Notre Dame Film Room: 2024 Safety Target Kennedy Urlacher

Here is a film room look at Notre Dame 2024 safety target Kennedy Urlacher

In the 2024 recruiting class, it is a priority for Notre Dame to hit a home run at safety and land substantial impact players for the Irish. As the board currently stands, there are several talented defenders who fit that description.

One of the more interesting safeties on the board is Chandler (Ariz.) High School standout Kennedy Urlacher. He is the son of former Chicago Bear All-Pro linebacker Brian Urlacher, but is a talented player in his own right.

Here’s the Irish Breakdown target breakdown of Urlacher.

PROSPECT PROFILE

Hometown/High School: Chandler, Ariz./Chandler

Height/Weight: 6-1, 180

IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 250 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5 (Top 50 caliber prospect)

Offers: Notre Dame, Miami, Penn State, Nebraska, TCU, Washington, Wisconsin, Iowa, Stanford, Kansas State, Arizona State, Arizona, Cal, Kansas

FILM ROOM

Let's talk about Urlacher’s game.

Size/Frame/Strength - At around 6-0 with a toned frame, Urlacher has the body type to put on a considerable more weight. If you are knowledgeable about his father’s background as well, it isn’t inconceivable to believe that Urlacher could be due for a growth spurt as well. Whether that growth happens or not, Urlacher already possesses some impressive play strength. He has some easy power and is able to create it in very tight spaces.

Athletic Skills - Urlacher’s trigger downhill is incredibly impressive. He is able to get to his top speed quickly, showing some impressive acceleration as an athlete working downhill. There is some hip tightness but for the most part, Urlacher is a solid all-around athlete who brings a smoothness to the back end. While his long speed is only ordinary, it is more than sufficient enough to play from depth at times.

Instincts/Technique - The instincts for Urlacher are phenomenal. He sees the game at an advanced level and plays with extreme proactiveness as a football player. Once he sees something, Urlacher trusts it and is almost always in the proper spot. From a technical perspective, Urlacher is a clean and efficient mover. There aren’t many false steps, showing the ability to work in and out of his pedal with ease. That technique is also evident is his ability as tackler, showing a consistent approach in that area.

Coverage Ability - Urlacher excels in short zone coverage. In that area of the field, he is able to play with good instincts and force a lot of incompletions with his physicality and reach to disrupt the catch point. Urlacher has made a few plays working from depth in deep zone coverage as well, although he is definitely more comfortable making plays coming downhill than playing over the top.

Run Game - Urlacher’s biggest impact early on in his career will be in the running game. The Arizona native plays the game with extremely bad intentions, coming to balance and delivering massive shots as a hitter. He brings an intimidating style that should also parlay into success on special teams on the next level.

AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT

Working on flexibility in his hips would be a big step for Urlacher. He is a solid athlete who can work in space but when pressed in man coverage or working in deep zone coverage, there is some obvious hip tightness redirecting. Getting a little cleaner flipping his hips would allow him to be a bit more comfortable playing over the top, which will lead to more impact plays down the field.

With Urlacher being such an impactful hitter in the run game, he can sacrifice technique at times to deliver big hits. He shows some outstanding tackling technique on film so it is not an issue of something he can’t do. It is more an attention to detail to be a more consistent wrap up tackler.

NOTRE DAME FIT

Urlacher is an easy fit into the Notre Dame defense as a field safety who has the ability to rotate down into the box and as an alley player. His biggest impact is as a tackler and that would play into his strengths very well. Long term, the best alignment for Urlacher could be as a Rover in the defense. Urlacher’s combination of physicality, explosiveness and demeanor could allow him to develop into a playmaker from that alignment. 

Be sure to check out the Irish Breakdown message board, the Champions Lounge

Irish Breakdown Content

2023 Scholarship Chart
2023 Football Schedule

Notre Dame 2023 Scholarship Offers
Notre Dame 2024 Scholarship Offers

2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Offense
2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Defense

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