New Notre Dame Offer Notes | May 3
Recent weeks have all been about defensive backs when it comes to offers. This week was all about offensive linemen as Notre Dame sent out two new offers to that position. One was for a player in the 2021 cycle and the other from the 2022 cycle.
Notre Dame also dipped into Michigan to an intriguing athlete, who may not have his best position figured out yet.
2021
OL Tristan Bounds (Connecticut)
Notre Dame is certainly still trying on some elite tackles in this class, but they are smartly not sitting back and waiting while they don’t know the situation with visits. That’s one reason why I like this offer to Bounds, but he’s a legitimately good prospect as well.
He has a monstrous frame and moves well laterally for a big man. Unsurprisingly, he plays a bit high with his pad level and I would like to see a bit more knee bend, but he uses his length well and plays big in a good way too.
He will sometimes false step and catch on contact because of it, but when his feet are right, he displays good functional power. He has some nasty and wants to be a finisher in the run game. It’s not an issue for him getting out as a puller or to make blocks at the second level and he can flip his hips and reach the edge. He certainly has tools in pass protection and shows a decent punch and uses his length well.
I would compare him to a rich man’s Zak Zinter, a player Notre Dame offered, but passed on in the last cycle. I view Bounds as a right tackle in college.
Grade: 89 (3-star)
2022
ATH Dillon Tatum (Michigan)
Tatum has some dynamic athletic qualities and he can one cut and go. I’m not sure where his best fit is, but he’s a good enough athlete that you offer and figure it out later.
Right now he’s a slot/running back/returner/defensive back and sometimes kids like him have additional value because of versatility and not specializing yet. He has good speed, but I don’t see an electric burst. I would lean towards him playing offense, but his change of direction ability in man coverage at least makes him an intriguing option.
Grade: 89 (3-star)
OL Joey Tanona (Indiana)
I really like Tanona as a prospect. He’s got shock in his hands. He fits and rocks defenders back on contact. He’s nasty player and is so much better than his competition.
Tanona is a really good athlete for his size, moves well as a puller, and reaches edge defenders easily. He displays good knee bend as a run blocker and plays with good leverage out of a two point. His pad level is a bit high in his pass set, but he has the feet and the punch to develop into a left tackle at the next level.
Grade: 92 (4-star)