BREAKING | Notre Dame Flips Nation's Top Kicker Joshua Bryan
Notre Dame has flipped another 2021 prospect as Sierra Canyon (Calif.) kicker Joshua Bryan has backed away from his pledge to Colorado in favor of the Fighting Irish.
Chris Sailer Kicking, the leader in kicking coaching, has Bryan ranked as the No. 1 kicker in the country in the class of 2021 and took a late summer visit to Notre Dame.
“First, I want to thank the Colorado coaching staff and the fan base for allowing me to be a part of their family and giving me an opportunity to play PAC-12 football,” Bryan said in a statement. “But after much thought, I think that it is in my best interest to de-commit from Colorado.
“With that being said, I will be committing to The University of Notre Dame. I want to thank Coach Polian and Coach Kelly, for giving me this incredible opportunity. I want to thank my parents for everything they have done. Thank you Chris Sailer, for helping me get to this point. And thank you to everyone at Sierra Canyon.”
The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder carries a 4.08 GPA, so Notre Dame seems like a natural fit, but his big leg is what stood out to special teams coach Brian Polian.
"Josh is simply a phenomenal high school kicking prospect," Sailer said in a review. "A great athlete with big-time college potential. He hits a pure ball on field goal off the ground. He gets big-time lift on his ball and has 60+ yard range. His kickoffs are excellent, D1 ready. He drives the ball deep in the end zone with 4.0+ hang time. Also a capable punter. He is a major competitor that thrives under pressure. Josh continues to prove that he is the best kicker in America in the Class of 2021."
Bryan also held offers from Air Force, Army, Colorado, Navy and Yale.
Major Accomplishments (per Chris Sailer Kicking)
2018 Vegas XXXI Class of 2021 Field Goal Last Man Standing Champion
2018 Vegas XXXI Class of 2021 Kickoff Champion
2018 Vegas XXXI Class of 2021 Punt Champion
2018 Vegas XXXII Class of 2021 Kickoff Champion
2018 Underclassmen Invitational Class of 2021 Punt Champion
2018 Underclassmen Invitational Field Goal Finalist
2018 Underclassmen Invitational Overall Field Goal Champion
2019 CA Spring Camp Field Goal Champion
2019 Vegas XXXIV CA Prep Camp Kickoff Champion
2019 Vegas XXXIV CA Prep Camp Overall Champion
2019 Vegas XXXIV Punt Finalist
2019 Vegas XXXIV Field Goal Finalist
2019 CA Summer Camp Field Goal Champion
2018 TOP 12 Camp Invitee
2019 TOP 12 Camp Invitee
*2019 TOP 12 Selection*
2020 Vegas XXXV Field Goal Finalist
2020 Vegas XXXV Punt Finalist
2020 Vegas XXXV All-American Bowl on NBC Kicking Finalist
2020 Vegas XXXV All-American Bowl on NBC Punting Finalist
2020 TOP 12 Camp Invitee
2020 CA Spring Camp Field Goal Champion
2020 TOP 12 Camp Head to Head Field Goal Champion
*2020 TOP 12 Selection
2021 Polynesian Bowl All-American (Selected by Chris Sailer)
2020 Chris Sailer Kicking Pre-Season 2nd Team High School All-American Kicker