5 Favorite ND Targets in the 2020 Class
It’s June 1st, 2018 and Notre Dame has already sent out 59 offers to prospects in the class of 2020. Even five years ago that number would seem crazy, but next year that offer will probably be even higher.
This is the pace of recruiting these days. Programs have to come out of the block sprinting or risk the pack running away from them.
The Irish already have a foundational commitment in the class with quarterback Drew Pyne committing back in April. As for how the rest of the class will shake out, it’s way too early to even guess at that.
However, it’s not too early for me to develop some favorite targets out of the prospects they have offered. I picked out five that jump out to me as potential game wreckers at the college level. To be honest, many more than just five have that kind of potential. These are my five favorites from the top targets on the board (offense and defense) that Christian posted yesterday.
It was tough to narrow it down to that number, but these ones stand out above the rest.
Offensive tackle Turner Corcoran (Lawrence, Kansas)
Notre Dame did well to jump in with an offer early. He has unsurprisingly blown up with big time offers since then. A very good athlete that can also long snap, Corcoran has the tools to be a future left tackle that is outstanding in every facet of the game.
He brings a little bit of extra edge as a run blocker, can get to the second level with ease, and goes looking for more work if he’s already finished his initial block. His pass set needs some refinement, but he has plenty of time to adjust that and he packs a heavy punch. I believe he is going to be one the of the top tackles in the class before is all said and done.
Running back Chris Tyree (Chester, Virginia)
Tyree is tiny, but he is electric with the ball in his hands. His skills and stature are reminiscent of former West Virginia star Tavon Austin. Like him, Tyree could be used in a variety of ways whether lined up in the backfield or as a slot. Wherever he is, he’s going to be a nightmare for defenders to tackle because his stop-start ability is elite.
He’s a legitimately good corner prospect as well, but his height makes him a better fit on offense. He can score in a variety of ways and is going to be very fun to watch as he progresses to the next level.
Defensive lineman Rylie Mills (Lake Forest, Illinois)
Mills is a beast right now so I can only imagine what he is going to be like a few years down the road. He looks like he might end up being over 290 pounds with his frame. That kind of size with his length and twitch? It’s going to be frightening for opposing offensive lineman.
Whether he ends up as a 3 technique or stays out at end, I think he can grow into a dominant force. He already has a great understanding how to use his long arms to strike and shed versus the run and his lateral quickness foreshadows what kind of pass rusher he will be too. In my opinion he has a very good chance to become the top prospect in the Midwest in the 2020 cycle.
Athlete AJ Henning (Frankfurt, Illinois)
Mills cold very well be neck and neck with Henning for that honor. They couldn’t be built more different, but the slight Henning plays much bigger than the 170 pounds he is listed at. He has dynamic speed and flashes big time ball skills as a receiver and is equally dangerous as a runner/returner.
Notre Dame can never have enough playmakers that can break a game open and Henning is in the top tier of prospects that can do just that.
Defensive end Bryan Bresee (Damascus, Maryland)
Maybe it’s cheating to pick the top players in the entire class, but I don’t really care. I just love Bresee’s game and I would have him as the highest ranked player in the 2019 class as well. He is a special football player.
His snap anticipation is phenomenal and his twitch off the line is violent. More than just a great athlete, his feel as a pass rusher is beyond his years and his frame suggests that he could play just about anywhere on the line in college.
Everyone else in country will want him to be part of their program as well, but he has visited Notre Dame’s campus already. His talent is more than worth the grind it will take to land him. I see him as the type of a player who can come in and immediately change the dynamic of a defense. He’s that good.