Notre Dame 2025 Commits Board: Offense Edition

Rankings and analysis of the Notre Dame offensive commits in the 2025 class

When Marcus Freeman came to Notre Dame the expectation was that defensive recruiting would take a jump, and it certainly has. One of the surprises of Freeman's early tenure is how well the staff has built up the offense, and a case could be made offensive recruiting has actually been the best part of the program's talent acquisition since Freeman arrived.

Notre Dame is looking to add another talented group of offensive players in 2025. Below is my ranking and analysis of each Notre Dame commit. It begins with the current grade and ranking of each prospect, a breakdown of each player, and at the bottom of the breakdown is the upside grade. As more players join the class we'll update the rankings and add them to this breakdown.

CLASS RANKING

1. QB Deuce Knight - 6-5, 190 - Lucedale (Miss.) George County
2. TE James Flanigan - 6-5, 225 - Green Bay (Wis.) Notre Dame Academy
3. OL Owen Strebig - 6-8, 295 - Waukesha (Wis.) Catholic Memorial 
4. WR Elijah Burress - 6-1, 175 - Wayne (N.J.) DePaul Catholic
5. OL Will Black - 6-7, 295 - Wallingford (Conn.) Choate Rosemary Hall
6. OL Matty Augustine - 6-7, 290 - Greenwich (Conn.) Brunswick School
7. RB Justin Thurman - 6-0, 185 - Tampa (Fla.) Jesuit
8 WR Shaun Terry - 5-10, 170 - Ironton (Ohio) High School
9. RB Daniel Anderson - 5-11, 190 - Bryant (Ark.) High School
10. WR Jerome Bettis Jr. - 6-3, 185 - Atlanta (Ga.) Woodward

COMMIT BREAKDOWNS

1. DEUCE KNIGHT, QUARTERBACK

Hometown/High School: Lucedale, Miss./George County
Height/Weight: 6-5, 190

IB Grade: 4.5 (Top 50 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0

Analysis: This is a very talented and deep quarterback class, and Knight is clearly one of the best. While others are more advanced now, a strong case could be made that Knight has a ceiling as high as any signal caller in the country. The lefty gunslinger has a strong arm and can make any throw on the field. His deep ball skills are impressive, and he thrives in the RPO game. Knight is willing to take chances as a passer, and he has the arm talent to pull it off. He'll need to continue improving his footwork and going through progressions with the proper timing are areas where he must continue to improve. Knight is a Top 100 quarterback as just as a passer, but when you throw in his dynamic running ability you see why he's ranked so high. Knight can punish teams as a scrambler, and as he fills out his frame and adds strength his ability to dominate on designed runs at the next level will also take off. The Mississippi star is a pure playmaker, and Notre Dame wants and needs a dynamic playmaker at quarterback.

ND Fit: Notre Dame wants a quarterback that can make plays from the pocket, and while Knight is still a work in progress from a technical standpoint, he has all the tools to eventually be an impact player from the pocket, so in that regard he fits the Notre Dame offense quite well. New offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock has thrived with quarterbacks that are playmakers with their legs as well, and Knight has elite tools as a runner, both as a scrambler and with designed runs. His throwing + passing combination is as good as any quarterback in the country.

Comp: Hendon Hooker, Tennessee

2. JAMES FLANIGAN, TIGHT END

Hometown/High School: Green Bay, Wis./Notre Dame Academy
Height/Weight: 6-5, 225

IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 100 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5

Analysis: Flanigan has gotten better and better each season, and after grading his junior film he jumped into the Top 100 player range. There's so much to like about his game. The Wisconsin native has an impressive frame, possessing long arms and the ability to get to at least 250 pounds. He has really, really good vertical speed as a route runner and with the ball. Flanigan can be a little stiff at times as a route runner, but he separates well with that speed and he's a legit big play weapon, evidenced by his 20.4 yards per catch average during his career. The pass game work is good enough to get him into the Top 100, but what really makes Flanigan one of the best tight ends in the country is that he's also a punishing blocker. He plans the game with a lot of force, his leg drive is outstanding and he really enjoys punishing people. Imagine what his blocking will look like when he adds 25 pounds and spends a couple of seasons in the strength program. This is a big time tight end prospect.

ND Fit: Flanigan projects to the more traditional tight end (Y) role in the offense. He thrives lining up attached to the line of scrimmage and handling business in the run game. He gets to the second level well and he can also block well on the perimeter. He should thrive in Notre Dame's movement blocks as well on the counter/power schemes. As a pass catcher, Flanigan can stretch the field and is averaging over 20 YPC during his career. Athletically he reminds me a lot of former BC tight end Hunter Long, but Flanigan is a far, far more punishing blocker.

Comp: Hunter Long, Boston College

3. OWEN STREBIG, OFFENSIVE LINE

Hometown/High School: Waukesha, Wis./Catholic Memorial
Height/Weight: 6-8, 295

IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 100 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5

Analysis: Strebig is a talented offensive tackle that is just scratching the surface of his potential. The first thing you notice about the Wisconsin star is his massive size. He's list at 6-8 and 295 pounds, but when you see Strebig you'll notice he doesn't have a lot of bad weight. With that frame he should be an easy 320+ pounds and still move well. Strebig shows good natural lower body strength and a good punch, and as he fills out I think he'll be an elite mover in the run game. He's a smooth athlete that shows the necessary quickness on the edge to thrive in the pass game, and his elite length and punch allows him to handle speed edge players. Strebig still needs a lot of work from a footwork standpoint, and he needs to be more consistent with his pad level, but the tools are all there for Strebig to develop into an outstanding all-around edge blocker.

ND Fit: Notre Dame wanted some pure tackles in the 2025 class and Strebig is certainly that. Yes, his body fits the tackle position at 6-8 and 295 pounds, but more importantly his game fits it well. Strebig is very long, he's an easy mover and he looks comfortable in space, all traits you want in an offensive tackle, especially a left tackle. He has the ability to block like a left tackle and run block like a dominant right tackle, and he's just scratching the surface of his potential.

Comp: Mike McGlinchey, Notre Dame

4. ELIJAH BURRESS, WIDE RECEIVER

Hometown/High School: Wayne, N.J./DePaul Catholic
Height/Weight: 6-1, 175

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

Analysis: When I first heard Notre Dame offered Burress and then saw his offer list I assumed I wasn't going to like his film, but that changed quickly. This is a very talented young man that's just scratching the surface of his potential. There aren't many wide receivers on Notre Dame's board that have the route running prowess and feel for getting open that Burress already possesses. Burress shows an advanced feel for how to vary speeds and use angles/leverage to manipulate defensive backs with his release. On top of that, Burress shows the speed off the line and explosiveness out of breaks to be very good at separation. Burress tracks the ball extremely well, has a very good catch radius, catches the ball well and shows a willingness to make tough grabs in traffic when he knows he's going to take a hit. Burress also shows good after-the-catch skills and the ability to make plays in space. He'll need to get stronger, and once he does he projects as an impressive third-down weapon and a wideout capable of being a volume producer.

ND Fit: Burress is a player that has a lot of talent and potential to do damage before the ball comes, at the catch point and after the catch. That is certainly something that Notre Dame needs more of at wide receiver. From a position fit standpoint, the first spot that I see Burress settling in is as the field outside receiver spot. His unique skillset is something the Irish were largely lacking there in recent seasons, and that's a player that not only has speed and good ball skills, but more importantly he has outstanding route running skills that will allow him to win more one-on-one battles than we've seen in recent seasons.

Comp: Kevin Stepherson, Notre Dame

5. WILL BLACK, OFFENSIVE LINE

Hometown/High School: Wallingford, Conn./Choate Rosemary Hall
Height/Weight: 6-7, 295

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

Analysis: Black went through a bit of a body transformation as a junior, going from a tall, relatively skinny sophomore playing in Canada to a borderline 300-pounder as a junior. My concern was that he would lose his athleticism, but that wasn't the case. Black moves well in space, showing the ability to handle speed on the edge and to get around on movement blocks. His lateral quickness in the run game impressed me and he is really good at always moving his feet through the point of contact. I like his pop in the run game, but there is certainly room for him to add more punch and strength. He could develop into a really good run game mover in college, but I'm impressed with his advanced feel in pass protection. He's still a work in progress, but Black has a lot of upside. It's easy to see why Notre Dame, Michigan and Penn State all worked so hard to land him.

ND Fit: It would seem that Joe Rudolph has a similar recruiting strategy as Harry Hiestand in that he likes to recruit a lot of tackles with versatility. That is Black, who is a massive young blocker that has all the tools to play on the edge, but could also move inside to guard if the need arose. Black moves well for his size and he has some punch. Whether or not he's a left tackle or right tackle remains to be seen, but from what he's shown far I believe he could in fact develop into a left tackle.

Comp: Kaleb McGary, Washington

6. MATTY AUGUSTINE, OFFENSIVE LINE

Hometown/High School: Greenwich, Conn./Brunswick School
Height/Weight: 6-7, 290

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

Analysis: Augustine made a huge jump as a junior, and he went from being a relative unknown when he was offered to one of the highest upside blockers on the board. A former basketball player, Augustine is still very new to the game of football. In 2022, he was a long, skinny, athletic blocker that was all about projection. He was a tough player, but he was thin and very, very raw. There is still a lot of technical growth needed, but Augustine started to fill out his massive frame as a junior, going from around 260 pounds to a listed 290 pounds, but his clean frame is such that he could still easily gain another 20-30 pounds and maintain his athleticism. Augustine has the kind of natural power that allows him to physically dominate opponents in the run game, and he's just scratching the surface of his potential here. His length, athleticism and punch project very well to pass pro as well. With Augustine it's all about development, the tools are there, he just needs work.

ND Fit: Augustine is still raw as a football player and is still making the transition from basketball, but you can see the edge traits. At 6-7 with long arms, he shows all the size Notre Dame wants and needs as a tackle. He also shows the athletic potential to play in space and thrive on the edge. Augustine is a tough player and likes to mix it up, and with his frame he could also move inside to guard if the need is there, so that versatility adds to his profile, but Augustine is being recruited to play tackle.

Comp: Kaleb McGary, Washington

7. JUSTIN THURMAN, RUNNING BACK

Hometown/High School: Tampa, Fla./Jesuit
Height/Weight: 6-0, 185

IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 200 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5

Analysis: Thurman is one of the most intriguing prospects in the class for Notre Dame. In many ways he's still developing his game, but as a junior he showed some really impressive flashes. He looked more and more comfortable as a back from a technique, decision making and anticipation standpoint. His game still needs a lot of technical work and he needs more experience running the football, but I love a lot of his tools. The first that stands out is his speed. Make no mistake, Thurman is a pure home run hitter. He has the ideal combination of initial burst and acceleration that you want in a home run hitting running back. Thurman is a bit tight hipped, but he can plan and explode as a cutter, and as he becomes more efficient with his footwork you'll see his ability to make people miss get even better.

ND Fit: Thurman has the tools to be an every down back at the next level, even though he still has plenty to prove at the prep level. He got off to a slow start in 2023, but his game took off as he got more experience and comfort in the offense. Thurman has pure running back skill, but he can do more than just carry the football. On top of being a threat out of the backfield, Thurman also has experience in the return game, which is another area where he can use his speed at Notre Dame.

Comp: Bryce Young, Stanford

8. SHAUN TERRY, WIDE RECEIVER

Hometown/High School: Ironton, Ohio/Ironton
Height/Weight: 5-10, 170

IB Grade: 3.5 (Top 350 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.0

Analysis: Notre Dame wants more dynamic after the catch players on the roster, and Terry is one of the best on the Irish board at doing just that. He averaged over 19 yards per touch on offense as a junior, with Terry showing himself to be an impact weapon in the screen game, quick game and as a runner. Terry also took five punts back for touchdowns this past season, and his ability as a return man adds to his value in the class. Terry shows impressive quickness and vision as a runner, and although he lacks ideal top end speed, he shows enough of a burst and second level acceleration to rip off a lot of big runs. He catches the ball well and has a lot of potential as a route runner with more coaching. Despite being on the smaller side, Terry is a tough player with exceptional balance, which allows him to play bigger than he is once he gets the football. He's a bit of a niche player than he is a strong all-around player at this point, but he's very, very good at the niche game he possesses.

ND Fit: Landing Terry gives the Irish a pure slot player in the 2025 class. There are some looks where they can line Terry up outside, and we saw that a bit with Jordan Faison during the 2023 season. But outside of certain matchups, or lining Terry up outside in certain quick game/screen looks, the position where he makes the most sense from a fit standpoint is in the slot. From there Terry can be used as a downfield pass catcher, as a weapon in the screen game and on movement plays (jet sweeps, reverses, etc).

Comp: Theo Riddick, Notre Dame

9. DANIEL ANDERSON, RUNNING BACK

Hometown/High School: Bryant, Ark./Bryant
Height/Weight: 5-11, 190

IB Grade: 3.5 (Top 350 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.0

Analysis: Anderson isn't a flashy player, and that's likely going to tamp down excitement about this pickup. The Arkansas standout lacks big time speed, he's smooth but not explosive and he doesn't have those "pop" plays on film. What Anderson has, however, is a lot of impressive traits that translate well to running back. Anderson is a smooth athlete that makes clean, natural cuts, which allow him to quickly plant and drive into the hole. While he's not a burner, he has enough juice to turn openings into big plays. His contact balance is impressive and he shows the lower body frame and strength to maximize available yards.

ND Fit: Notre Dame is likely going to move to a more zone oriented offense under Mike Denbrock, and Anderson fits that offense very well. Although I like his fit in a zone offense, the patience and smooth running style that Anderson shows also projects well to the gap schemes that Joe Rudolph likes to implement as well. Anderson doesn't do a lot in the pass game but he does show skills that will translate to the Notre Dame offense.

Comp: Tony Jones Jr., Notre Dame

10. JEROME BETTIS JR., WIDE RECEIVER

Hometown/High School: Atlanta, Ga./Woodward Academy
Height/Weight: 6-3, 185

IB Grade: 3.0 (Top 400 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.0

Analysis: Bettis is an interesting take for Notre Dame. Obviously the name sparks a lot of conversation, but take that away, and there are things to like about his game. Bettis has good height and well above average arm length. Better yet, he knows how to use his size to win. His combination of length, strong hands and body control allows Bettis to effectively win contested catches, especially in the red zone. His toughness extends to the run game and on defense, where he was effective for Woodward in 2023. Bettis is a solid all-around athlete, but he'll need to work on improving his initial burst and acceleration out of brakes if he wants to gain more separation down the field. Talking to sources at Woodward and you learn a lot about Bettis' football character. He has a reputation as a hard worker, a great teammate and a player willing to do whatever he's asked to do. Bettis will work to improve his game and do what it takes to help his team win.

ND Fit: Bettis could play a couple of spots in the Notre Dame offense. His size and length make him an ideal outside receiver from body type standpoint. While he lacks top speed and overall athleticism, his long arms, balls skills and strength make him a good fit for the boundary position. If he can add more speed to his game he'll have a chance to be a volume pass catcher for the boundary. Bettis also has the ability to get open against zone, the size and the toughness to play in the slot in certain situations. This is especially true in the run game, on third down and in the red zone. Bettis was impressive on defense as a junior, and I could see a scenario where he could help the Irish on defense if the need arose.

Comp: Daniel Smith, Notre Dame

UPSIDE GRADE

1. QB Deuce Knight - 5.0
2. OL Owen Strebig - 4.5
3. TE James Flanigan - 4.5
4. OL Matty Augustine - 4.5
5. WR Elijah Burress - 4.5 
6. RB Justin Thurman - 4.5
7. OL Will Black - 4.5
8. WR Shaun Terry - 4.0
9. RB Daniel Anderson - 4.0

GRADE KEY

5.0 - Top 25 Caliber Prospect
4.5 - Top 75 Caliber Prospect
4.0 - Top 250 Caliber Prospect
3.5 - Top 400 Caliber Prospect
3.0 - Top 600 Caliber Prospect

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Irish Breakdown Content

2024 Scholarship Chart
2023 Football Schedule

Notre Dame 2024 Scholarship Offers

2024 Commit Rankings - Offense
2024 Commit Rankings - Defense

2024 Recruiting Class Grades - Offense
2024 Recruiting Class Grades - Defense

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