Coach | Notre Dame DL Commit Brandon Davis-Swain Has Bright Future

Tyrice Grice knew Notre Dame was high on Brandon Davis-Swain’s list, but the West Bloomfield High School head coach didn’t realize the 2024 Michigan defensive lineman was ready to pull the trigger and commit to the Irish like he did over the weekend.

“It was a surprise to a lot of us on our coaching staff,” Grice said. “I'm not surprised that is Notre Dame, it was just the timing.”

Grice is fired up about the decision.

“I'm excited for him and happy for him,” he said. “I knew Notre Dame was one of the top choices for a while now.

“I used to coach Khalid Kareem and we connected them when (Davis-Swain) was just in the eighth grade. Every summer, he spent a little extra time working out with Kareem. That's been one of his role models and mentors. Kareem always talked about Notre Dame, so I think that was a plus.”

Grice believes Davis-Swain has a high ceiling and the attitude to maximize his potential.

“He has the determination to be great,” the coach says. “He has a mindset that he wants to lead the team in sacks next year.

“He's determined and through that determination, he's put in a lot of work this offseason; getting better, getting faster, getting quicker and so and so forth. I think that athleticism is really showing off in his development. I think that's a big key for him so far.”

Grice describes the 6-foot-4, 250-pounder as “very athletic.”

“His dad does a great job spending quality time with him and putting him in the right situation,” Grice continues. “What people don't realize is Brandon was being developed as a receiver growing up.

“Not only just a receiver, but as a tight end and d-end as well. I think when he’d go out to camps and did his workouts, he was working out as a receiver. After his freshman year, he put on 25 pounds. He just kept growing.”

Notre Dame has talked about playing Davis-Swain on the edge and inside.

“That's what he's doing for us now,” Grice says. “It depends on what defensive package we are in. He's either a five-technique or a three-technique.

“Next year, he'll be mostly playing a five-technique d-end for us. But I think at the next level, he can move around between the three and the five. He's done it before. He knows how to handle those double-teams. I think he's going to be moving back and forth. If he get taller, I see him as a d-end, but right now I see him in different packages.”

Grice says the Irish landed an awesome player and an awesome young man.

“On the field, he's going to be a tremendous, elite player in terms of his abilities and what he can do and the speed and his first step and the quickness,” he says.

“Off the field, he's a great kid, great personality, teammates love him. He's a quiet kid, but I think as he gets older and matures starts to come out of his shell a little bit. I think this year, on the field, he's going to be a dynamite player. Off the field, he's loved by his teammates and that tells a lot about the type of person he is.”

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