Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com JAN. 1, 2021 49 FOOTBALL RECRUITING Estime was named NJ.com's Player of the Year for his incredible 2020 season in which he racked up 1,857 yards and 22 scores on just 190 rush- ing attempts. The No. 7 running back and No. 132 overall prospect in the land per Rivals is a powerful downhill runner who has some shiftiness to him as well. 7. DEION COLZIE • WR • 6-3, 200 McDonough, Ga. • Athens Academy H.S. Colzie was one of Notre Dame's first commitments of the 2021 class, b u t b a c k e d o ff h i s pledge in March 2020, citing that he made his decision too early. It seemed like he was a lock for the home-state Georgia Bulldogs, but Notre Dame's persistence paid off and he landed back in the Irish's class. In Colzie, Notre Dame is getting another big-bodied receiver who will continue a stretch of standout bound- ary pass catchers. He isn't the quick- est player, but he is deceptively fast with his long strides and high points the ball exceptionally well. Rivals ranks Colzie as the No. 21 wide receiver and No. 143 overall player in America. 8. PRINCE KOLLIE • LB • 6-2, 210 Jonesborough, Tenn. • David Crockett H.S. Kollie is arguably the most excit- ing player to watch in Notre Dame's 2021 class. The Under Armour All-American and 2020 Tennessee Class 5A Mr. Football award winner had an incredible senior season on both sides of the ball, rushing for 1,951 yards and scoring 29 total touchdowns, while posting 109 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, one in- terception and four passes defended. He was bumped from being ranked as a three-star recruit to a four-star and the No. 239 overall prospect na- tionally, but that still feels too low for Kollie, who may be the next coming of Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah at the rover position for Notre Dame. Kollie is a disruptive force at line- backer who has an extremely high ceiling. 9. KHARI GEE • S • 6-3, 185 Atlanta • Woodward Academy H.S. The shock of the 2021 recruiting class came when four- star safety Khari Gee flipped from LSU to Notre Dame. Notre Dame offered Gee in March 2020, but he eliminated the Irish pretty quickly once the pandemic halted any chance of him going up to South Bend to see campus and meet the coaching staff (two things he has still yet to do). Gee committed to LSU over Clem- son on May 18, but as the early sing- ing period inched closer it was ap- parent that he and the Tigers would part ways. His camp contacted Irish safeties coach Terry Joseph to see if there was still interest. Notre Dame jumped on the oppor- tunity, and in just a matter of a few days Gee committed to Notre Dame and announced his decision Dec. 18. Though he is not inside the Ri- vals250 national rankings, the web- site lists him as the country's No. 28 safety and he is a versatile defender who could play a number of posi- tions in Notre Dame's defense. 10. CALEB JOHNSON • OL • 6-6, 275 Ocala, Fla. • Trinity Catholic H.S. The Indiana native committed to Auburn in the spring af- ter the pandemic ruined his chances of visiting Notre Dame, Penn State and others, but after seeing the Irish's domi- nance later in the year, his interest in Brian Kelly's program was piqued. During a Zoom call with the Irish staff Nov. 19, Johnson de- cided he wanted to make the flip. The Rivals four-star prospect and No. 33 offensive tackle in the coun- try looks great on film at tackle and could play guard with his athleticism blocking out in space. Notre Dame was set with its four of- fensive line verbal pledges, but when the opportunity presented itself to add Johnson the Irish staff couldn't resist. 11. PHILIP RILEY • CB • 6-1, 190 Riverview, Fla. • Bloomingdale H.S. Riley committed to Notre Dame in May after many thought he'd land at Virginia Tech or Wash- ington, but then flipped his pledge to USC in September. His Trojans' verbal was short lived, though, and he flipped back to Notre Dame in November. The drama-filled recruit- ment ended with a signature to the Fighting Irish despite defensive co- ordinator Clark Lea's departure to Vanderbilt. Riley is a stocky cornerback whose upside may be best at safety, and this might be a crazy idea, but with his physicality, he could be a rover down the line. The Washington state native is rated as the No. 44 player in Florida and the No. 24 cornerback nationally by Rivals. 12. JAYDEN THOMAS • WR • 6-1, 185 Paulding County, Ga. • Pace Academy H.S. Rivals ranked Thomas as the na- tion's No. 108 overall prospect in the fall of 2019, but he eventu- ally tumbled out of the national rankings com- pletely. However, he's still listed as a four-star prospect and the No. 47 wide re- ceiver in the land. Thomas wasn't overly productive in Pace Academy's run-first offense and needs to clean up his game, but the Irish are getting an outstanding athlete who fits Notre Dame's on- and off-the-field profile. Thomas is a twitchy athlete who has a high ceiling at multiple receiver spots and has looked good as a safety during his high school career as well. He also had offers from Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Penn State and many others, but said his decision to pick the Irish was a no-brainer. 13. CHANCE TUCKER • CB • 6-0, 165 Encino, Calif. • Crespi Carmelite H.S. Tucker is our top-ranked three- star prospect in Notre Dame's class. He didn't get to show off his skills during the fall since California did not have high school football. Rivals views him as the No. 29 player in the Golden State