Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1491978
34 MARCH 2023 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2023 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE alent of an army being greeted by re- inforcements. No Notre Dame posi- tion group needed extra hands, quite literally, more than the wide receivers. They're on the way, and it's excellent news for the Irish. On Paper Grade: A+ TIGHT END Signed: Cooper Flanagan of Concord (Calif.) De La Salle Overview: This is another one of those position groups Notre Dame has so much depth at already. It just needed to secure a signing from one player. It landed a pretty good one in Flanagan, a four-star who had been committed to the Irish since Sept. 2, 2021. Flanagan is completely sold on what he can become at "Tight End Univer- sity." Notre Dame is sold on Flanagan. But like Minchey, the Irish don't need him to be a star for a few years. Notre Dame is loaded with the likes of senior Kevin Bauman, junior Mitchell Evans, and sophomores Eli Raridon and Holden Staes. Flanagan falls in a long line of playmakers all aiming to avoid a drop- off with the departure of all-time great Michael Mayer to the NFL. He'll be ready to throw his hat in the ring as an option before long, though. On Paper Grade: B+ OFFENSIVE LINE Signed: Charles Jagusah of Rock Is- land (Ill.) Alleman, Sullivan Absher of Belmont (N.C.) South Point, Joe Otting of Topeka (Kan.) Hayden, Sam Pend- leton of Pfafftown (N.C.) Reagan and Chris Terek of Glen Ellyn (Ill.) Glenbard Overview: Year after year, Notre Dame cleans up nicely in the recruit- ment of offensive linemen. This class is no different. It's headlined by On3's No. 4 offensive tackle in the country in Jagusah, a five-star prospect. Absher is also a top-20 tackle, and the three interior linemen signees are all top-50 players at that respective position. Notre Dame offensive line coach Harry Hiestand's cupboard was already stocked. But NFL scouts are salivating over current junior tackles Joe Alt and Blake Fisher. They can't stay at Notre Dame forever. There are some players backing them up who could slide into their starting roles when they depart, but the Irish definitely have a vision for Jagusah and Absher to be starters at tackle someday. On Paper Grade: A DEFENSIVE LINE Signed: Brenan Vernon of Mentor (Ohio) High, Boubacar Traore of West Roxbury (Mass.) Catholic Memorial, Devan Houston of Hagerstown (Md.) St James School and Armel Mukam of Woodberry Forest (Va.) High Overview: This group, while deep and heavy on the interior, is missing a supreme pass rusher. Notre Dame had one committed in five-star defensive end Keon Keeley, but Nick Saban and Merrillville (Ind.) High linebacker Drayk Bowen and Mentor (Ohio) High defensive lineman Brenan Vernon could make an immediate impact for the Irish. PHOTO BY MIKE SINGER