Notre Dame 2023 Commits Big Board
Below is my ranking of the Notre Dame 2023 commits based on the Irish Breakdown grading scale and my film analysis of each prospect.
NOTRE DAME COMMITS (25)
QB Kenny Minchey - 6-2, 205, Hendersonville (Tenn.) Pope John Paul II
RB Jayden Limar - 5-11, 190, Lake Stevens (Wash.) High School
RB Jeremiyah Love - 6-1, 195, St. Louis (Mo.) Christian Brothers
WR Braylon James - 6-3, 185, Round Rock (Texas) Stony Point
WR Rico Flores Jr. - 6-1, 190, Folsom (Calif.) High School
WR Jaden Greathouse - 6-2, 210, Austin (Texas) Westlake
WR/RB Dylan Edwards - 5-9, 165, Derby (Kan.) High School
TE Cooper Flanagan - 6-5, 240, Concord (Calif.) De La Salle
OL Sam Pendleton - 6-4, 305, Pfafftown (N.C.) Ronald Reagan
OL Sullivan Absher - 6-7, 285, Belmont (N.C.) South Point
OL Joe Otting - 6-4, 270, Topeka (Kan.) Hayden
OL Charles Jagusah - 6-6, 295, Rock Island (Ill.) Alleman Catholic
OL Christopher Terek - 6-6, 305, Glen Ellyn (Ill.) Glenbard West
DE Brenan Vernon - 6-5, 250, Mentor (Ohio) High School
DE Armel Mukam - 6-4, 250, Woodberry Forest (Va.) High School
DL Boubacar Traore - 6-4, 255, West Roxbury (Mass.) Catholic Memorial
DL Devan Houstan - 6-5, 275, Hagerstown (Md.) Saint James School
LB Drayk Bowen - 6-2, 215, Merrillville (Ind.) Andrean
LB Preston Zinter - 6-3, 215, Lawrence (Mass.) Central Catholic
LB Jaiden Ausberry - 6-1, 215, Baton Rouge (La.) University Lab
S Peyton Bowen - 6-0, 185, Denton (Texas) Guyer
S Adon Shuler - 6-1, 190, Irvington (N.J.) High School
S Ben Minich - 6-0, 185, Cincinnati (Ohio) Lakota West
CB Micah Bell - 5-11, 165, Houston (Texas) The Kinkaid School
CB Christian Gray - 6-1, 175, St. Louis (Mo.) DeSmet Jesuit
As more players commit they will be added to this breakdown, so be sure to bookmark it and check back after commitments happen.
Analysis of each 2023 commit, by position:
KENNY MINCHEY, QUARTERBACK
Hometown/High School: Hendersonville, Tenn./Pope John Paul II
Height/Weight: 6-2, 205
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 100 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
SI99: No. 80 overall - No. 10 QB
ESPN: 4-star - No. 182 overall - No. 5 QB
On3: 4-star - No. 204 overall - No. 17 QB
247Sports: 4-star - No. 206 overall - No. 12 QB
Rivals: 3-star - No. 14 QB
Consensus: 4-star - No. 220 overall - No. 14 QB
Minchey is an effortless thrower with some of the best lower body mechanics in the class. Far too many young quarterbacks are arm throwers, but Minchey uses his base extremely well. That allows him to limit the exertion he needs with his arm, which helps Minchey get the ball out quickly, with power and more importantly with accuracy. His ball placement is exceptional, and his anticipation as a passer is top notch.
Minchey shows the ability to throw with different arm angles, but his release point is remains consistent no matter where the ball comes out from an arm angle standpoint. Being able to show good ball placement off different platforms is vitally important, and it's part of the reason the Notre Dame screen game and quick perimeter throws hasn't been as good in recent seasons because the Irish quarterbacks aren't able to get this done as effectively.
The Pope standout has a very mature game, showing great anticipation with the ability to throw his wideouts open. This requires confidence and the ability to get the ball out quickly. Minchey also shows the ability to change speeds, but even when he throws with touch the ball gets up and down quickly.
Minchey isn't really a runner in the traditional sense, but he's a quality athlete that can do damage with his legs when he needs to. When he starts moving around he likes to use his legs to buy time to throw, but he can also scramble for quality gains and Rees will be able to run some read zone with him at the next level.
JAYDEN LIMAR, RUNNING BACK
Hometown/High School: Lake Stevens, Wash./Lake Stevens
Height/Weight: 5-11, 190
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 250 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Rivals: 4-star - No. 14 RB
247Sports: 4-star - No. 14 RB
ESPN: 4-star - No. 26 running back
On3: 3-star - No. 48 overall
Composite: 4-star - No. 352 overall - No. 22 running back
At 5-11 and 190 pounds, Limar is a well-built running back with a strong lower body and a cut upper body. He has room to add a bit more weight, but he's already developed well for the position. Limar runs in a shotgun heavy offense and all the reads he'll need to make in college he makes to some degree at the prep level. He's a one-cut runner behind the line, and Limar shows good patience when he needs to and he can put his foot in the ground and explode vertically when he needs to.
Once he gets in space, Limar shows the suddenness, balance and agility to make defenders miss. This is an area where improved lower body strength will make him even more effective, as it will allow him to do even more damage after contact.
Limar shows an impressive initial burst on film, but his long speed looks similar to that of Kyren Williams. Clearly Williams had enough speed to make big plays, but Limar has posted some impressive times this offseason, so there's a chance we'll see him even faster in the fall. If Limar shows better long speed as a senior his grade will take a big jump.
What makes Limar an attractive player is his potential in the pass game. He's not only effective out of the backfield in traditional running back concepts, he has the ability to line up in the slow and do damage. Limar has good route running potential, he tracks the deep ball well, he shows good body control and he catches the ball like a receiver.
JEREMIYAH LOVE, RUNNING BACK
Hometown/High School: St. Louis, Mo./Christian Brothers
Height/Weight: 6-1, 195
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 100 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Rivals: 4-star - No. 52 overall - No. 3 running back
ESPN: 4-star - No. 93 overall - No. 5 running back
247Sports: 4-star - No. 95 overall - No. 6 running back
On3: 4-star - No. 107 overall - No. 6 running back
Consensus: 4-star - No. 62 overall - No. 5 running back
Love is an explosive athlete as a runner and pass catcher. Even while battling some minor lower body injuries as a junior, Love has shown the ability to be a home run hitter throughout his career. His initial burst is quite good, but his long speed really separates him from other backs.
Love is a smooth and fluid athlete that shows excellent balance as a runner. He can effectively use his burst and speed to be an impact one-cut runner, but what makes Love more like CJ Prosise than another long Notre Dame running back (Josh Adams) is that Love can jump cut and can also make defenders miss in space. He can make quick open field cuts, quickly change direction and they get right back to full speed.
The Christian Brothers star is still learning the running back position after spending most of his early career playing defensive back. He shows good instincts as a runner, but with more experience you'll see his timing get better, his pad level will get better and he'll improve his ability to use his stiff arm.
Where I love his game is the versatility. Love is a legit pass catcher out of the backfield. He's shown himself to be a weapon on downfield routes out of the backfield, but his length, speed and hands also give coaches the opportunity to line him up in the slot, or even outside, and allow him to run routes against matchups that work in his favor. This kind of versatility allows Notre Dame to use him with other backs on the field at the same time, something we've seen the Irish do more and more this season. That's why his versatility is so important, as it gives the staff a chance to get more snaps for the backs.
BRAYLON JAMES, WIDE RECEIVER
Hometown/High School: Round Rock, Texas/Stony Point
Height/Weight: 6-3, 185
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 100 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0
ESPN: 4-star - No. 60 overall - No. 10 wide receiver
247Sports: 4-star - No. 99 overall - No. 15 wide receiver
Rivals: 4-star - No. 137 overall - No. 24 wide receiver
On3: 4-star - No. 43 wide receiver
Consensus: 4-star - No. 107 overall - No. 16 wide receiver
Breaking down his game, the first thing that stands out is his length. He's listed at 6-3, but his arm length is impressive and he provides quarterbacks with a big target thanks to his wide catch radius. On top of having top-notch length, James also shows excellent focus and body control in the pass game, which helps project him into an elite contested catch player at the next level. James is still learning the finer points of the position, and at times that impacts his timing, but the tools are special as a pass catcher.
James has emerging speed, and as he's gotten older his speed has really taken off. This winter he ran an electronically timed 4.47 and also jumped 38.4 inches on the vertical and had a broad jump of 130.9 inches. Those are elite jumping numbers and show big-time explosiveness. That 4.47 is impressive enough, but with those jumping numbers you can expect James to get faster and faster as he physically matures.
That speed flashes on film for James, and that's a big reason he earned a 5.0-star upside grade from me. He's tall, he's long, he is really fast and he's a strong all-around athlete that also shows impressive foot quickness and loose hips.
The point is that he has all the tools to be a home run threat in college, and he has all the physical tools needed to develop into a strong route runner. James just need more coaching and he needs nuance in his game. He's a wide receivers coach's dream because he has so much potential, he just needs that talent to be harnessed. That's why Notre Dame made James such a huge priority in this class and why landing him is so impactful.
RICO FLORES JR, WIDE RECEIVER
Hometown/High School: Folsom, Calif./Folsom
Height/Weight: 6-1, 190
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 200 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Rivals: 4-star - No. 113 overall - No. 18 wide receiver
ESPN: 4-star - No. 228 overall - No. 18 wide receiver
247Sports: 4-star - No. 35 wide receiver
On3: 4-star - No. 51 wide receiver
Consensus: 4-star - No. 215 overall - No. 27 wide receiver
The 6-1, 190-pound receiver is one of the most polished receivers in this class. He's clean off the line, which allows him to maximize his speed. Even as a junior he showed a great feel for using his stem to get into proper leverage and he does a great job using his body at the top of end of routes to manipulate defenders. Flores also shows an impressive ability to adjust his speed when it's needed to set a defender up.
Flores doesn't have any athletic traits that are elite, but he's a quality all-around athlete, which combines nicely with his technical prowess to make him highly effective. He has impressive balance and agility, and he shows much-needed flexibility. Each of these traits combine together to make Flores a strong route runner. His ability to get off the line quickly and his precision as a route runner allows Flores to maximize his speed and makes him a big play threat.
The Folsom standout shows a great feet for getting open. Not only is he able to use his route technique and quickness to get good separation out of breaks, Flores shows a great feel for finding soft spots in the defense when he is working against zone coverages.
Flores tracks the deep ball extremely well. He's strong at the catch point, he has strong hands and he attacks the football when it's in the air. His catch radius is above average, but his hand speed and strength allows him to make tough catches.
JADEN GREATHOUSE, WIDE RECEIVER
Hometown/High School: Austin, Texas/Westlake
Height/Weight: 6-2, 210
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 100 prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0
Rivals: 4-star - No. 74 overall - No. 11 wide receiver
ESPN: 4-star - No. 122 overall - No. 4 tight end
On3: 4-star - No. 162 overall - No. 22 wide receiver
247Sports: 4-star - No. 244 overall - No. 33 wide receiver
Composite: 4-star - No. 125 overall - No. 17 wide receiver
Greathouse has a very mature game. His football IQ is exceptional both as a route runner and with the ball in his hands, which makes him more effective after the catch than you'd expect from a guy who is 6-2 and 210 pounds and isn't a truly elite athlete. Greathouse knows how to get open in every way. That means he knows how to win at the line, to use body language to manipulate defenders and to use his stem to gain an advantage.
Greathouse also has a great feel for using his post-break movements to gain separation and to get open. He knows how to leverage his body to shield defenders away from the ball and he knows how to get free against the zone. The Westlake star is a very strong player for his age. He's a dominant blocker already, but as I mentioned he can use his body to clear the defender away from the ball. Greathouse shows impressive timing as a pass catcher and he shows top-notch body control when the ball is in the air.
All of what I wrote above is what I've always felt about Greathouse. Where I have grown to appreciate his game even more, and why he is now a Top 100 player with a five-star upside grade on my board is his athleticism and athletic potential. Greathouse isn't the finished product athletically that I initially thought him to be, and his athleticism is better than my initial feel.
He isn't a burner, but Greathouse has enough speed to get down the field. He reminds me a bit of Javon McKinley in this regard, but Greathouse shows quicker feet and looser hips as a route runner and with the ball in his hands. This makes him a precise route runner, and his athleticism projects much better to the next level than I initially gave him credit for.
DYLAN EWARDS, RUNNING BACK/WIDE RECEIVER
Hometown/High School: Derby, Kan./Derby
Height/Weight: 5-9, 165
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 200 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Rivals: 4-star - No. 151 overall - No. 4 all purpose back
ESPN: 4-star - No. 156 overall - No. 8 running back
247Sports: 4-star - No. 235 overall - No. 12 running back
On3: 4-star - No. 296 overall - No. 16 running back
Consensus: 4-star - No. 164 overall - No. 8 running back
Notre Dame is recruiting Edwards to be an all-around player on offense, with a focus on being a slot receiver and return man. He can do work out of the backfield, but he'll be a perimeter player that can also do things in the backfield.
Edwards' first step is exceptional and he also possesses excellent acceleration. That combination is what makes him one of the most explosive offensive players in the entire country. On top of having great speed, Edwards is also an elusive player that can make cuts and then immediately get back to top speed.
The Derby standout isn't just a speed player, he's also an instinctive player with a good feel for the game. Edwards shows good patience as a runner, one that is willing to let the blocking set up before he explodes through the hole. He can be crafty as a runner when he needs to, and his ability to find the second level cuts from the backfield is impressive.
Edwards doesn't catch the ball much, but he has shown an ability to make all the grabs needed to attack teams in the screen game, quick game and intermediate game. There's only one deep catch on his film, but he tracked the ball well and make a contested catch, which was impressive. He'll need to learn some of the nuances of the wide receiver position, but those are easy to teach with a player that possesses his combination of speed, agility and flexibility.
COOPER FLANAGAN, TIGHT END
Hometown/High School: Concord, Calif./De La Salle
Height/Weight: 6-5, 240
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 200 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
247Sports: 4-star - No. 138 overall - No. 8 tight end
ESPN: 4-star - No. 294 overall - No. 7 tight end
Rivals: 4-star - No. 11 tight end
On3: 4-star - No. 20 tight end
Consensus: 4-star - No. 231 overall - No. 14 tight end
Flanagan is a bit of a throwback, or traditional tight end in that he's big, a strong run blocker and a guy who does more damage on the short to intermediate zones.
At 6-5 and 230 pounds he already has outstanding size for a tight end. He plays with good pad level in the run game, works his feet through contact and he shows good power for a young player. His initial punch is strong, but he needs to learn to strike more effectively off the ball. With more growth and technical improvement he has a chance to develop into a strong run blocker.
Flanagan isn't a vertical threat like many "modern" tight ends, but he comes off the line well and quickly get into the seams. The De La Salle standout is a quality route runner that shows a good feel for finding soft spots in the zone and he's sharp getting in and out of his cuts. He'll continue developing as a route runner and it will make him an even more effective pass game weapon.
His ball skills and hands are impressive, and Flanagan's size and length gives him a great catch radius. In the Notre Dame offense he'll first fit into the attached tight end spot, where he can thrive in the run game and in the middle of the field. He's a good enough route runner to do damage in the slot, but to become more impactful in that part of the game he'll need to gain a bit more burst, something that could certainly happen when you consider that Flanagan is still young and growing into his body.
SAM PENDLETON, OFFENSIVE LINE
Hometown/High School: Pfafftown, N.C./Ronald Reagan
Height/Weight: 6-4, 305
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 250 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Rivals: 4-star - No. 227 overall - No. 23 offensive tackle
247Sports: 3-star - No. 23 interior offensive line
On3: 3-star - No. 37 interior offensive line
ESPN: 3-star - No. 42 offensive tackle
Composite: 3-star - No. 364 overall - No. 20 interior offensive line
The first thing that stands out about Pendleton on film is his power. This is a young man with extremely powerful hands. In fact, he has as good of a punch as about any lineman in the country.
Pendleton shows good lower body strength and he explodes off the ball. Pendleton does a great job driving his feet and hips through contact. That adds to his power and makes him a punishing blocker at the prep level. Pendleton also projects well to the next level, especially as he cleans up a few technical issues that he has.
Pendleton shows good foot quickness for a bigger, power player but he's more of a short-area player, which is why he projects to move inside. The Reagan standout is a fundamentally sound football player that does a good job keeping his pads low and his hips square to the line.
Just where Pendleton ends up position wise remains to be seen. Right now Pendleton is projected as a guard, but his combination of strong hands, fast hands and quick feet also project very well to center.
SULLIVAN ABSHER, OFFENSIVE LINE
Hometown/High School: Belmont, N.C./South Point
Height/Weight: 6-7, 285
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 200 caliber player)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Offers: Notre Dame, Clemson, NC State, Tennessee, Penn State, Stanford, Michigan State, North Carolina, Kentucky, Louisville, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, Duke, Georgia Tech
On3: 4-star - No. 58 overall - No. 7 offensive tackle
247Sports: 4-star - No. 195 overall - No. 19 offensive tackle
Rivals: 4-star - No. 28 offensive tackle
ESPN: 4-star - No. 28 offensive tackle
Consensus: 4-star - No. 178 overall - No. 13 offensive tackle
Absher is a very physical, punishing blocker who thrives in the trenches as a run blocker. Absher is one of the more punishing blockers in this class, and he seems to put great pride on burying defenders. At 6-6 to 6-7 with long arms and broad shoulders, Absher has plenty of length for the edge. Absher projects as a right tackle type of player that reminds me a lot of former Irish standout Tommy Kraemer before all his injuries set in. Remember, Kraemer started at right tackle for a Notre Dame offensive line that won the Joe Moore Award.
Despite being so tall, Absher shows a unique ability to play with strong pad level. He plays in a triple option offense, and that has resulted in him learning to really keep his pads low and driving off the line with more of a flat back, which helps Absher come off the line with force as a run blocker. Combine that with Absher's natural strength and lower body power the end result is him being a dominant run blocker. Absher explodes off the ball and drives his feet through contact as well as any blocker in the country. He needs to keep filling out and adding lower body strength, and when that comes his ability to dominate the run game will translate well to the college game.
Athletically, Absher shows a strong burst off the line, but more importantly he shows the balance, agility and flexibility to move laterally and change direction. His ability to work to the second level is impressive and plays with an impressive understanding of angles, which partly comes from playing in an option offense.
We see very, very little of Absher as a pass blocker due to him playing in a triple option offense, so we don't get to see the whole tackle repertoire. There is some projection there as a tackle, but his combination of athletic talent, length and punch lead me to believe he can thrive on the edge. If not, what makes Absher such an important pickup is he grades out just as high as a future guard, especially considering his rare ability to play so low for such a taller player. Having a guy who projects as a starting caliber lineman for at least three spots is rare and very important.
JOE OTTING, OFFENSIVE LINE
Hometown/High School: Topeka, Kan./Hayden
Height/Weight: 6-4, 270
IB Grade: 3.5 (Top 350 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
247Sports: 4-star - No. 238 overall - No. 12 interior offensive lineman
Rivals: 3-star - No. 20 offensive guard
ESPN: 3-star - No. 35 offensive guard
On3: 3-star - No. 36 interior offensive lineman
Consensus: 4-star - No. 391 overall - No. 26 interior offensive lineman
What made Notre Dame push so hard for Otting is his unique combination of athleticism and pop. Otting is one of the quickest interior players in the country. He fires off the ball, keeps his pads low and he's incredibly effective in space. He'll need to clean up his technique on pulls and traps, but his quickness in both areas is impressive.
Otting shows very good punch for a player that weighs just 260 pounds. He has heavy hands and his movement power is most impressive. Otting does a good job getting extension with his hands. Otting shows the ability to drive and bury defenders, but it's against smaller players. It doesn't project yet, but if he adds more weight room strength and size you'll see his ability to play physical football take off.
Although he plays guard in high school, Otting projects extremely well to center thanks to those traits. He stays low coming off, he shows fast hands and that punch will allow him to snap and strike effectively. The center in the Notre Dame offense has to be good getting to the second level, and Otting certainly fits that mold. Other than size, which matters, he has all the tools needed to thrive at center.
Otting has a lower current grade (3.5-star) because of the questions about his size, but his upside (4.5) is quite high. He doesn't have the length that Joe Alt possessed, but he has very similar floor-to-ceiling projections.
CHARLES JAGUSAH, OFFENSIVE LINE
Hometown/High School: Rock Island, Ill./Alleman Catholic
Height/Weight: 6-6, 295
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 100 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0
On3: 5-star - No. 6 overall - No. 1 offensive tackle
247Sports: 4-star - No. 31 overall - No. 5 offensive tackle
ESPN: 4-star - No. 65 overall - No. 6 offensive tackle
Rivals: 4-star - No. 105 overall - No. 8 offensive tackle
Consensus: 4-star - No. 40 overall - No. 4 offensive tackle
Looking at Jagusah's skillset, the first thing you notice is his unique combination of size and power. Jagusah is a massive young man that is listed at 6-6 and 295 pounds. He's not just big; Jagusah is a physical football player that punishes his high school talent, and he's just getting started. The Alleman standout has extremely powerful hands, he has a strong lower body and he's an excellent finisher, something you'd expect from a high school wrestler who finished his junior season with a perfect 41-0 record and a state championship.
Jagusah is a quality athlete as well, one capable of playing on the edge and in space. He possesses quick feet, good lateral movement abilities and his burst off the line can be quite impressive when his technique is correct. You can see his athleticism and quickness on the wrestling mat and when he's playing defense, where his raw talent takes over. Those skills project well to being a high quality edge blocker that could thrive at right tackle, or an athletic, powerful, dominant guard.
Right now, Jagusah gets by on raw talent, power and athleticism. He's very much a work in progress from a technique standpoint due to losing a year because of Covid and dealing with a coaching change. His footwork is inconsistent, he needs to use his hands better and he needs to get more bend. Athletically he has no issue bending, it's a technical issue.
As he learns to play with more clean technique his game is going to explode, which is why he has one of the highest ceilings of any lineman in the country. Jagusah has all the tools you want: great size, great power, very good quickness off the ball, he's agile, he's flexible, he has fast hands. He just needs refinement. That refinement will determine if Jagusah ends up ranked as a five-star recruit or just hangs around as a Top 50-75 prospect, but more importantly it will determine he can turn his potential into dominant play as a college blocker.
CHRISTOPHER TEREK, OFFENSIVE LINE
Hometown/High School: Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West
Height/Weight: 6-6, 305
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 250 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Terek is a right tackle in high school but he projects as an interior player at the next level. My understanding is that Notre Dame is recruiting him as an interior player, and we know Harry Hiestand likes long tackle bodies for the interior. Terek certainly fits that mold, so it makes sense why the Irish like him.
On top of that, Terek has other traits that Hiestand loves, with the main being a lot of power. He's a strong young blocker that does a good job playing with pad level for a young 6-6 player. These traits combine with his size to make Terek a really impressive mover in the run game. He drives his feet through contact and works well to the second level, plus he's a strong, strong finisher in the run game. Overall he's a very sound football player that uses his hands well in all facets.
Terek is more of a guard because of his style of play, he's also an athlete you want more in tight spaces instead of on the edge. Inside his foot quickness plays well, as it allows him to play in short areas and limits his need to play with range and it limits the fact he isn't the most twitchy offensive line prospect.
BRENAN VERNON, DEFENSIVE END
Hometown/High School: Mentor, Ohio/Mentor
Height/Weight: 6-5, 250
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 100 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Rivals: 4-star - No. 25 overall - No. 3 strongside end
ESPN: 4-star - No. 110 overall - No. 14 defensive end
On3: 4-star - No. 192 overall - No. 26 defensive lineman
247Sports: 4-star - No. 46 defensive lineman
Composite: 4-star - No. 112 overall - No. 14 defensive lineman
At 6-5 and 250 pounds, Vernon already has a thick, powerful frame that should be able to hold at least another 15-20 pounds, but there is also plenty of room for him to get stronger, thicker and more powerful without necessarily jumping his height to the max.
Vernon plays against outstanding competition and shows the ability to play big boy ball. He has impressive natural power and strong feel for the game. Vernon has heavy hands and plays with good pad level. Even as a young player he can toss linemen and his block destruction is advanced for his age. As his technique improves he projects to develop into an elite run defender.
The Mentor star is an unorthodox athlete, moving with an interesting gait and a bit of a herky-jerky style. He does show an impressive initial burst, closing speed and his motor is strong. Do not let his awkward movement style be mistaken for a lack of athleticism. As a prep player and at summer camps Vernon showed the ability to jump off the ball and get to the edge against top tackles.
He'll need to continue improving his pass rush arsenal and he'll need to improve his pad level, but Vernon has the combination of length, power and athleticism to develop into a top-notch power rusher.
For Notre Dame his game reminds me quite a bit of former Irish standout Khalid Kareem. Like Kareem, Vernon isn't an explosive athlete and doesn't flash elite athleticism, but his power, athleticism and football instincts as a package deal are outstanding. Like Kareem, Vernon projects to be a high impact run defender as a big end in the Irish defense, but Vernon shows a bit more pass rush potential than Kareem did at the same age.
ARMEL MUKAM, DEFENSIVE END
Hometown/High School: Montreal, Quebec/Woodberry Forest (Va.)
Height/Weight: 6-4, 250
IB Grade: 3.5 (Top 400 caliber recruit)
Upside Grade: 4.5
247Sports: 4-star - No. 34 edge
Rivals: 3-star - No. 65 strongside end
ESPN: 3-star - No. 75 defensive line
On3: 3-star - No. 76 defensive end
Composite: 3-star - No. 587 overall - No. 52 edge
Mukam is an incredibly intriguing player. He didn't put pads on until his sophomore season in Canada, and they barely had a season. His first full season of football wasn't until 2021 when he transferred to Woodberry Forest, and he only played six games. So when talking about Mukam it's all about upside, but he's the kind of player that Notre Dame has had great success with in recent seasons .... lower floor but very high ceiling.
A big end target in the Irish defense, Mukam has a thick frame that should allow him to get to at least 270 pounds in relatively short order. He grew up as a hockey player, but now that he's transitioning to football full time you'll see his time in the weight room result in a physical transformation that will not only add weight room strength but also really good mass.
Mukam has exceptional length, checking in with a confirmed 80+ inch wingspan. The Montreal native has strong hands and impressive natural power. Despite being new to the sport he shows an impressive feel for the game. When he uses his hands he is hard to block thanks to his power/length combination. He'll need to learn a lot about playing with better pad level and using his hands to keep blockers off his body, and to get off blocks.
I was surprised by his flashes of quickness. When he keeps pads low he shows a really impressive vertical burst off the line. At times he gets high off the line and it tightens him up a bit, but you can see above average lateral quickness on film. Where I was blown away with his agility was from some summer workout film, where Mukam showed strong foot quickness and the kind of change of direction you want from a top-level athlete at his size.
This is a projection player. He's going to need time. Consider him a thicker, more advanced version of Ogundeji, which is an impressive comparison.
BOUBACAR TRAORE, DEFENSIVE LINE
Hometown/High School: West Roxbury, Mass./Catholic Memorial
Height/Weight: 6-4, 255
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 150 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0
On3: 4-star - No. 101 overall - No. 14 defensive line
247Sports: 4-star - No. 105 overall - No. 16 defensive line
ESPN: 4-star - No. 221 overall - No. 36 defensive line
Rivals: 4-star - No. 228 overall - No. 23 defensive linee
Composite: 4-star - No. 132 overall - No. 17 defensive line
Right now Traore is a defensive end, and he could certainly stay on the edge in the Notre Dame defense. His game right now fits the Big End position, but Traore is listed at 6-4 and 255 pounds, and he has a thick, impressive frame. With his thick lower half and broad shoulders I fully expect him to keep adding good weight and strength, which would lend to him potentially growing into an interior player where he could be quite disruptive.
Notre Dame loves length up front and Traore has very long arms and broad shoulders. He doesn't use his hands as well as you want yet and he uses his athleticism and power to dominate at the moment. As he continues to learn how to use that length at the point of attack his ability to dominate the run projects quite well to the next level. He has a thick lower half that is also powerful. He shows a strong punch and the potential to be a top notch block destructor once his technique improves.
Traore's power is good enough to move inside in time.
Athletically, Traore shows an impressive burst off the edge and he has good lateral movement for such a big athlete. He comes off the line well, shows impressive agility when working into gaps and he closes on the ball well. His closing speed stands out and you can really see his athleticism shine when he plays tight end. As his overall technique improves he has the potential to be a dominant player.
Right now Traore is a player that doesn't quite have the floor of other linemen in the class, but he has legit five-star upside. His potential is why he ranks as a Top 100 player right now, and as his game improves you'll see him become one of the best linemen in the class. This is the kind of young player that a coach like Al Washington - who stress fundamentals - absolutely loves. The tools are there, and with more coaching he could be a really, really good football player.
DEVAN HOUSTAN, DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Hometown/High School: Hagerstown, Md./St. James School
Height/Weight: 6-5, 275
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 150 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
ESPN: 4-star - No. 164 overall - No. 10 defensive tackle
247Sports: 4-star - No. 212 overall - No. 29 defensive line
On3: 4-star - No. 289 overall - No. 34 defensive line
Rivals: 4-star - No. 16 defensive line
Consensus: 4-star - No. 225 overall - No. 29 defensive line
Houstan is tall and has above-average length for an edge player, which is where he mostly plays in high school, but his length projects even better inside. At times he'll lift up at the snap, but more often than not he keeps his pads low and flies off the ball. Houstan has powerful and quick hands, and his block destruction potential is outstanding. He has a good feel for how to use his hands already, and Houstan shows a good array of pass rush moves both inside and outside.
You can see Houstan's hand quickness and power on defense, but it really flashes when he's playing offensive line. On that side of the ball he uses his hands to strike and his punch is excellent. Houstan is a physical defender that plays with a mean streak. With some body reshaping and time in a college weight room he projects to be a big, thick, powerful interior player that can shut down the run.
Athletically, Houstan shows an impressive burst off the line, especially when he keeps his pads down. He's a nimble athlete for his size, which allows him to make double moves with relative ease. This allows him to quickly shoot gaps and execute counter moves. When this is combined with his quick hands and natural power it makes Houstan a highly disruptive player up the middle, evidenced by his 15.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in just eight games last season.
Right now he's an even better pass rusher than a run defender, but with continued enhancement from a technical and consistency standpoint I see Houstan developing into an impact run defender at the next level, one of making plays in the backfield.
DRAYK BOWEN, LINEBACKER
Hometown/High School: Merrillville, Ind./Andrean
Height/Weight: 6-2, 215
IB Grade: 4.5 (Top 50 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0
Rivals: 4-star - No. 41 overall - No. 2 outside linebacker
ESPN: 4-star - No. 79 overall - No. 7 outside linebacker
247Sports: 4-star - No. 151 overall - No. 13 linebacker
On3: 4-star - No. 207 overall - No. 18 linebacker
Consensus: 4-star - No. 86 overall - No. 6 linebacker
Marcus Freeman wants length, athleticism and power at linebacker and that's exactly what Bowen brings to the game. His size is above average, but his athleticism and power are elite. Bowen is an explosive athlete that gets downhill in a hurry and he has the range to play to the sideline. When he commits to attack the ball he covers a lot of ground in a hurry, and when he arrives at the football he arrives with power.
Adding more physicality is a must for the Notre Dame defense, which I wrote about in my most recent Midweek Musings, and Bowen adds plenty of that. He's not a Mike linebacker right now, but I could certainly see him becoming that kind of player down the road. He's got the size potential, he has the first-step explosiveness, he closes on the ball extremely well and his natural hand strength and power will allow him to be extremely good at block destruction once his technique improves.
His agility and balance are impressive physical traits, and when his footwork gets better his ability to scrape, flow and explode to the ball should allow him to make a lot of plays in the run game. Bowen has to improve his timing as a blitzer, but he explodes downhill, easily dismisses high school blockers and closes on the football extremely well. In coverage he has the athleticism to thrive but his footwork and ability to look up routes will need to be improved.
Bowen is a bit on the raw side, thriving on God-given ability and effort. He's still a young player that hasn't yet finished his junior season. He'll continue to improve from a fundamental standpoint, and as that happens and he gets more and more experience his game will truly take off. He is a legit five-star upside player that possesses the kind of athleticism and natural power you simply cannot teach. Once he improves in the areas that can be taught he'll have a chance to be a special linebacker for the Irish.
PRESTON ZINTER, LINEBACKER
Hometown/High School: Lawrence, Mass./Central Catholic
Height/Weight: 6-3, 215
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 250 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
ESPN: 4-star - No. 11 tight end
Rivals: 4-star - No. 15 outside linebacker
247Sports: 3-star - No. 50 linebacker
On3: 3-star - No. 50 linebacker
Consensus: 3-star - No. 413 overall - No. 39 linebacker
Based on junior film there are some questions about Zinter's size and length, but a growth spurt seems to have happened with him. He showed up to Notre Dame taller and longer than he looked on film, which clearly changed the projection for him.
What Zinter did show on film was impressive athleticism. He plays wide receiver, tight end and outside linebacker/edge for Central Catholic. On offense there are a number of plays where Zinter is allowed to turn loose and really run, and you can see his impressive long speed.
He shows good short-area quickness, top-notch balance and the lateral movement skills needed to play off-ball linebacker. His body control as a tight end should translate quite well to being an inside linebacker. We actually don't see much of him playing off ball linebacker, so there is a lot of projection with his game, but the talent and tools are clearly there.
Playing on the edge puts Zinter in a lot of situations where he has to use his hands, and his block destruction is impressive. He shows the length and hand strength needed to keep blockers off his body and then shed them when he wants to get to the football. He'll need work when it comes to the finer points of playing inside linebacker due to the fact he doesn't currently play that position. Notre Dame clearly sees that he possesses all the physical traits needed to make that transition, which is why the push was made to add Zinter to the class.
JAIDEN AUSBERRY, LINEBACKER
Hometown/High School: Baton Rouge, La./University Lab
Height/Weight: 6-1, 215
IB Grade: 4.5 (Top 50 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0
ESPN: 4-star - No. 57 overall - No. 4 linebacker
Rivals: 4-star - No. 196 overall - No. 14 linebacker
On3: 4-star - No. 202 overall - No. 17 linebacker
247Sports: 4-star - No. 217 overall - No. 17 linebacker
Composite: 4-star - No. 143 overall - No. 11 linebacker
The first thing that jumps out on film with Ausberry is his outstanding football intelligence. Ausberry is extremely smart, making quick decisions and he takes great angles to the football. His anticipation is as good as any linebacker in the country.
Ausberry is a smooth and athletic young linebacker. His foot quickness and change of direction are outstanding, which is ideal for a second level defender. His ability to plant and then explode downhill is exactly what you want from a top linebacker.
At 6-1 and 215 pounds he doesn't have great size, and Ausberry will need to fill out and get stronger, but he does possess good natural strength, and he arrives at the ball with some force. After a year in the weight room at Notre Dame he'll likely see a jump in power and explosiveness.
Ausberry has an excellent feel for the game, which allows him to make a lot of plays on the ball. His combination of feel, speed and proper angles allows him to quickly get to the football, which helped him rack up 94 tackles and 12 tackles for loss as a junior. The University Lab standout doesn't spend a ton of time in coverage, but when he does he's effective. His range in zone looks is outstanding and he has the combination of feel, fluidity and speed to handle playing in man coverage against tight ends, backs and even slots on wheel routes.
PEYTON BOWEN, SAFETY
Hometown/High School: Denton, Texas/Guyer
Height/Weight: 6-0, 185
IB Grade: 4.5 (Top 50 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0
ESPN: 5-star - No. 14 overall - No. 2 safety
On3: 5-star - No. 15 overall - No. 2 safety
Rivals: 4-star - No. 46 overall - No. 3 safety
247Sports: 4-star - No. 72 overall - No. 5 safety
Consensus: 5-star - No. 18 overall - No. 2 safety
The exciting thing about Bowen is he's just scratching the surface of what kind of player he can be. He's a two-way player in high school and he's also a special teams standpoint. When he gets to college and focuses on one side of the ball his game should explode.
Bowen is listed at 6-1 and he is rangy, which suits him as both a deep middle defender and also aids him when he attacks the alleys. Bowen explodes downhill and he covers a lot of ground in a hurry. His ability to play centerfield and the alleys is a must for a safety at Notre Dame, who often uses its back end defenders in an interchangeable manner.
Bowen shows impressive long speed, a must for a safety. You can especially see this explosiveness when he's on offense as a vertical threat. Eventually you'll see it even more on defense, but when his footwork is right you can see Bowen change direction with easy and explode to the route or the ball.
The Guyer standout shows an outstanding feel for the game. He shows good route recognition, takes good angles to the football and he plays the ball extremely well. Bowen is also a willing and able tackler. Right now his footwork and drop technique are works in progress. When his technique is right his transitions - both vertically and downhill - are tremendous. When his technique isn't right he looks tight when he turns. Once his technique becomes more consistently good his game is going to explode.
ADON SHULER, SAFETY
Hometown/High School: Irvington, N.J./Irvington
Height/Weight: 6-0, 190
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 150 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
ESPN: 4-star - No. 236 overall - No. 13 safety
247Sports: 4-star - No. No. 17 safety
Rivals: 4-star - No. 21 safety
On3: 4-star - No. 25 safety
Consensus: 4-star - No. 261 overall - No. 21 safety
With Shuler, the first thing that stood out to me on film is how mature his game is from a technical and playmaking standpoint. He's an assignment correct, instinctive and high IQ safety that already shows an advanced feel for the game. Shuler comes down hill aggressively and plays with very good angles in both the run game and pass game. His feel for beating receivers to the spot is quite nuanced for such a young player, and he takes very good run game angles from depth, which makes him an impact defender against the run.
Shuler has the kind of frame you want at safety. He's at least 6-0, he has some length to him and he's got an athletic build. He already has good listed size but he'll continue to fill out and add even more strength. Athletically, Shuler is very light on his feet and packs a punch when he arrives at the ball. His agility and balance grade out very high, and he shows the ability to change direction with ease.
I questioned his speed and explosiveness as a sophomore, but as a junior he showed a much-needed jump in both areas. His long speed improved, his ability to open and run got better and his ability to plant and drive downhill was impressive. This made him a far more effective player as a junior and caused his grade to jump up quite a bit.
As a junior, Shuler has used his jump in burst and strength to be a highly effective run defender, but his improved speed has made him far more impactful in the pass game. Combined with his intelligence, that improvement makes Shuler a defender capable of playing more man coverage, but it's his improved range on that back end that stood out the most.
BEN MINICH, SAFETY
Hometown/High School: Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota West
Height/Weight: 6-0, 185
IB Grade: 3.5 (Top 400 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.0
247Sports: 4-star - No. 210 overall - No. 15 safety
ESPN: 4-star - No. 22 safety
Rivals: 4-star - No. 25 safety
On3: 3-star - No. 35 safety
Consensus: 4-star - No. 284 overall - No. 25 safety
Minich isn't the highly ranked player that Bowen and Shuler are, but he's a talented player that has some tools, and he has a chance to be at least a good depth and special teams players, but if he reaches he peak he has starting potential.
Playing safety for Lakota West, Minich is a versatile piece on the backend who is used to working from depth, in short zone and a slot defender. The best aspects of his game is his short area quickness and change of direction. That shows up with Munich’s ability to close quickly on underneath routes and do nice work in man to man coverage.
He is also a tenacious player who shows up in the run game, with adequate ability to work in pursuit. His ball skills are also plus, making sense with his impact on the offensive side of the football. The biggest questions for Minich are going to be his range in deep zone coverage and his overall size profile. Minich range is a whole lot better working towards the line of scrimmage than opening deep in coverage. While he has no issue throwing around his weight, Minich also doesn’t boast much hit power right now. He will have to fill out his frame to become an asset as a run defender and alley runner.
Minich’s impact on special teams is also a huge bonus. He makes a ton of plays in coverage units, quickly accelerating down field and showing sure tackling on returners. Overall, he boasts a solid all around athletic profile with some nice proactiveness with his ability to diagnose quickly.
MICAH BELL, CORNERBACK
Hometown/High School: Houston, Texas/The Kinkaid School
Height/Weight: 5-11, 165
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 100 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0
247Sports: 4-star - No. 81 overall - No. 8 cornerback
ESPN: 4-star - No. 108 overall - No. 6 cornerback
Rivals: 4-star - No. 119 overall - No. 15 cornerback
On3: 3-star - No. 43 cornerback
Composite: 4-star - No. 118 overall - No. 12 cornerback
There is no question that Bell's best asset is his speed. He has truly game changing speed at the prep level, posting a best 100-meter dash time of 10.41 and a best 200-meter dash time of 20.89. That's truly elite speed, and the best part is Bell translates that speed onto the field.
You can see his speed show up at cornerback, running back and the return game. Bell has easy speed, which means he's not a high effort mover in order to play fast. He's a smooth runner that can accelerate immediately, shows a great second gear and as a defender he has special closing speed.
Bell is more of a one-cut athlete but also shows the desired suddenness as an athlete. On defense, Bell shows the ability to easily flip his hips at times, so you know he can do it, but there are some technical aspects that need to be cleaned up.
That is really the area where Bell must improve the most. Right now, on defense, he's more of an elite athlete that is still learning the position, but the tools are all there. At 5-11 and 165 pounds with good arm length he has the radius to thrive at cornerback. He'll need to continue filling out and add strength, but it's the technical aspects where his game needs the most work.
The good news for Bell and Notre Dame is that he has the physical tools to be a tremendous player. Elite speed, elite athlete, competitiveness, versatility and intelligence. The coaching part can and will come, but he has tools you simply cannot teach and develop.
CHRISTIAN GRAY, CORNERBACK
Hometown/High School: St. Louis, Mo./DeSmet Jesuit
Height/Weight: 6-1, 175
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 150 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5
Rivals: 4-star - No. 55 overall - No. 9 cornerback
On3: 4-star - No. 82 overall - No. 10 cornerback
247Sports: 4-star - No. 138 overall - No. 13 cornerback
ESPN: 4-star - No. 149 overall - No. 13 cornerback
Consensus: 4-star - No. 68 overall - No. 6. cornerback
The first thing that stood out to me when breaking down Gray was his length. He's listed between 6-0 and 6-1, but even more importantly he has very long arms. That length is something teams covet at cornerback, and Gray knows how to use that to his advantage.
Gray is a smooth and fluid athlete with exceptional balance. Despite having long legs, Gray is able to change direction with ease, possessing top-notch foot quickness and change of direction ability. His transitions are clean, but Gray does need to work on accelerating a bit quicker once he turns to run.
This is one of the more fundamentally sound cornerbacks in the class. His footwork is efficient, he knows how to use his hands and his route recognition is top notch. Gray thrives in both man and zone coverage. His length and athleticism are ideal fits for press coverage, which makes him a strong fit in the boundary position. He's also a high football IQ player that does a great job reading quarterbacks and his route recognition is excellent.
Gray does an excellent job breaking on routes and beating receivers to the point of attack. His combination of length, athleticism and instincts allow Gray to get his hands on a lot of passes. Gray has been timed at camps with 4.42 speed, but that doesn't always show on film. If he can show that more consistently his game will explode and he'll tap into his full potential.
GRADE KEY
5.0 - Elite player
4.5 - All-American caliber player
4.0 - Multi-year starter
3.5 - Key role player / Late career-starter
3.0 - Backup
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