The Next Ogundeji?
When Julian Love committed to Notre Dame, he was seen as a nice prospect. A good football player, a good athlete, but future All-American? I don’t think anyone predicted that even after he had a very big senior season.
Love was in the same recruiting class as Ade Ogundeji and Ian Book. They were composite 3-star prospects whose level of play for Notre Dame has far exceeded their ranking. Not every 4 or 5-star hits and a high percentage of 3-stars don’t, especially when they are competing with higher ranked players at a program like Notre Dame. Love, Ogundeji, and Book hit big, though, which is not something that happens every cycle.
But if we’re looking at Notre Dame’s recent track record, they have done pretty well with some composite 3-star prospects in the previous five cycles.
There were those three in ‘16. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is going to be an All-American and projected to be a first round pick from the 2017 class. Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa and Drew White were with him and they are on track to be three-year starters.
Tommy Tremble has been an impact player for the Irish as a 3-star prospect from the 2018 class. Jack Kiser and Marist Liufau have shown flashes that project them to be impact players on the defense from the 2019 class. Even the 2020 class has Clarence Lewis already impressing as a true freshman.
There’s a good chance that a few more will join this group and prove their rankings wrong in future years. I would be surprised if at least two or three from the 2021 class aren’t mentioned with these players one day as well. Some who will sign with Notre Dame today have the potential to be the next Love, JOK, or Tremble. I wouldn’t be surprised if any of these six end up developing into impact players for the Irish.
TE Mitchell Evans
Evan is huge (6’7” 240) and he can really move at that size. He’s played quarterback for his high school this season, but there were things I saw from his junior film after the catch and from him blocking that have me excited about his potential.
He is not going to be in the mix to play any time soon with depth they have accumulated at the tight end position, but he’s one to watch out for in a couple of years.
LB Kahanu Kia
There aren’t many Notre Dame targets from Hawaii that I wouldn’t consider underrated and Kia is no exception. The things I liked about Liufau as a prospect when he signed (instincts, toughness, physicality) are exactly what I like about Kia as well.
His floor is high because of the things I already mentioned and the fact that Notre Dame did not take an inside linebacker in the previous class will give him a good opportunity to compete.
RB Logan Diggs
The skills that make everyone love watching Kyren Williams right now are the biggest strengths to Diggs’ game. There are backs who could beat him running a 40, but who aren’t as good at making someone miss in the hole or gaining yards after contact.
LSU wouldn’t be jumping in to flip him if he weren’t a stud. I’m higher on Diggs than most and I’m completely fine with that.
(UPDATE: Diggs did not sign today and his status in the class is uncertain.)
CB Chance Tucker
No senior season for Tucker means no chance at impressing the recruiting services to get that rankings bump. I really liked his junior film. He has strong ball skills and is someone who finds the football, much like Clarence Lewis.
I think he has the highest upside out of the corners they have signed and they definitely signed some corners with big potential. He’s fluid changing directions, has good deep speed, and he’s a solid tackler.
DE Will Schweitzer
Another player from California who hasn’t had a senior season. He’s the prospect I like the most out of the edge defenders Notre Dame has signed. They are projecting him to Vyper because he’s played linebacker for his high school, but the brief glimpses he’s shown in terms of twitch off the edge are exciting.
I think he’s someone who is going to take off once he gets a year in a college weight room. He’s a very good athlete.
T Joe Alt
Alt has had a chance to play as a senior and his physical and technical development was obvious. He took a big step and is only scratching the surface with the player he’s going to become.
He has left tackle athletic traits and they show up on film. He can mirror pass rushers and bends naturally for a player who is 6’7”. His ceiling is as high as any of the other players Notre Dame has signed in the entire class in my opinion.
He’ll get time to add strength and build up his technique once he moves to offensive line full-time at Notre Dame, but I would be surprised if he doesn’t eventually develop into a starter and a very good one for the Irish.