What to watch for with Notre Dame’s commits on the field this week
Notre Dame’s commits in the 2023 and 2024 classes are staring to wrap up their respective junior and senior seasons, and a handful have already seen their campaign end. This article takes a look at what to watch for as the weekend approaches.
GAME OF THE WEEK
After starting the season 3-3, Notre Dame class of 2023 defensive line pledge Brenan Vernon‘s Mentor (Ohio) High (8-3) squad has won five in a row and has already been victorious in a couple playoff games.
One of their losses on the season came against Cleveland-area rival Medina (Ohio) High (11-1), and the two sides meet on Friday night in the semifinals of the Ohio Region 1 state playoffs. Medina defeated Mentor 52-38 back on Sept. 30. Can Mentor get their revenge and advance to the state finals?
Official stats have not been recorded for Vernon this fall, but in clips we’ve seen of the four-star prospect, he’s been a powerful, disruptive force, especially in stopping the run.
Vernon ranks as the nation’s No. 118 overall player and No. 13 defensive lineman according to the 2023 On3 Consensus. He committed to Notre Dame over Ohio State, Alabama and others June 29, 2021.
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TOP PERFORMER FROM LAST WEEK
Saline (Mich.) High (8-3) played the No. 1 team in the state of Michigan per High School Football America last Friday night when it battled Belleville (Mich.) High (11-0) in the second round of the Michigan Division 1 state playoffs.
Notre Dame class of 2024 quarterback pledge CJ Carr‘s Saline team fell 62-44 on the night, ending his junior season, but he was simply fantastic. He completed 37 of 53 passes for 383 yards with 5 touchdowns in an attempt to will his team to victory, but the Belleville offense was too much for Saline in the shoot out.
Here are Carr’s stats for the season: Completed 222 of 326 passes (68.1 percent) for 2,685 yards with 26 touchdowns and 5 interceptions … 70 rushes for 221 yards and 7 scores.
Carr ranks as the No. 30 overall player and No. 5 quarterback according to the 2024 On3 Consensus.
WHERE WILL MIKE SINGER BE?
With Notre Dame’s game on Saturday at noon, I wasn’t able to make any last minute trips out of state, because I’d need to be able to be home for our postgame live show with Tim Hyde. Barring a last minute local trip, I’ll enjoy a night off.
FULL NOTRE DAME COMMIT SCHEDULE
OL Sullivan Absher—Belmont (N.C.) South Point (10-1) at Greensboro (N.C.) Dudley (9-2) in the second round of the North Carolina Class 3A state playoffs Nov. 10.
LB Jaiden Ausberry—Baton Rouge (La.) University Lab (7-3) has a bye in the first round of the Louisiana Division II state playoffs.
LB Drayk Bowen—Merrillville (Ind.) Andrean (8-3) vs. Lafayette (Ind.) Central Catholic (9-3) in the quarterfinals of the Indiana Class 2A state playoffs Nov. 11.
S Peyton Bowen—Denton (Texas) Guyer (10-0) vs. Flower Mound (Texas) Marcus (6-4) in the first round of the Texas 6A Division II state playoffs Nov. 11.
RB Dylan Edwards—Derby (Kan.) High (8-2) vs. Topeka (Kan.) Washburn Rural (8-2) in the quarterfinals round of the Kansas Class 6A state playoffs Nov. 11.
TE Cooper Flanagan—Concord (Calif.) De La Salle (7-3) at Union City (Calif.) James Logan Charter (7-3) in the first round of the California Interscholastic Federation North Coast Section Open/Division state playoffs Nov. 11.
WR Rico Flores Jr.—Folsom (Calif.) High (9-1) vs. Sacramento (Calif.) Sheldon (8-3) in the second round of the California Interscholastic Federation Sac-Joaquin Section state playoffs.
CB Christian Gray—St. Louis De Smet (6-5) vs. Columbia (Mo.) Rock Bridge (10-2) in the quarterfinals of the Missouri Class 6 state playoffs Nov. 11.
WR Jaden Greathouse—Austin (Texas) Westlake (10-0) vs. Round Rock (Texas) Cedar Ridge (5-5) in the first round of the Texas 6A Division I state playoffs Nov. 10.
RB Jayden Limar—Lake Stevens (Wash.) High (8-2) vs. Bothell (Wash.) North Creek (5-4) Nov. 11.
RB Jeremiyah Love—St. Louis Christian Brothers (10-1) vs. Chesterfield (Mo.) Marquette (10-1) in the quarterfinals round of the Missouri Class 6 state playoffs Nov. 11.
S Ben Minich—Cincinnati Lakota West (12-0) vs. Cincinnati Elder (10-2) in the semifinals round of the Ohio Region 4 state playoffs Nov. 11.
DL Armel Mukam—Woodberry Forest (Va.) High (7-2) at Alexandria (Va.) Episcopal (6-2) Nov. 12.
OL Joe Otting—Topeka (Kan.) Hayden (9-1) at Columbus (Kan.) High (5-5) in the quarterfinals of the Kansas Class 3A state playoffs Nov. 11.
DL Boubacar Traore—West Roxbury (Mass.) Catholic Memorial (8-0) vs. North Chelmsford (Mass.) High (8-1) in the second round of the Massachusetts Division 2 state playoffs Nov. 12 (Traore is out with an injury).
DL Brenan Vernon—Mentor (Ohio) High (8-3) vs. Medina (Ohio) High (11-1) in the semifinals of the Ohio Region 1 state playoffs Nov. 11.
LB Preston Zinter—Lawrence (Mass.) Central Catholic (7-2) vs. Everett (Mass.) High (8-1) in the quarterfinals of the Massachusetts Division 1 state playoffs Nov. 11
2024 Notre Dame commits
OL Peter Jones—Malvern (Pa.) Prep (7-2) vs. Philadelphia Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (3-6) Nov. 11.
TE Jack Larsen—Charlotte (N.C.) Catholic (9-2) at Greensboro (N.C.) Grimsley (11-0) in the second round of the North Carolina Class 3A state playoffs Nov. 11.
DL Owen Wafle—Princeton (N.J.) Hun School (8-0) vs. Kingston (Pa.) Wyoming Seminary College Prep (3-5) Nov. 12.
Season completed: OL Charles Jagusah, DL Brandon Davis-Swain WR Cam Williams, CB Micah Bell, DL Devan Houstan, WR Braylon James, OL Sam Pendleton, S Adon Shuler, QB CJ Carr
