New Notre Dame Offer Notes
It looked like Notre Dame had offered more than their fair share of 2021 prospects in recent weeks, but the staff threw a couple more on the pile this week from the state of Louisiana.
They didn’t stop there, though. They kept their 2022 run going with offers out to four big time corners prospects and an offensive lineman with massive potential.
2021
S Jardin Gilbert (Louisiana)
Gilbert fits the profile the Irish have targeted in defensive backs. They want DBs with receiver skills and Gilbert has those.
He’s an aggressive player versus the run. He diagnoses things quickly and attacks while being a fairly consistent wrap tackler. He’s got some pop on contact too. Although he’s a long athlete that runs well, he doesn’t jump out as a sudden athlete, but can find the ball as a single high safety. He’s definitely an intriguing prospect.
Grade: 90 (4-star)
ATH Malik Nabers (Louisiana)
Nabers has some of the best ball skills I have seen from the class. He can go up over the top of defenders and snatch.
He shows the ability to be dangerous after the catch and be a deep threat with his speed, but it’s ultimately him being so dominant as a 50/50 receiver that separates him. He’s not the biggest guy, but he plays big.
Grade: 92 (4-star)
LB Kobie McKinzie (Texas)
McKenzie is an Oklahoma commit who has said he wants to re-classify to 2021 so I’m sticking him with the 2021 offers for now.
He’s a player with great instincts. He’s a magnet to the football versus the run and in coverage. There are so many natural linebacker skills that he excels at like his timing and ability to get skinny as a blitzer and he’s a tackler that drives players backwards. He makes a ton of plays.
I guess my big question with him, other than him being a 2021 recruit, is that he looks more like a great linebacker and a good athlete. Certainly he’s a prospect worth targeting, but he also doesn’t jump off the screen with his speed or twitch.
Grade: 92 (4-star)
2022
CB William Johnson (Michigan)
Johnson is a big, athletic, man coverage corner that can press and has superior ball skills. When the ball is in the air, it’s his. He has the talent to be a legitimate receiver at the next level too.
He’s a physical wrap tackler who needs some refinement with technique, but is going to be one of the best athletes on any field. He reminds me a bit of Minkah Fitzpatrick back in high school. Maybe he’s a safety and maybe he can play a lot of roles. He can succeed in a lot of areas and is an elite prospect.
Grade: 96 (4-star)
CB Denver Harris (Texas)
Harris is a stud. He has elite instincts and plays with a physical edge. He does a terrific job of getting into the body of receivers and can flip his hips and run with great speed. His change of direction skills are impressive.
He has to improve his jam and footwork in press, but his great compete level helps him overcome it. He’s a complete corner and an outstanding tackler.
Grade: 96 (4-star)
CB Keenan Nelson Jr. (Pennsylvania)
Nelson is long with great ball skills. He finishes through the catch point and shows a great ability to mirror in man coverage. He’s yet another good tackler who knocks back opponents on contact. If you’re sensing a theme here, you’re not wrong.
Grade: 93 (4-star)
CB Austin Jordan (Texas)
What do you know? Another biig corner that can play press and track the football. The theme continues. I guess Mike Mickens likes big corners who can play press man and excel at block destruction and tackling (who doesn’t?). Jordan fits in that category.
He has a good jam and can win right at the line of scrimmage with his physicality. He’s also an effective blitzer from the boundary.
Grade: 93 (4-star)
OL Gunner Givens (Virginia)
Givins plays tight end and is a great athlete for his size. He moves very well and is a nasty football player. More specifically, he’s a finisher. A violent finisher. And if he is done with one block, he’ll go looking for more work.
He also plays D-line and has legitimate twitch. This is a prospect with all of the traits to be an elite left tackle one day.
Grade: 93 (4-star)