5 Favorite Prospects in Notre Dame's 2021 Class
The LOIs are in (minus a possible surprise happening later on). It’s officially official enough, though, for me to put out my favorite prospects in the class.
I don’t just pick the guys I give the highest grades to. There are certain players who for whatever reason jump out as my favorites to watch. These are my five for 2021. I’m very excited to see how they develop over the next few years.
T Joe Alt
Notre Dame offered Alt and it was clearly one where they saw the path he could take as a future offensive tackle. He’s taken steps on that path already with his physical development and his overall improvement.
In my mind he has made the jump from project to high-level prospect. I’m excited to see how he continues to progress on the field over the next few years and his ceiling is as high as any player Notre Dame signed today.
LB Kahanu Kia
So let’s see...good instincts? Check. Physical? Check. Fluid in space? Check. That all sounds good to me for an inside linebacker.
Notre Dame’s success recruiting Hawaii in recent years isn’t the reason behind this, but it doesn’t hurt. I’ve always been vocal about the fact that programs can find great pure football players from the state and that they are often underrated because of the lack of exposure at camps on the mainland. I believe Kia is underrated and that is even before we get to not having a senior season yet.
I really like his game and think the Irish may have landed another gem from way out west.
LB Prince Kollie
Kollie is arguably the most important recruit in the class because of the need at the position. He also happens to be the best linebacker prospect the Irish have signed in the last four cycles.
A twitchy athlete who explodes as a blitzer, he was someone who was underrated by the recruiting services when Notre Dame landed him. He’s risen up over the last couple of months and it’s not hard to see why.
A great space backer with the skill set to play Rover, but could end up at Buck later down the line. He might be a slightly less explosive athlete than Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, but the comparisons are fair. Every Notre Dame fan should be excited about that.
DT Gabriel Rubio
I try my best to not be biased towards defensive linemen when doing this, but there was no way I was going to exclude Rubio from this list. I believe he has a chance to be a building block for Notre Dame’s defense in future years.
He sheds blocks violently and has 3-technique twitch off the ball combined with 1-technique size and strength. There are a lot of things about him as an individual that make him a great fit for Notre Dame, but what he can do on the football field make him a fit at any program in the country.
Rubio has disruptive potential as an interior defensive lineman.
WR Lorenzo Styles Jr.
Styles Jr. is the most dynamic athlete after the catch that Notre Dame has signed in a long time. Heck, he might be the best corner they’ve signed in a long time if they wanted to play him there too.
I think he’s a day one contributor for the Irish if he can pick up the offense and grow as a route runner this spring. It takes elite skill talent to win national championships in today’s college football. Styles Jr. is elite.