Irish Invasion | Who We're Watching

Four official visitors are in South Bend this weekend, but Notre Dame Stadium will be rocking on Sunday night as Irish Invasion returns after taking a year off. 

2020 Punahou defensive back Alaka'i Gilman‍ headlines the camp as he hopes to come earn an offer from the Irish. I’m told Gilman has a huge chip on his shoulder because he’s seen Notre Dame extend offer to defensive backs he feels he’s better than and wants to show it on Sunday. I’d be shocked if Gilman didn’t demonstrate his physical player early in 1-on-1’s. Gilman will camp at Michigan on Saturday. 

2022 Gibson Southern (Ind.) quarterback Brady Allen‍ headlines the Quarterback Academy portion of the camp as he’s one of the best in his class. Cincinnati, Indiana, Purdue and Virginia have already offered, but an offer from Notre Dame would be a game-changer. The 6-foot-5, 185-pounder was on campus this spring and really hit it off with quarterbacks coach Tommy Rees. Notre Dame has quarterback commits in 2020 and 2021, so offering an early 2022 quarterback wouldn’t come as a surprise if Allen performs well. 

2021 IMG Academy (Fla.) offensive lineman Greg Crippen‍ committed to Notre Dame in March and this will be our first look at him in person if he works out. Irish Invasion isn’t a camp for offensive linemen or defensive linemen as less than 10 offensive linemen and around five defensive linemen are expected at camp.

2021 Ben Davis (Ind.) athlete Daylan Carnell‍ picked up an offer from Notre Dame this winter and has impressed me each time I’ve seen him live. He worked out at receiver at The Opening in Ohio this spring and had a good day. However, his future might be at defensive back and it wouldn’t surprise anyone to see Notre Dame work him out on both sides of the ball on Sunday.

2022 Nazareth Academy (Ill.) Tyler Morris‍ got his offer from Notre Dame a few weeks ago and has star potential. The 5-foot-11, 165-pounder is an explosive receiver and will get a good test at Irish Invasion against some experienced upperclassmen. 

2021 Denton Ryan (Texas) athlete Billy Bowman Jr‍ got his Notre Dame offer early this spring and our sources in Texas have raved about his potential. Notre Dame is recruiting him on the defensive side of the ball, but several programs see a future at receiver. 

2020 St. John’s (Mass.) receiver Jay Brunelle‍ is a name Notre Dame fans should be familiar with as he visited earlier this spring. He doesn’t hold an offer, but a good camp performance can leave a lasting impression on the Irish staff. 

2021 Hart County (Ga.) tight end Cane Berrong‍ has one of the most impressive offer lists in the country and he’s entering his junior year. The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder could end up being the top tight end in the class. 

2021 Jacksonville Episcopal (Fla.) tight end Nick Elksnis‍ could also make a case for being the top tight end in 2021. The 6-foot-5, 220-pounder already holds offers from SEC powerhouses and will look to earn an offer from Notre Dame on Sunday. 

2021 Lake Travis (Texas) tight end Lake McRee‍ is also an intriguing prospect as he holds early offers from Arkansas, Baylor, Texas and Texas A&M among many others. He’s not quite as big, but a little more athletic. It will be interesting to see how he stacks up against two of the best in his class. 

2020 Dr. Phillips (Fla.) cornerback Tevin Griffey‍‍ holds an offer from Michigan and has had a good camp season. Griffey ran a 4.66 40, 4.34 shuttle and had a vertical of 33 inches earlier this spring. He is the son of Ken Griffey Jr. 

2021 St. Thomas Aquinas (Kans.) running back Tank Young‍ is an interesting name on the list. Young ran a 4.79 40 at The Opening earlier this spring, but plays much faster than the time. Iowa State has offered and we’re told several more power five programs are keeping tabs on him, including Clemson. 

2022 Buckingham Browne & Nichols School (Mass.) linebacker Tyler Martin‍ has been a hot name on the recruiting trail and has the offer list to back up the hype. Boston College, Dartmouth, UMass, Michigan, Nebraska, Syracuse and Virginia have offered. 

2021 East Lansing (Mich.) receiver Andrel Anthony Jr.‍ is blowing up as I’m typing this. Michigan offered the 6-foot-2, 150-pounder on Friday. Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Indiana, Iowa State, Toledo and Western Michigan have also offered. 

Other names to watch:

2021 Central Catholic (Mich.) WR Jace Williams 

2022 Lutheran of St. Charles County (Mo.) ATH Arlen Harris Jr. 

2020 Collegiate School (Va.) ATH Nigel Williams‍ 

2020 Bristol Academy (United Kingdom) CB Jairo Faverus