Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com JAN. 1, 2021 51 FOOTBALL RECRUITING 21. JOE ALT • OL • 6-7, 280 North Oaks, Minn. • Totino-Grace H.S. Notre Dame has an outstanding offensive line group in the 2021 cycle, and Rivals ranks Alt the lowest of the quintet with the 5.6 re- cruit ranking. However, he may have the highest ceiling of the bunch. During the fall of 2019, Alt played his junior season around 230 pounds and put on 50 pounds over the course of the next 12-14 months. It was all "good" weight that came from hard work in the weight room combined with good eating habits. Alt's father, John, was two-time Pro Bowl selection (1992 and '93) and was inducted into the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2002. His father made the transition from tight end to offensive tackle during his col- lege days with Iowa, and Alt made that same switch during high school. If he's anything like his father, then Alt will be one heck of an offensive tackle for the Irish. 22. DEVIN AUPIU • DL • 6-5, 220 Oxnard, Calif. • Pacifica H.S. Notre Dame offered the No. 58 recruit in California and the na- tion's No. 40 weak-side defensive end the day before Thanksgiving, and by the end of the week he decided that he wanted to switch his commitment from UCLA. The only thing left to do was finish his application and get the thumbs up from the Irish staff to pledge, which came in time for him to sign early. Aupiu played his junior season at 205 pounds and should get to Notre Dame in February closer to 225 pounds. He needs work with strength and conditioning coach Matt Balis, but he is considered ad- vanced at this stage of his career as a pass rusher. Aupiu is a boom-or-bust type pros- pect for the 2021 class. 23. JOJO JOHNSON • CB • 5-10, 175 Merrillville, Ind. • Merrillville H.S. Johnson was Group of Five-level prospect when he was on Notre Dame's radar in 2019 and the Irish staff invited him on campus for game-day visits. But then during his senior campaign, he exploded at receiver, cornerback and in the return game. He earned 2020 Post-Tribune Offensive Player of the Year honors for his efforts. Johnson will likely play the field corner and man the nickel for the Irish, but he isn't expected to make an impact until later in his career. A one-time Cincinnati commit- ment, Johnson received his offer from Notre Dame on Nov. 22 and announced his pledge to the Irish just two days later. 24. JASON ONYE • DL • 6-5, 245 North Providence, R.I. • Bishop Hendricken H.S. Onye being No. 24 on this list speaks to just how talented this class is for Notre Dame — he has limitless potential. He didn't start playing football until his soph- omore year in 2018. He's also still growing into his big frame and learn- ing the defensive end position. Onye was named a 2019 Providence Journal All-State first-team defense performer, after he posted 68 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks and five forced fumbles. Defensive line coach Mike Elston identified Onye early in the 2021 cycle, and Notre Dame became the team to beat right away. He picked the Irish over Michigan, Penn State and others. 25. RON POWLUS III • QB • 6-3, 230 Granger, Ind. • Penn H.S. It wasn't a surprise that Powlus will be following in his father 's footsteps as a quarterback for the Fighting Irish, but it was kept under wraps for quite some time, and the announcement of his commitment was sprung on the public on the first day of the early signing period Dec. 16. Powlus will also be brought in on scholarship, which came a surprise, too, but the Irish staff has full confi- dence in this Notre Dame legacy. He has limited mobility, but shows a strong arm. His ceiling is likely a career backup who can take over if the starter is out. 26. JOSHUA BRYAN • K • 6-0, 185 Valencia, Calif. • Sierra Canyon H.S. Rivals lists Bryan as a two-star prospect. Specialist rankings are always an odd ordeal. Per Chris Sailer Kick- ing, Bryan is one of the first-ever "six-star" prospects, so he will come to Notre Dame as one of the most decorated kicker recruits ever. Bryan was originally pledged to Colorado before flipping to the Irish once a roster spot opened up. ✦ COMMITMENT UPDATES Games played Dec. 10-12 unless otherwise noted Class Of 2021 CB Philip Riley: Valrico (Fla.) Bloomingdale (12‑1) lost 37‑14 to Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas (7‑1) in the semifinals of the Class 7A Florida state playoffs. Season completed. Class Of 2022 TE Jack Nickel: Caught one pass for minus‑ one yard in Milton (Ga.) High's (11‑1) 23‑13 loss to Valdosta (Ga.) Lowndes (10‑1) in the quarterfinals of the 8A Georgia state playoffs. Season completed. LB Nolan Ziegler: There is no timetable for the return of Michigan high school football playoffs. Next game: Grand Rapids (Mich.) Catholic Central (8-0) will face Muskegon (Mich.) Oakridge (7-2) in the quarterfinals of the Division 5 Michigan state playoffs TBD. Season completed: OL Joe Alt of Fridley, Minn.; TE Cane Berrong of Hartwell, Ga.; WR Deion Colzie of Athens, Ga.; RB Logan Diggs of Metairie, La.; TE Mitchell Evans of Wadsworth, Ohio; OL Blake Fisher of Avon, Ind.; OL Caleb Johnson of Ocala, Fla.; CB JoJo Johnson of Mer- rillville, Ind.; LB Prince Kollie of Jonesborough, Tenn.; DT Gabriel Rubio of St. Peters, Mo.; OL Rocco Spindler of Clarkston, Mich.; and WR Lorenzo Styles of Pickerington, Ohio.; OL Joey Tanona of Zionsville, Ind.; WR Jayden Thomas of Atlanta Follow @BGI_MikeSinger on Twitter for daily recruiting updates on BlueandGold.com!