Notre Dame has stacked up talent in the defensive backfield and that doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time soon. They just added their first blue-chip defensive back commitment in the 2027 class when Khalil Terry made his pledge today.
A versatile athlete who has been clocked at over 20mph on GPS, Terry is yet another playmaker to add to the impressive group that Mike Mickens has brought to South Bend.
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 185
Projected Position: Safety
ISD Grade: 91 (4-star)
National Average Grade: 90.3 (4-star)
What he does best:
Terry knows how to find the football. He had double digit passes defended as a sophomore and the ball production was just as good as a junior. He’s in the right position and knows how to finish.
He’s comfortable playing near the line of scrimmage or deep. He’s an instinctive player who plays fast and is a physical tackler.
Having a playmaker at the safety position is pretty much a requirement these days for Notre Dame. They ask a lot from their safeties whether it’s in coverage, playing the run, or blitzing like he does on this sack from the boundary corner spot.
Terry plays with the level of violence that I love to see from the position. He will make a play on the ball first, but if he has a chance, he’s going to light up a receiver if the opportunity presents itself.
What he needs to improve:
He’s a smart and polished player in a lot of ways already, so his development is going to be as much about mastering the defense as anything else with his technical development.
What’s his ceiling?
Terry is a prospect with a high floor who should come in more advanced than most safeties who arrive in South Bend. I think his versatility is what makes his ceiling high because he shows the potential to play in man coverage and can be comfortable in different roles. He may even be a candidate as a nickel.
His athletic potential is probably higher than former Notre Dame safety Alohi Gilman, but his instincts, physicality, and ball skills are what made me think Terry can have a similar type of impact at the college level.
Who he could be:
Former Notre Dame safety Alohi Gilman
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