Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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36 FEBRUARY 2024 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED FOOTBALL RECRUITING 11. STYLES PRESCOD OL • 6-5½, 270 FISHERS, IND. • HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN P re sco d wa s o n e o f former Notre Dame of- fensive line coach Harry Hiestand's favorite 2024 class prospects. Before announcing his retire- ment, Hiestand offered the 6-5½, 270-pound Prescod last January. Hies- tand valued the light-footed, agile of- fensive lineman who can play offensive tackle or guard. Do not be surprised if Prescod plays tackle at Notre Dame and then goes on to slot inside in the NFL. Prescod — the No. 27 interior lineman and No. 330 overall player in the nation — has a frame that must be filled out. But once he adds the weight, he has the profile to be an impact contributor for the Irish. — Kelly 12. LOGAN SALDATE WR • 5-11, 185 GILROY, CALIF. • PALMA Notre Dame director of recruiting Chad Bowden discovered a diamond in the rough when he found Logan Saldate, an Oregon State commit. The 5-11, 185-pounder gives the Irish an excel- lent slot wide receiver in its 2024 class. Saldate is coming off a senior campaign in which he produced 68 receptions for 1,242 yards (18.3 yards per catch) and 15 touchdowns. He joins a Notre Dame depth chart loaded with young slot wide receiv- ers such as Jaden Greathouse and Jor- dan Faison. But like Faison last season, Notre Dame might have trouble keeping Saldate, who finished his senior sea- son ranked as the No. 57 wide receiver and No. 337 overall prospect nationally, from the field. — Kelly 13. ANTHONIE KNAPP OL • 6-4½, 275 ROSWELL, GA. • ROSWELL Knapp was a target of Joe Rudolph, when the current Irish offensive line coach held the same position at Vir- ginia Tech. The 6-4½, 2 7 5 - p o u n d e r v i s i t e d Notre Dame for the first time March 24 and com- mitted to the Irish five days later. A c c o rd i n g to t h re e websites, he's ranked as a three-star, but On3 is significantly higher on him than the rest of the industry. On3 loves his athleticism as an interior lineman and his budding potential. Notre Dame sources are just as excited about him, if not more. Per the On3 Industry Ranking, he is the No. 28 interior lineman and No. 339 overall player in America. According to On3 alone, Knapp checks in as the No. 8 interior lineman and No. 144 overall re- cruit. — Singer 14. LEONARD MOORE CB • 6-2, 175 ROUND ROCK, TEXAS • ROUND ROCK Irish cornerbacks coach Mike Mickens extended a n o f fe r to Mo o re o n Jan. 18, 2023, and secured his commitment 17 days later. Moore was coming off a junior season in which he had the same number of interceptions (3) as re- ceptions allowed. Moore — the No. 37 cornerback and No. 406 overall player nationally — has the profile to follow in Benjamin Morrison's footsteps as an instant contributor. He has the length and the experience playing high school football in Texas to compete at the next level. — Kelly 15. PETER JONES OL • 6-5, 300 COATESVILLE, PA. • MALVERN PREP This is a recruit Notre Dame has had in its 2024 re c r u i t i n g c l a ss fo r a while. He pledged to the Irish on Aug. 7, 2022, and even though coach James Franklin and the Nittany Lions made a push for one of the state's top offensive linemen, Jones stuck to his guns and inked with the Irish. Notre Dame rarely relies on fresh- men to play meaningful offensive line snaps. With Jones joining a loaded in- terior depth chart, that should remain true next fall. Still, with sophomore of- fensive lineman Sam Pendleton, Jones gives the Irish an exciting future on the interior of the offensive line. Jones, who is the No. 40 interior lineman and No. 470 overall player in America, also played right tackle for Malvern Prep, which certainly could help the future of the Irish depth chart. — Kelly 16. JACK LARSEN TE • 6-3, 212 CHARLOTTE, N.C. • CHARLOTTE CATHOLIC While Larsen isn't the tallest tight end at 6-3, he's an outstanding receiving threat both vertically and in the short game, and is a willing blocker. Larsen can play as an in-line tight end or H-back and be split out as a receiver as well. He had a very productive senior season, hauling in 47 catches for 782 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Irish identified him early and were fired up to land his com- mitment, especially after his strong 2022 Irish Invasion camp performance. Larsen is listed as the No. 31 tight end and No. 498 overall prospect in the land. — Singer 17. TAEBRON BENNIE-POWELL S • 6-1, 185 CINCINNATI • LAKOTA WEST The Irish staff returned to Lakota West for the s e c o n d s t ra i g h t s e a - son. This time, the Irish tapped Bennie-Powell to fill out the safety depth chart. The 6-1, 185-pounder is a stud athlete with a sub-4.6-second 40-yard dash. However, last year was his first season playing safety after being behind Ben Minich, who signed with Notre Dame a year ago, and Ohio State 2023 class signee Malik Hartford. It might take a season or two for Bennie-Powell to become a key defensive contributor. But once he does, expect him to be a playmaker. Bennie-Powell had 3 in- terceptions, 1 forced fumble, 1 blocked field goal and 1 punt block returned for a touchdown as a senior. He also returned