This is another Notre Dame class led by the signees in the trenches. The Irish landed elite talent on the offensive and defensive lines. Five-star offensive tackle Will Black leads the way but four-star Owen Strebig also has the look of a great tackle for the Irish. Four-star defensive lineman Chris Burgess may be a future star, too.
The ongoing saga with Deuce Knight was the biggest issue with the class this year. Even though it felt inevitable with the number of visits he was taking elsewhere while committed to Notre Dame, it still stung when Knight eventually flipped to Auburn. The program did quickly replace him with four-star quarterback Blake Herbert.
James Flanigan will be the next great Notre Dame tight end.
Flanigan is a long and lean tight end that has plenty of room to add weight to his frame. He’s a very physical player that does not shy away from contact. You can see that during the reps as a defensive end in which he more than holds his own.
That physicality transfers over to the tight end spot where he is a very good in-line blocker. He’ll continue to refine his route running and leave Notre Dame as a fan favorite.
