Uyeyama's Favorite 2022 ND Targets | Offense
One of the biggest takeaways from the 2020 season for Notre Dame fans was that the Irish have to get better at wide receiver to keep pace with the other top teams in the country. It has to be an every year thing in recruiting as well because they can’t be set back like they were after two of their best were injured for most of the season.
The staff has done a solid job of bringing in two good classes at receiver in a row so that may not be a problem going forward. It definitely won’t be if they can make it three in a row and the good news is that the 2022 cycle is very strong at receiver.
I’m a big fan of several of Notre Dame’s top targets at the position, which is why I have three of them listed in my four favorite targets on offense. If they can pull two out of the three, then that would qualify as three strong classes in a row no matter who else they may add to go with them.
(One note: current commitments are not included in this, but if they were, I’d have running back JD Price with this group.)
WR Jarel Williams (AL)
I think Williams is one of the most underrated prospects in this class at the moment. He has WR1 traits in my opinion.
He’s an easy athlete and flashes some good short area twitch. He can play above the rim and go up over the top of corners and does a tremendous job tracking the deep ball over his shoulder and adjusting to the football while it’s in the air.
Williams can win in several ways, including after the catch where he shows the strength to break arm tackles and the speed to maximize yardage. He reminds me a lot of current Notre Dame receiver Kevin Austin.
WR Andre Greene Jr. (VA)
Greene is 6’3”, but plays even bigger than that. He does a fantastic job of boxing out defensive backs and winning contested catches. His ball skills are as impressive as anyone in the class and I can’t wait to see what he does during his junior season this spring.
I think he’s exactly what a program would want in a boundary receiver. He’s going to be a matchup problem in the red zone. The player he reminds me of is former Florida State receiver Auden Tate. Tate is taller, but as I mentioned, Greene plays bigger than this listed height and weight.
OL Aamil Wagner (OH)
Wagner is a top-50 prospect in the country for me. I think he has the potential to develop into an elite left tackle.
Also a basketball player, he has awesome movement skills and light feet. He can reach the edge with ease and he plays nasty as a run blocker.
He’s a bit raw in pass pro and he has to add weight, but the traits are undeniable. Someone 6’6” that can move and play with leverage like he does while also having that edge as a blocker makes him special.
My comp for him is former USC left tackle Austin Jackson.
WR Kaleb Brown (IL)
Brown played running back as a sophomore and it’s what he did there that shows how awesome he can be after the catch. Strong enough to break arm tackles, quick enough laterally to make defenders miss, he’s a big play waiting to happen.
Oh, and he can truck stick a defender too.
He could be a dangerous weapon on the perimeter and will be a threat any time he gets space. My comp for him is former Maryland wide receiver DJ Moore.