Notre Dame Signs LB Prince Kollie
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have signed LB Prince Kollie
PRINCE KOLLIE PROFILE
Hometown: Jonesborough, Tenn.
High School: David Crockett
Height: 6-2
Weight: 210
2020 Stats: 111 tackles, 17 TFL, 5 INT, 17 break ups / 1,951 rush yards, 31 TD /
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 100 caliber player)
Upside Grade: 5.0
Offers: Notre Dame, Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas, Auburn, Florida State, Tennessee, Louisville, Ole Miss, Kentucky, NC State, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Michigan State, West Virginia, Mississippi State, Boston College, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Kansas, Vanderbilt
Recruited By: Clark Lea
SI99: No. 50 overall
247Sports: 4-star - No. 92 overall
ESPN: 4-star - No. 170 overall
Rivals: 4-star - No. 242 overall
Composite: 4-star - No. 145 overall
FILM ANALYSIS
Kollie is rangy and brings a lot of pop, but his combination of power and athleticism allows him to project as a space player or eventually an inside linebacker. 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, assuming that position still exists at Notre Dame. Kollie was an outstanding receiver as a junior, 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 was 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.
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 weakside 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 in space for his entire career, but the fact he could play inside if need be adds to his value as a prospect.
This is a young man with star potential.
JOHN GARCIA, SI ALL-AMERICAN, ON KOLLIE
"Kollie is one of the smoothest prospects on the commitment/signee list, a big compliment for a linebacker headed to a top 10 program. It's safe to say he is more than comfortable in space, as he can relate to 2 and 3 in coverage, flip his hips and factor in passing lanes. Versus the run there is easy-to-like flashes like his fast flow skill and ability to finish with explosiveness through the wash. He won't have issue as an occasional pass-rusher, either, with speed and awareness evident while on the hunt."
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