Film Don't Lie | Will Black
For years it seemed like one of the first commits in any Notre Dame recruiting class would come from an offensive lineman. It feels strange for them to almost be at double digits and not have one in the fold yet.
That changed today when Will Black became the 11th commitment of their 2025 class. A massive young man with plenty of room to grow, he’s an elite prospect whose ranking is going to shoot up during the rest of the process.
I'm a huge fan of this pickup for the Irish.
Height: 6’7”
Weight: 295
Projected Position: Offensive tackle
ISD Grade: 93 (4-star)
National Average Grade: 90.3 (4-star)
What he does best:
He moves extremely well for someone his size. He can reach edge defenders with ease and has the mobility to get out to the second level as well as being a weapon as a puller. And he loves to finish blocks.
Black has light feet and displays great balance in pass protection. He has a good base and can handle speed well because of how quick he gets out in his set.
He knows how to control defenders with his length and isn’t satisfied with just making his block. He has a level of nasty to his game. He could have easily been fine with this kick out block without much resistance, but instead he snatched and grabbed the defender before buckling him to the ground.
What he needs to improve:
He can sometimes hop in pass pro and he has to be wary of that against speed to power.
I want to see him have more hip snap at the point of attack, but he plays under control and that’s not necessarily a bad thing when you’re as strong as him.
What’s his ceiling?
In only his first year of high school football in the United States, the Canadian plays like someone who has been training to be an offensive lineman for a long time. He’s an impressive athlete, a natural knee bender, and has a nasty disposition when it comes to the run game. It’s crazy that he is 295 because he has plenty of room to add good weight and that is going to be scary when that happens.
I know this will sound crazy because this guy is about to be a top-10 pick in the next NFL Draft, but he reminds me a lot of Joe Alt with his wide base and ability to control defenders with his length. Black has big time traits and has all of the tools to develop into an outstanding offensive tackle for the Irish.
Who he could be:
Former Notre Dame OT Joe Alt
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