Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM MAY 2022 37 BY MIKE SINGER West Bloomfield (Mich.) High's Bran- don Davis-Swain made a surprise an- nouncement April 23, committing to Notre Dame seemingly out of the blue. The four-star class of 2024 defensive lineman didn't have major expectations or plans going into his visit for the Notre Dame Blue-Gold Game April 23, but his recruitment changed in a big way by the day's end. "I didn't know I was going to commit today," Davis-Swain told Blue & Gold Illustrated a few hours after announcing his decision. "It was an in-the-moment type of thing." Davis-Swain met new Notre Dame defensive line coach Al Washington for the first time, and it's safe to say they clicked from the get-go. After all, it was Washington who Davis-Swain informed of his commitment. "I told Coach Washington, and he was excited and hyped," Davis-Swain ex- plained. "He told some other coaches, and they were all excited too. It was a great experience." Davis-Swain also got to talk with head coach Marcus Freeman about his decision. "He was hyped as well and congratu- lated me," Davis-Swain recalled. It's a big deal to become Notre Dame's first pledge of a cycle, and Davis-Swain holds that title for the 2024 class. "It's really cool to me to be the first commitment," he stated. While there's a ways to go between now and when he can make his com- mitment official on National Signing Day for the 2024 class, Davis-Swain is locked in with his Notre Dame decision. "I love the school and campus, and Coach Washington and I really hit it off when I was on campus," Davis- Swain said. "The academics are great, and I love the environment within that coaching staff." "It is pretty early, but I always teach my son to be a leader," his father, Bran- don Davis, added. "Don't follow what everyone else is doing; follow your heart. When he told me what he wanted to do and how he was feeling, I told him to go with his heart. That's the most important thing. "I think it's a perfect fit. He's big on vibes, and he got that vibe at Notre Dame. It's going to be great. They have Coach Freeman taking over the program and leading it in the right direction. He's going to be in great hands. Notre Dame with its academics — you can't beat it." During his sophomore season in 2021, Davis-Swain recorded 18 sacks and 12 tackles for loss, per MLive. He was named to the 2021 Michigan Di- vision 1-2 Associated Press All-State football team. "They said I can play three-technique inside and then go outside at five-tech- nique as a defensive end," Davis-Swain said of his fit at Notre Dame. "He's been working hard," his father added. "Ever since he was a young kid, I knew he was going to play football at this level. To see it manifest is a dream come true and all praise to God." At the time of his commitment, Davis-Swain was the nation's No. 8 defensive lineman and No. 94 overall player per the 2024 On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted indus- try-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media services. On3's own rankings are a bit higher on Davis-Swain than the industry av- erage. On3 lists him as the No. 7 defen- sive lineman and No. 63 overall player nationally. He also held offers from Michigan, Penn State, Ole Miss, Maryland, Michi- gan State, Kentucky, Louisville, West Virginia, Tennessee and Illinois. Notre Dame offered Davis-Swain March 17 on its Pot of Gold recruiting day that falls annually on St. Patrick's Day. On that day, the Notre Dame staff offers several dozen prospects in the rising junior class. ✦ COMMITMENT PROFILE BRANDON DAVIS-SWAIN Four-Star Defensive Lineman Becomes The Fighting Irish's First 2024 Commitment Davis-Swain, the No. 7 defensive lineman and No. 63 overall player nationally per On3, is Notre Dame's first commitment of the 2024 class. PHOTO COURTESY BRANDON DAVIS-SWAIN "I love the school and campus, and Coach [Al] Washington, and I really hit it off when I was on campus. The academics are great, and I love the environment within that coaching staff." DAVIS-SWAIN ON NOTRE DAME FILM ANALYSIS "[Brandon] Davis-Swain is a versatile defensive lineman with the ability to disrupt as a pass rusher from multiple spots on the front. In initially evaluating Davis-Swain for the 2024 On300, we thought his ability as a pass rusher stood out the most. He has good initial quickness off the snap and shows the ability to dip his shoulder while also using quick hands to get past offensive linemen. Davis-Swain is particularly dangerous rushing from the interior where his quickness presents a mismatch for op- posing guards and centers. "We also see him show the ability to finish with some physicality behind the line of scrimmage. Davis-Swain looks to be an average to above average athlete at a shade under 6-foot-3, 241 pounds. He lacks a little length. As is the case with many 2024 prospects, it will be interesting to see how his body develops over the course of the next two years." — On3 director of scouting and rankings Charles Power