Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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44 SEPT. 14, 2024 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY MIKE SINGER O n Aug. 12, Wallingford (Conn.) Cho- ate Rosemary Hall offensive tackle and Notre Dame commit Will Black posted on social media that he was in- vited to play in the 2025 All-American Bowl, which is considered the most prestigious postseason all-star game. Exactly two weeks later, he accepted that invitation. Black will play in the contest in San Antonio on Jan. 11, 2025. The game can be viewed live on NBC or Peacock at 1 p.m. ET. The Irish have two other commits who are expected to play in the All- American Bowl in Chicago Simeon edge Christopher Burgess and Lucedale (Miss.) George County quarterback Deuce Knight. Black earning the All-American Bowl invite is the cherry on top of the de- served hype that's been given to him in the offseason. His rise from being considered a solid four-star offensive lineman to a bona fide five-star pros- pect according to On3 has been nothing short of sensational. When Black committed to Notre Dame in December 2023, On3 ranked him as the No. 14 offensive tackle and No. 202 overall recruit in the country. That was the highest ranking for Black according to the four major recruiting media websites at the time. And then on Feb. 26, he saw his na- tional stock erupt, earning five-star status as the No. 1 offensive tackle and No. 6 overall player in America. None of the other websites had Black in their national rankings at the time. The others have since caught up. Rivals and ESPN have bumped Black to a top-100 overall ranking, while 247Sports currently has him at No. 178 nationally. On3 has him as its No. 2 overall recruit in the country. With a verified 6-7½, 283-pound frame, 34¼-inch arms and a 4.9 40- yard dash time, Black has a combination of size and athleticism that gives Joe Alt-like vibes. "We continue to like everything we've seen of him up to this point," On3 di- rector of scouting and rankings Charles Power said in July after bumping Black from No. 5 to No. 2 in the national rank- ings. "For starters, he's the most physi- cal imposing among the top offensive tackles. Getting to see him side-by-side with three other industry five-stars at the On3 Elite Series [a recruiting event in Nashville back in May], Black was the biggest and had the second-longest arms of the group. "He impressed with his workout this offseason; he ran an electronic 4.9 40-yard dash and a shuttle in the 4.5s, which is really moving at his size. Ev- erything we felt about his movement skills on film has been validated to this point, and his size is exactly what you'd want in a five-star offensive tackle. It's all super encouraging, and his arrow is only pointing up, given that he's only played one year of high school football in the United States. "We're looking forward to seeing how he shows as a senior. Going into the fall, he's at the pole position in what is the strongest offensive line class that I've personally evaluated." In an age where prospects decommit- ting from the schools they pledged to is prevalent, that won't occur with Black. He's rock solid with the Fighting Irish. "It's a combination of a few things," Black previously said to Blue & Gold Il- lustrated about his commitment. "My relationship with the coaches is the best compared to any other school, plus the culture in the O-line room is great. I feel like I can fit in there really well. "There's a combination of great foot- ball — especially sending offensive line- men to the NFL — and great academ- ics. A Notre Dame degree is one of the best in the country. It's the right fit for me, and it's where I'll grow the best as a football player and student." For his efforts during his junior sea- son in 2023, Black was named the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Lineman of the Year. He was also named the Founders League Lineman of the Year and was listed on the All-Founders first-team offense. Black — who is a native of London, Ontario — was a key part in leading Choate Rosemary Hall to an undefeated 9-0 season and a NEPSAC champion- ship last fall. ✦ Offensive Tackle Will Black Quickly Rises To Five-Star Status Black — an Irish commit who is the No. 1 offensive tackle and No. 2 overall player nationally per On3 — will play in the 2025 All-American Bowl, which is considered the most prestigious postseason all-star game. PHOTO COURTESY ON3 F O O T B A L L RECRUITING