5 Favorite Junior Day Prospects

One benefit of the early signing period is that Notre Dame does not have to spend the time keeping all of their commitments. With 21 players already signed, they can concentrate on keeping just one commitment and closing on the last few recruits that will hopefully sign in the first week of February.

The early signing period has allowed them to put more emphasis on the 2019 class and we’ve already seen the impact that it’s had with them sending out a number of offers this January. It also helped them set up a Junior Day this weekend that will have several blue-chip visitors on campus that have the potential to be foundational pieces of their next recruiting class.

One building block will already be there in the already committed Jacob Lacey. He’s a disruptive defensive tackle that I wrote about earlier this week.

It would be great news if most of these players visiting eventually joined him in the class, but I wanted to highlight five specific players that jumped out to me as some of my favorites prospects in the 2019 recruiting cycle. (I had to work hard to cut it down to five because this is a really good group they’re bringing in)

WR Jake Smith (Scottsdale, Arizona)

The Irish have a burner in Braden Lenzy already in the fold for 2018 and would love to add another one in Lawrence Keys III as well. Smith is someone who has that same dynamic ability that allows him take the top off off the defense. He is a sudden athlete that can hit full speed in a hurry.

That makes him a deep threat, but it’s the way he tracks and attacks the football that impresses me the most. He doesn’t run a varied route tree for his high school right now. However, I see the tools for him to be a great route runner at the next level.

He’s someone that should be able to line up all over the field as an inside or outside receiver. He should also be an option in the run game with jet sweeps and reverses too. It’s obvious why he has a national offer list and this visit can hopefully put the Irish right in the thick of the race to land him.

TE Hudson Henry (Little Rock, Arkansas)

Henry is right up there with the best tight end prospects I have watched on film over the last four recruiting cycles. He’s a big body that should be a monster in-line and still have the athleticism to shine as a pass catcher.

I really love his game. He’s so good at just about everything with his ability after the catch and he has a chance to develop into a dominant presence blocking for the run game. Henry has big time ball skills and his catch radius is impressive. So many tight ends are strictly possession types that need a lot of space to be able to create a big play. That’s not the case with Henry.

He’s an Arkansas legacy and I imagine it will be tough to pull him away from home, but he is worth the effort to give it a shot because in my opinion he would be the best tight end prospect they will have brought in since Kyle Rudolph if Henry ends up Irish. 

DT Mazi Smith (East Kenwood, Michigan)

Great defenses are built up the middle and it all starts up front at defensive tackle. That’s one reason I’m such a big fan of Smith. There aren’t many elite defensive tackles that move like he does that are from the Midwest.

He fires off the ball and gets after it. I think he can play 1 tech because of the way he can split double teams and blow up the inside run game. I also see traits from him where he could end up at 3 tech and that versatility is one thing that makes him special.

I see big time pass rush potential and he flashes a violent club move. He really strikes with his hands and can shed to make plays behind the line of scrimmage. Him playing side by side with Lacey in a couple of years would be a scary proposition for opposing offensive lines.

ATH Kyren Williams (St. Louis, Missouri)

Williams is not close to the biggest or the highest rated prospect at this Junior Day, but he’s a ball player. He is fantastic when he gets the ball in his hands. He has terrific vision and is dangerous guy after the catch as a receiver. That’s probably because he has a running back mentality that comes from playing in the backfield.

I think that might be his best fit, but he should be utilized in multiple ways in an offense. He can go from slot to running back to a Wildcat quarterback from play to play and be effective at each spot.

Williams is fantastic with the way he can jump cut and accelerate. And despite me thinking that him being listed at 5’10” is probably generous, his leaping ability and grit as a runner show his level of play far exceeds any limitations he has because of his size.

CB KJ Wallace (Atlanta, Georgia)

There are other corners who are more of the prototype physically. Corners that are taller and have longer arms that look like dopplegangers of the giant receivers they cover. Wallace doesn’t look like that, but he has other skills that make him a great prospect.

He has great feet and is super smooth with his transitions. Those feet help in press coverage. Not many receivers are going to shake him. Wallace mirrors well and does a good job of making plays on the football while in-phase too.

I really like his compete level. He’s a solid tackler that can play multiple positions. His instincts allow him to diagnose plays quickly and his great athleticism puts him in a position to finish. I can see him outside or playing the nickel at the next level. He has an impressive offer list from all over the country that includes Stanford.