Notre Dame is set to host an important Junior Day on Saturday, as they
are expected to host all six 2018 commitments.
The Irish will also
host some top prospects like receiver Braden Lenzy, Tyreke Smith and
Dallas Gant, who already hold offers from Notre Dame.
There are a
few more 2018 names I would love to see Notre Dame offer in the next
few weeks and try to get up to South Bend to check out spring ball.
Linebacker – Payton Wilson – Orange County (N.C.)The
6-foot-4, 220-pounder does it all for his high school squad from
playing a rush end to linebacker to carrying the rock in Orange County’s
option attack. Wilson has a similar build and game to former Notre Dame
linebacker/rush end Ben Councell and former Irish commit Danny
Mattingly. All three players have length, but also a sense of
athleticism coming off the edge.
In 2016, Wilson recorded 127
tackles, 39 tackles for loss and 13 sack. It shows the ability to play
on the other side of the line of scrimmage and if you watch his film, he
has a knack for getting into the backfield.
I also like his
ability to track the football from his linebacker position. He is able
to cover ground quickly, but also arrive with power. He’s not Jaylon
Smith athletically, but he has raw athleticism just waiting for a guy
like Mike Elko to tap into his potential. The kid loves football and
that’s what Notre Dame needs the most right now.
The three-star
prospect holds offers from Alabama, Duke, Georgia, Michigan State, North
Carolina, N.C. State, Penn State, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and
Wisconsin among others.
Wide Receiver - Lawrence Keys III – McDonogh 35 (La.) The
5-foot-11, 160-pounder might be small, but Keys is one of the most
explosive players in the 2018 class. The Louisiana native seems to
always be outrunning the defense, but also making defensive backs look
silly in the process.
Notre Dame needs playmakers at the
receiver position and Keys can certainly deliver that. Keys also would
be able to help in the return game and could make Brian Polian’s job a
whole lot easier.
Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Houston,
Miami, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, TCU and Texas A&M have
already thrown hats into the ring, so it’d be a tough pull for Notre
Dame, but I think it’s one they should at least take a look at.
Defensive Back – Atanza Vongor – South Grand Prairie (Texas) The
6-foot, 195-pounder could be a strong safety or the ever popular Rover
in Notre Dame defense and I think he has the skill set to do either. The
Texas native has the size and speed to play in space, but also will
come up and hit guys in the mouth.
Notre Dame’s defense needs to
get more athletic and Vongor would surely do that. The four-star
prospect also plays a toughness that I think Elko is looking for in his
defense. He plays under control, but once he locks in on his read,
Vongor gets there and makes the play.
Alabama, Arkansas, Baylor, Clemson, Georgia, Michigan, TCU, Texas, Texas A&M and Wisconsin have offered.
Obviously,
Notre Dame offering prospects hinge on transcripts and checking the
boxes off the field, but on talent alone, these are three kids that
could definitely be difference-makers at the next level.
