5 Favorite Junior Day Prospects
Notre Dame is about to hold their second Junior Day of 2019, but this one doesn’t quite have the same buzz as the one they held in January. But just because the hype isn’t as significant this time around, it doesn’t mean that the prospects on campus aren’t at the same level.
This is another strong group of 2019 recruits that already hold Irish offers and they are bringing in some blue-chip 2020 prospects as well. The 2019 group includes running back Steele Chambers (Georgia), one of my favorite Notre Dame targets this cycle. I wrote about why that’s the case here, so I won’t regurgitate it again right now.
Instead, I chose to highlight five other favorites that will be visiting campus this weekend. Two of them are in the 2019 class and the other three are 2020 recruits that I feel can be in the elite of the elite in that cycle. All of them have Notre Dame offers and this is a great opportunity for the coaching staff to make a big impression like they did with those who attended the previous Junior Day.
2019 OL Harry Miller (Georgia)
Yup, it’s another big time player that the staff is trying to grab out of the Peach State. It’s never an easy thing to do, but Miller is an exceptional football player that is worth the effort. A versatile player with good feet, I think he could play just about any spot on the line. His best spot might be on the interior either at guard or at center, though.
I think he can excel there. Miller has a great punch that he uses to lock out defenders. He plays with good pad level and has the kind of mobility that makes him a perfect fit for Chip Long’s scheme. The best way to describe the way he plays is controlled violence. That shows in the running game where he tries to crush people and in pass protection where he is balanced in his set.
Just about every big program would love to add Miller to their recruiting class so it would be huge if this visit helps them stay in the race for the long haul.
2019 CB Salim-Turner Muhammad (Virginia)
A teammate of safety target Litchfield Ajavon, I’m a big fan of Muhammad’s game. He has good size and plays to that size by being physical in press coverage. He’s a willing tackler in the run game and a strong all-around football player. Muhammad is much more than just a cover guy.
I wouldn’t say he stands out as a great athlete with his speed, but he has very good feet. His movement is efficient and he does a great job of keeping his feet inside his shoulders to not get overextended.
He knows how to finds the football. He can track it well and flashes some impressive ball skills. Instincts can go a long way with a corner (see Love, Julian) and Muhammad is a very instinctive player.
2020 Offensive Tackle Paris Johnson Jr. (Ohio)
Johnson Jr. fits into the category of what some would call a dancing bear. He shows incredibly light feet and is a true left tackle prospect that has all the tools be elite when it comes to protecting a quarterback’s blind side.
He has some nasty to his game already and although he needs to play with more consistent leverage, I think he is on his way to being a 5 star prospect if he continues to develop like he should.
He should be a top of the board target the entire way for Notre Dame.
2020 Athlete AJ Henning (Illinois)
Henning is tiny (5’10” 170), but he is electric with what he can do with the football. He’s a dynamic athlete that can be a weapon used in a variety of ways on offense. I like him as a slot or an outside receiver because of his ball skills and the traits he possesses that can help him become an outstanding route runner.
The type of speed he has is special and that’s what makes him such a great prospect. He devours any cushion a cornerback gives him in a split second and even the threat of him running deep should scare defensive coordinators.
2020 D-lineman Rylie Mills (Illinois)
At 6’5” 265 and not even a high school junior, this kid is a beast. It looks like he might end up carrying over 290 pounds quite easily. There is a lot to love about his frame.
Mills is long and knows how to use that length to strike and shed. I was surprised at how good his initial quickness is. Not many his size have anything close to twitch when they react to the snap of the ball, but that is something that makes Mills a rare athlete.
He could end up as an interior player and be a heck of a pass rusher with his lateral quickness. Wherever he is lined up, his length and hand-eye coordination will allow him to disrupt passing lanes. I think Mills could end up being one of the top defensive lineman in the 2019 2020 recruiting class before all is said and done.
This weekend could allow the Irish to get out in front for him before most of the other top tier programs enter the fray.