Notre Dame OT commit Will Black makes enormous rise in the rankings, named five-star recruit by On3
Wallingford (Conn.) Choate Rosemary Hall class of 2025 offensive tackle and Notre Dame commit Will Black saw a monumental rise in On3’s rankings on Monday morning. He now ranks as a five-star recruit.
The 6-7, 285-pounder entered the day as the nation’s No. 203 overall prospect and No. 14 offensive tackle per On3. He’s now the No. 6 prospect and top offensive tackle in America.
“I am extremely blessed!” Black said when asked for his reaction to the news. “The work will never stop, and I’m going to prove why I’m the best in the country.”
Meanwhile, ESPN ranks Black as a three-star prospect with no positional or national ranking. 247 Sports lists the Irish pledge as the No. 40 tackle in the land, and Rivals has Black as the No. 35 tackle nationally.
If Black’s current ranking designation holds at the end of the cycle, it will mark four consecutive recruiting classes that Notre Dame signed an On3 five-star offensive linemen. Aamil Wagner (2022), Charles Jagusah (2023) and Guerby Lambert (2024) were the previous five-star recruits.
Black is a part of a Notre Dame recruiting class that includes 17 total commitments, including two others on the offensive line — Waukesha (Wis.) Catholic Memorial’s Owen Strebig and Greenwich (Conn.) Brunswick School’s Matty Augustine. Seventeen verbal pledges is most in the country with Penn State in second at 12.
Black committed to Notre Dame Dec. 21, 2023 over finalists Alabama, Michigan and Penn State. He held scholarship offers from 17 other programs as well.
He visited campus back in June and participated in the Notre Dame Lineman’s Challenge camp. The result of his efforts was him picking up an offer from the Fighting Irish. With his team playing on Saturdays, Black was unable to get out to South Bend for a game day. But he did get out to campus the weekend of Dec. 16 to watch a couple practices and hang out with the coaches.
“It’s a combination of a few things,” Black said why picking Notre Dame in an interview Blue & Gold before announcing his decision. “My relationship with the coaches is the best compared to any other school, plus meeting the players — the culture in the O-line room is great. I feel like I can fit in there really well.
“There’s a combination of great football — especially sending offensive linemen to the NFL — and great academics. A Notre Dame degree is one of the best in the country. It’s the right fit for me, and it’s where I’ll grow the best as a football player and student.”
For his efforts during his junior season in 2023, Black was named the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) lineman of the year. He was also named the Founders League lineman of the year and was listed on the All-Founders first-team offense.
