A look at On3 NFL comparisons for 2023 five-star Notre Dame commits
The 2023 Notre Dame recruiting class, which is currently ranked second in the nation behind Ohio State, has one five-star commit, 18 four-star pledges and a three-star commit according to the On3 Consensus rankings. Last week, On3 updated its own rankings, and the Irish now have three five-star commits per the On300.
Those pledges have yet to play a snap of college football, but they are clearly already showing signs that they can be elite players at the next level. From measurables to tendencies to backgrounds, here are three former college standout and current NFL player comparisons for the best of the best committed to Notre Dame in the 2023 class.
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EDGE Keon Keeley: Chase Young
If Keeley’s career turns out anywhere near as well the college career of current Washington Commanders and former Ohio State pass rusher Young’s, Irish fans will be pleased. Young, who played for the Buckeyes from 2017-19, was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders.
“Keeley has similar size, length and the disruptive pass rush ability we saw from Young as a recruit,” Keeley’s On3 profile reads. “(He) has measured 6-5.5, 245 pounds while Young was around 6-5, 250 pounds as a senior in high school. Both have arm lengths around 34 inches.”
The DC-area native was a unanimous All-American in 2019, won six national individual awards, and finished ninth in the voting for the 2019 Heisman Trophy. Also in 2019, the 6-5, 265-pound pass rusher lead the nation in sacks (16.5) and sacks per game (1.38). He was second in the country in tackles for loss (21.5).
OT Charles Jagusah: Tristan Wirfs
When Notre Dame earned a commitment from Jagusah on June 30, the Irish picked up a lineman with a game similar to that of a former Iowa star and No. 13 overall 2020 NFL Draft selection in Wirfs.
“Jagusah’s physical dimensions, fluidity and multi-sport background remind us of Wirfs,” Jagusah’s profile says. “Jagusah plays on both sides of the ball as an offensive and defensive lineman, as Wirfs did. The coordination, balance and smooth movement patterns are also similar. The frame and length are close, as well.”
Wirfs was 6-5 and 320 pounds at Iowa, while Jagusah is 6-6 and 300 pounds entering his senior year of high school. Additionally, the two linemen are from the same region; Jagusah hails from Rock Island, Ill., while Wirfs is from 73 miles west in Mount Vernon, Iowa. Both players have shown elite wrestling skills as well.
S Peyton Bowen: Caden Stearns
The final comparison is between two Texans; Bowen hails from a suburb of Dallas, while Stearns went to high school outside of San Antonio. The former is committed to Notre Dame in the 2023 class, and the latter played at Texas from 2018-20 and was taken No. 152 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. As a junior in 2020, Stearns posted 52 tackles, three pass breakups and an interception over seven games. He made a total of 28 career starts for the Longhorns before the Denver Broncos took him in 2021.
The On3 team believes Bowen’s game resembles that of Stearns, citing “size, length, athleticism and playmaking ability at a high level of Texas high school football” as similarities between the two defensive backs.
Bowen is currently 6-0 and 185 pounds, while Stearns was listed on Texas’ website as 6-1 and 207 pounds.
