Film Don't Lie | Madden Faraimo

By Jamie Uyeyama

December 4, 2024

4,933

It looked like it was going to be a quiet day with all of Notre Dame’s committed prospects officially signing with the Irish and that’s a good thing. It got a lot louder when Madden Faraimo‍ unexpectedly signed with Notre Dame after it looked like he was trending towards USC.

A violent and versatile defender, Faraimo is a massive addition to the class and is one of my favorite prospects in this entire recruiting cycle.

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 230

Projected Position: Linebacker

ISD Grade: 95 (4-star)

National Average Grade: 94.1 (4-star)

What he does best:

As a former safety, Faraimo is comfortable playing coverage and displays good recognition.

He can be a physical, downhill presence against the inside run game. He will add more violence to Notre Dame’s defense.

He’s a very good athlete, but much like current Notre Dame freshman Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, it’s his ability to process things quickly and play fast that stands out.

Faraimo is a playmaker. He causes havoc and can be a game wrecker.

What he needs to improve:

He’s only played two seasons as an inside linebacker, so he still has plenty of room to grow his game with more reps.

Faraimo has flashed as a pass rusher and shows great potential as a blitzer. He can get better with his hands in that area with his initial move when lined up off the edge.

What’s his ceiling?

Versatility is critical with the modern day linebacker position and that’s the word that best describes Faraimo’s game. It’s one thing to be big and fast, it’s another thing to bring a skill set to rush the passer, play in coverage, and play violent against the run.

He’s cut from the same cloth as KVA. He’s more physically developed than most linebackers his age and can be a fit as a three down inside linebacker. Faraimo has the potential to compete early at an already stacked linebacker position and is a terrific fit in Al Golden’s scheme.

He may provide immediate sub-package value and could eventually develop into one of the top linebackers in the country, but it’s not out of the question that he grows into a Vyper at some point down the line.