Notre Dame Fighting Irish football class of 2024 superlatives

Who is the class MVP? Who is the most athletic? Who is the best interview? Blue & Gold recruiting insider Mike Singer dishes out nine superlatives to members of Notre Dame’s 2024 recruiting class.

The Irish aren’t expected to sign any players on the traditional National Signing Day that falls on the first Wednesday in February, which of course is today. But below are some of the players to know of the Irish signees from December.

This is an annual article that I do at Blue & Gold, and it is mainly for fun and should not be taken that seriously.

Class MVP: QB CJ Carr

I mean, this one is obvious. The easiest slam dunk of the article.

He was the first player to commit to the Irish among the signees. He was important in helping build Notre Dame’s 2024 class, making 19 total visits to campus — many of which had the sole purpose of being there to recruit other prospects.

Carr is also a big name nationally and a natural-born leader. Oh, he’s a darn good quarterback as well. Carr’s future is extremely bright at Notre Dame. It’s actually wild to me that in my fifth superlatives article at Blue & Gold, Carr is the first quarterback I’ve picked for this. He’s obviously very deserving of class MVP honors, as is the runner-up choice as well.

Runner-up: WR Cam Williams

Previous picks: RB Chris Tyree (2020), OL Blake Fisher (2021), LB Jaylen Sneed (2022), LB Drayk Bowen (2023)

Best athlete: SAF Tae Johnson

High school quarterback and dynamic with the ball in his hands as a ball carrier? Check. Division I caliber basketball recruit? Check. It’s hard not to go with Cam Williams here, but Johnson just makes too much sense. Will safety be his best position in college? Who knows. That’s the spot that he’s supposed to start out his career out at, but with how good he is on offense, there’s no telling where he ends up.

In looking at my previous picks for this award (see more on that below), I’ve clearly sided with multi-sport athletes. Michael Carmody and Eli Raridon were both really good big men on the basketball court, and Tyler Buchner was a very good lacrosse player (and I suppose he still is with him returning to Notre Dame to play the sport).

Runner-up: WR Cam Williams

Previous picks: OL Michael Carmody (2020), QB Tyler Buchner (2021), TE Eli Raridon (2022), ATH Brandyn Hillman (2023)

Most underrated: OL Anthonie Knapp

Cole Mullins wasn’t the runner-up for this, but I really considered him, too. Going with Knapp might seem like an odd choice because he is ranked highly by On3 as the No. 97 overall player and No. 5 interior lineman in America. However …

People want to talk about the rankings disparity with Carr between On3 and the rest of the industry. But how about Knapp? I feel like no one discusses this but me! Again, we’re looking at the No. 5 interior lineman nationally per On3 with Knapp, while 247 Sports, Rivals and ESPN rank him as a three-star player. And the best positional ranking of the three is 247 Sports having him as the No. 59 (!!!) offensive tackle in America. That’s wild.

Knapp’s film is incredible. On3 loves it. Notre Dame loves it. For what it’s worth, I love it. Knapp is being slept on by the rest of the industry.

Runner-up: SAF Kennedy Urlacher

Previous picks: DT Aidan Keanaaina (2020), DB Ryan Barnes (2021), DB Jayden Bellamy (2022), S Adon Shuler (2023)

Boom or bust: OT Styles Prescod

If Prescod reaches his ceiling, he’s easily a draft pick — no doubt about it. He has all the makings of an impressive player. But there are questions about whether he’s a tackle or guard at the next level. This is not an uncommon question to have about O-linemen, but is he a “tweener” at the two positions.

There were debates about whether Blake Fisher’s best position was guard or tackle (he was so good that he could’ve played either at ND), but then there’s situations like Michael Carmody where he was considered a guy who could’ve played both spots but just couldn’t find a home. Which will Prescod be?

I tend to think Prescod will “boom.”

Runner-up: SAF Tae Johnson

Previous picks: CB Caleb Offord (2020), DL Jason Onye (2021), DL Aiden Gobaira (2022), WR Braylon James (2023)

Mr. Versatile: WR Cam Williams

A quick Google search says the following is the definition of versatile: “able to adapt or be adapted to many different functions or activities.” Yeah, I think that sums up Williams pretty well. I believe he’ll be able to contribute as a true freshman, and a big part of that will be his versatility as a wide receiver. He can play slot, boundary field — really whatever you want him to do.

And to be completely honest, another reason he’s getting this superlative is because I feel like it’d be wild to not have him getting one at all! You really can make an argument for him to get several of these (at the end of the day, meaningless) superlatives.

Runner-up: RB Aneyas Williams

Previous picks: ATH Xavier Watts (2020), DB Khari Gee (2021), LB Nolan Ziegler (2022), LB Preston Zinter (2023)

Instant Impact: LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa

Laughing at my pick back in 2020. Going with a transfer is a very obvious choice, but back in 2019 when I wrote the superlatives article, the Irish weren’t taking as many transfers as they do these days!

After the Isaiah Pryor pick, I went with wide receivers for three straight years, in large part because receiver is an easier position to break into the lineup. Receivers rotate in and out a good bit and it’s a not an overly difficult position to play.

Linebacker is not an easy position to plug in and play as a true freshman, especially at a school like Notre Dame where you have to focus so much on things outside of football. But with Viliamu-Asa enrolling in January, coming from basically a college program in St. John Bosco and being physically ready to go, he’s my choice for instant impact.

Don’t be surprised to see him playing a lot against Texas A&M in the opener. He’s the real deal.

Runner-up: WR Cam Williams

Previous picks: Transfer DB Isaiah Pryor (2020), WR Lorenzo Styles (2021), WR Tobias Merriweather (2022), WR Jaden Greathouse (2023)

Hidden gem: LB Teddy Rezac

Talk about a hidden gem — the in-state Nebraska Cornhuskers hadn’t offered Rezac before the Irish did. But at the same time, Rezac wasn’t all that hidden, considering he starred on one of the state’s powerhouse programs.

Rezac impressed the Notre Dame staff during the spring evaluation period. I was told that Rezac ran a 4.5 40-yard dash in front of them, and the Irish coaches would’ve been impressed if he would’ve ran a 4.7. I don’t know exactly where Rezac will play at Notre Dame — it’s too early to tell at this point. But Notre Dame got a very athletic and fast athlete to put somewhere on its defense.

And by the way, Nebraska ended up offering right after Notre Dame did. But he was already all Irish at that point.

Runner-up: DL Sean Sevillano

Previous picks: DE Alexander Ehrensberger (2020), CB JoJo Johnson (2021), OL Ashton Craig (2022), DL Boubacar Traore (2023)

Favorite interview: EDGE Bryce Young

I remember being at a Holiday party with my church small group back in December 2022 and stepping away to interview Young, who I want to say had recently visited Notre Dame for a bowl practice. That conversation felt more like catching up with an old friend more than anything!

Young has shown maturity beyond in my interactions with me and always gives insightful and thoughtful answers. Whether it’s via text or phone call, Young is a “yes sir, no sir” kid and always calls me Mr. Singer as well. This is not needed by any stretch, but signs of respect are so very much appreciated.

Runner-up: QB CJ Carr

Previous picks: QB Drew Pyne (2020), OL Rocco Spindler (2021), OL Billy Schruath (2022), OL Sullivan Absher (2023)

The annual “fan club” selection: OT Guerby Lambert

This one was very tough to choose. I mulled over about half of the class for this superlative.

It’s become a running joke now for a couple years that I’m the president of the “Joe Alt Fan Club.” So I am often asked the question, ‘Which fan club will you be running next?’ There’s no real criteria for this other than whatever my gut is telling me. It’s all in fun.

Kedren Young was nearly selected, but I’m such a huge fan of Lambert. I love everything about this signing for the Irish. I love how his recruitment shaped up between Notre Dame, Boston College, Harvard and Ohio State. Each program offered him something, but Notre Dame truly had the “best of both worlds” for Lambert. I appreciated that he went mostly silent on social media for several months, but he’d pop on Twitter from time to time to promote his teammates. He comes from a great family as well.

And on the field, Lambert is a bad man (total complement). If Lambert were enrolling early, I think there’d be a real case for him to start as a true freshman like we saw Blake Fisher do in 2021 against Florida State in the opener. Lambert is that talented. And heck, I’m still not ruling out Lambert starting at some point as a true freshman in 2023. He’s got the size, smarts, strength and athleticism to dominate for years to come at left tackle. I’m fired up about Lambert.

Runner-up: RB Kedren Young

Previous picks: QB Drew Pyne (2020), OL Joe Alt (2021), QB Steve Angeli (2022), RB Jeremiyah Love (2023)