Film Don't Lie | Rodney Dunham
Describing a prospect as a rare talent can seem hyperbolic, but it’s an appropriate description of new Notre Dame commit Rodney Dunham. He’s the type of prospect that Notre Dame typically struggles to land and there are very few recruits who compare him in this recruiting cycle.
Dunham has elite traits for an edge rusher and is truly one of the top prospects in the country. Calling him a massive addition to the class doesn’t quite do it justice.
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 230
Projected Position: Edge (Vyper)
ISD Grade: 98 (4-star)
National Average Grade: 95.3 (4-star)
What he does best:
Dunham has outstanding twitch. He’s explosive and his testing backs that up with a 29 inch vertical and a 106 inch broad jump when he was a rising sophomore. More importantly, it shows up on the field with his first step.
He’s an outstanding reactive athlete who moves well laterally. This allows him to get involved with plays that many others cannot.
He has the kind of motor that every coach loves to see on film. There’s a lot of tackles he makes that happen because of hustle and when that is married with the kind of athleticism he brings to the table, the production follows.
He shows power and leverage at the point of attack. It’s great to have a 34.5 inch arms, but he knows how to use that length to separate from blocks. (And also uses it to disrupt the quick game deflections)
What he needs to improve:
He wins with all of those things that I mentioned above, but like most freaky athletes, it means he doesn’t have to rely on being technically advanced. His big thing in college will be about developing his hands as a pass rusher and working on counters.
What’s his ceiling?
Dunham has a chance to become one of the top edge defenders in the country and it might not take that long for it to happen. He has the kind of talent that should allow him to step onto campus and immediately place himself in the mix to play as a true freshman.
The sky's the limit for him as a pass rusher. He has the same level of raw talent that current Notre Dame defensive end Bryce Young has, but is a more advanced prospect than Young was after his junior season in high school. Dunham is closer to Aaron Lynch in terms of the kind of immediate impact he could have right away at Notre Dame.
I see a lot of former Florida State star Jared Verse in Dunham’s game. He was an incredibly productive player for FSU and was eventually selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Who he could be:
Former FSU edge Jared Verse
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