Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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40 AUGUST 2023 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED FOOTBALL RECRUITING BY MIKE SINGER Notre Dame picked up a major com- mitment May 24, when Katy (Texas) Paetow class of 2024 edge Loghan Thomas announced his pledge to the Fighting Irish. The four-star prospect picked up an offer from the Irish in January and vis- ited campus in late March and again in mid-May. Thomas picked the Irish over Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Georgia, LSU, USC and others. "What they have to offer for me on and off the field, and the relationships I've built with Coach [Al] Washington and Coach [Al] Golden," Thomas told Blue & Gold Illustrated when asked why he picked Notre Dame. Going into Thomas' arrival at Notre Dame May 19, committing to the Irish wasn't in the plans. "It wasn't really on my mind," he said. "I wanted to go back up there to make sure I felt the same way about it as the first time I visited." Notre Dame hoped that it could push the right buttons to earn a commitment from Thomas, and on that Saturday, it hit him that South Bend was the right place for him. "I just keep feeling that it's where I should be," he said. "There wasn't really a specific moment. It just felt right." When Thomas — who is an Akron, Ohio, native with family members still in the Midwest — first told Washington of his decision to commit, the Fighting Irish's defensive line coach gave him a big bear hug. " He wa s s u p e r h a p py," T h o m a s said. "Then I told [director of recruit- ing] Chad [Bowden] right after that and talked to Coach [Marcus] Free- man about it in his office before I left campus." Thomas is looking forward to playing for Freeman. "I'm super fired up," he said. "He's a defensive-minded coach and a special person. I'll play their vyper position, playing the boundary defensive end. It's also what I'm playing this year." Thomas is planning to enroll early at Notre Dame and looks to be locked in with his pledge. "No sir, I don't plan on it," Thomas said when asked if he'll visit any other schools moving forward. Thomas shined at the All-American Bowl combine in San Antonio in January 2023, posting a 4.7 40-yard dash time and a 42-inch vertical. On3 named him its MVP of the event. "I'll bring athleticism and competi- tiveness on the field, and I'm a nice guy off it," he said. "I want to help better my community and everyone around me." On3 views Thomas as the No. 32 player in Texas, and the No. 16 edge and No. 168 overall prospect in America. ✦ Irish Pluck Four-Star Pass Rusher Out Of Texas "What they have to offer for me on and off the field, and the rela- tionships I've built with Coach [Al] Washington and Coach [Al] Golden." THOMAS ON WHY HE PICKED NOTRE DAME FILM ANALYSIS "Loghan Thomas is one of the top speed rushers in the 2024 cycle. His game starts with speed. That's the area where he differentiates himself. He's a guy who plays fast on the field. And he backs it up anytime he runs in a neutral setting, whether at a camp or on the track. "The first thing that came across our radar that noted he can really run was he ran an electronic 4.75 (second 40-yard dash) at the All-American Combine in January. A 4.75 might not seem fast for many people, but that was probably one of the fastest 40s that day at a notoriously slow track. If you're look- ing at most camps, it would be in the 4.5s. "Watching him play, that speed transfers over to the field. As a junior, he was a guy who lined up all over the field for Paetow. He lined up as an off-ball linebacker. He put his hand in the dirt as a tradi- tional defensive end and got after the passer in those ways. And you can see the speed. The first step quickness is legitimate. He runs down ball carriers in pursuit. The speed he showed at the All-American Combine transfers to the field seamlessly. "Then again, in the spring, he ran some really strong track times, highlighted by an 11.09 100-meter dash. And that's a good time for a skill player. And we're talking about a guy who is a verified 6-3, over 210 pounds." — On3 director of scouting and rankings Charles Power COMMITMENT PROFILE LOGHAN THOMAS Thomas, the No. 16 edge and No. 168 overall prospect in America per On3, committed to Notre Dame over Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas and others. PHOTO COURTESY LOGHAN THOMAS