisite skills to thrive at the position. Johnson’s size (5-11, 170) for a wide receiver is average, but as a cornerback his size and length is an asset. This is yet another reason why playing defense is the ideal position for Johnson moving forward.
CB Philip Riley, 6-0, 190, Valrico (Fla.) Bloomingdale
247Sports: 4-star - No. 234
Rivals: 4-star
ESPN: 4-star
Composite: 4-star - No. 313
IB Grade: 4.0
Upside Grade: 4.5
Film Analysis: Riley is an intriguing player when it comes to his fit at Notre Dame, and the reason is he projects to so many different spots in the Irish defense. He could play either corner spot, he could thrive in the slot as a nickel player and Riley could also develop into a standout at safety. That kind of versatility is incredibly hard to find.
The 6-0, 190-pound corner is a physical defender in both coverage and as a tackler. He is a highly effective press cornerback, and as he cleans up his transition technique he’ll have the ability to open and run with ease. He can also play off-man and use his instincts to jump routes and break on the football. Those traits fit perfectly with the different ways Notre Dame has used the boundary cornerback the last two seasons.
Riley is extremely effective at block destruction thanks to his size, powerful hands and competitiveness. He takes good angles to the football, he’s a sound tackler and he is smart enough to sniff out quick throws and screens. Riley also shows the ability to jam wideouts as well as the long speed to cover posts. All those traits make him suited for the field corner position.
Finally, Riley’s ability against the run, his foot quickness and his instincts in coverage also fit well in the slot or at safety. The ability to beat blocks is vital to that position in its ideal form, and the fact he’s already 190 pounds and strong means he can put up a fight against bigger players (tight ends) as well. He hasn’t done it on film, but I could see Riley also developing into a strong blitzer, another slot trait.
CB Chance Tucker, 6-1, 170, Encino (Calif.) Crespi
Rivals: 3-star
247Sports: 3-star
ESPN: 3-star
IB Grade: 3.5
Upside Grade: 4.0
Film Analysis: Tucker plays a lot of press and man coverage for Crespi, and he uses his length to shine at the line. His footwork needs improvement and enhancement, but his length and strong hands allow him to consistently get a good jam. Once his footwork improves he should be able to translate his length and experience in press into college success in coverage.
At times Tucker’s transitions are on the slow side because he’ll lunge a bit too much or he gets a bit too flat footed when he jams. Both are correctable technical skills and can be improved. Once he gets cleaner with his transitions he’ll be far more productive when he opens and runs.
Tucker is an intelligent football player that shows top-notch route recognition. He reads the movement of receivers extremely well and he plays the ball incredibly well. Tucker is a quality tackler and is more than willing to throw his 170-pound body into the mix. He will wrap up effectively but also can explode his hips through contact. These traits combine with his length and instincts to project quite well to the field position for the Irish. But his physicality and ability at the line also projects him as a possible boundary player.
Even though he is mostly a press player in high school, his combination of length, football IQ and tackling ability should allow him to thrive playing off coverage as well. My knock on Tucker is speed, and that is what keeps him from being a four-star prospect. His track times are solid, but I don’t see ideal speed on film. He has other traits (size, length, instincts, intelligence, toughness) to still be a quality player even if he never adds the necessary speed to dominate, but the speed keeps him from receiving a higher grade as a prep player.
S Justin Walters, 6-2, 175, Bolingbrook (Ill.) High School
Rivals: 3-star
247Sports: 3-star
ESPN: 3-star
IB Grade: 3.5
Upside Grade: 4.0
Film Analysis: The first thing that stands out on film is Walters ability to make impact plays in the run game. He plays the alleys extremely well, showing a good initial burst, easy change of direction skills and top-notch closing speed. Walters also takes sound angles to the football and is a quality tackler from a technique standpoint.
On top of being a sound player, Walters shows surprising power when he arrives at the football. I say surprising because you don’t expect an athlete that is listed at 175 pounds to play with such power and force. Even when he doesn’t get a full head of steam, Walters arrives at the football with ferocity, showing the ability to drive through contact. That kind of lower body explosiveness stands out, and it’s going to get better as he adds more weight room strength. His potential in the run game is outstanding, and it’s only going to get better as he fills out his frame.
Walters isn’t a dynamic athlete, but he’s smooth, fluid and changes direction with ease. Those traits give him good playing speed and help him overcome the lack of truly top-end speed. Those physical traits combine nicely with his instincts and feel for the game to make him a strong coverage player. Walters makes smart reads in the pass game and much like he does in the run game, he takes good angles when attacking routes.
Walters stated that Notre Dame is recruiting him to play the same safety type of role that Alohi Gilman did the last two seasons, which fits his game perfectly. Walters is at his best when playing the alleys and coming downhill. If he fills out his frame he projects to be an impact run defender, which is important for a safety in the Irish defense.
Full Walters Film Breakdown
Junior Highlights
GRADE KEY
5.0 - Elite player (Top 25 caliber recruit)
4.5 - All-American caliber player (Top 50-100 caliber player)
4.0 - Multi-year starter (Top 100-300 caliber player)
3.5 - Key role player (Top 400 caliber player)
3.0 - Backup
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