This is my second 2022 recruiting update. My first one was a "names to know" type post. This time, however, I want to focus on some of the players that I think ND has a better than 50/50 chance of landing at this point. This is really early in the 2022 cycle and a lot of things can change. Visits won't be happening until the spring at the earliest, and might not even be allowed until the summer, or when games start up next year. That said, it's always cool to take an early look at some guys and look back later to see if I guessed with any degree of accuracy. I expect the 2022 class to be small in nature. My expectation is that the NCAA is going to institute the one time transfer policy, with immediate eligibility. Because of that change, I expect teams (Notre Dame included) to lose guys more often, and more importantly, take more developed players, from lesser programs, on the regular. We'll see how that plays out, but I think ND will prepare to supplement their roster in that way.
Here is a list of some guys to know...
QB Steve Angeli (Westfield, NJ, Bergen Catholic): Angeli has a host of early offers, including Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan, LSU, Miami, Penn State, etc. He's already a big kid at 6'2-6'3 and 200+lbs, he has a well above average arm and he has enough athleticism to move the pocket, makes some plays in space and move the chains with his legs as a last resort. He's not the runner Ian Book is in terms of change of direction, but picture a player in the mold of Joe Burrow. A pass first player, at his best in the pocket, who can run when the the situation calls for it. While I don't think he's going to make public a decision anytime soon, ultimately, Angeli, who Rees is targeting aggressively, is the guy I see ND landing as their 2022 pivot. A really nice follow up to Tyler Buchner as Notre Dame strives to create more competition in the quarterback room. I've long said that I'm not a fan of Drew Pyne's game and I ultimately expect him to transfer, however, I was wrong about Ian Book, so I might be again. Regardless, Angeli has the skill set and appears to have the intangibles to be an eventual high end starter.
OG Joey Tanona (Zionsville, IN, Zionsville): Tanona is already committed to Notre Dame and I don't see that changing. at 6'4-6'5, 290+lbs, he has the type of frame you're looking for. Expect Tanona to be another one of the ND OL that plays at 310+lbs. At the time he committed to Notre Dame Tanona had all the regional offers you want to see. Notre Dame, Michigan, Ohio State, Iowa and Wisconsin were all in pursuit and he was beginning to become a national recruit as well, with schools like LSU and Tennessee throwing their hats in the ring. While he plays tackle in high school, he's an obvious fit at OG in Notre Dame's system. Brian Kelly loves to take high school offensive tackles who lack elite athleticism and move them inside. Once in a while you get a freak like Quenten Nelson, or Aaron Banks, who could play guard or tackle at a high level, but that's not Tanona. He's a nasty guard through and through. If you want a player comparison, he reminds me a lot of former ND OL Christian Lombard, before the injuries. A guy with NFL upside if he stays healthy and isn't recruited over. He should definitely contribute during his ND career and projects as a potential starter on the interior.
OT Jake Taylor (Las Vegas, NV, Bishop Gorman): Taylor is classic ND type OL. He comes from an excellent football school, has ideal measurables to play right tackle and could easily slide inside and play guard as well. ND loves these types and I think they'll do everything they can to get Taylor in the class. Listed at 6'5, 275lbs, Taylor has quite a bit of work to do in the weight room before he could compete among ND offensive linemen, but he's well coached and he would likely show up in South Bend much more advanced than most of his competition. Taylor reports early offers from schools such as Notre Dame, Michigan, Oklahoma, Penn State, USC, as well as pretty much the entire Pac-12. In watching his film he strikes me as a kid that is currently underrated, despite being a mid range 4 star. I think he has tremendous upside and he actually kind of reminds me of Jarrett Patterson, who was also physically overwhelmed earlier in his ND career, but is proving to be an excellent player after a few seasons in the weight room with Matt Balis. I'm not sure who the primary competition is going to wind up being for Taylor. Maybe Oklahoma and USC?... Regardless, this is a kid that I want ND to take as a part of any 4 man class. There are a lot of guys ranked higher than him currently that I'd take Taylor over without hesitation.
OT / OG Ty Chan (Groton, MA, Lawrence Academy): Chan profiles perfectly for Notre Dame. The Irish offered early and he's an excellent fit academically. The only thing that I think could stop Chan from committing is if Notre Dame decides that he is exclusively a guard and chooses another prospect over him as the second interior player in the class along with Tanona. That said, at 6'4+ and approximately 270lbs, Chan also looks like he could project as a top flight center prospect. Although he plays tackle in high school, I think he's a reach to play that position at the next level. Maybe he winds up able to play RT, but I definitely don't see a LT here. Chan's offer list is what you'd expect from a Mass kid. Notre Dame, Michigan, Penn State, Boston College, Duke, etc. Maybe not some of the national powers that you'd like to see, but if you're taking a 4 man class and you're recruiting Chan the be the 4th player in that class, he's a more than acceptable take, with quality upside. I struggled to add this name to the list because ND recruits really well on the OL and think he winds up being a backup option as Notre Dame goes hard after top 100 types Zack Rice, Gunner Givens and Jacob Allen, but I'm going to leave him here for now, until I see some positive movement from one of those guys. Don't count Chan in at this point, but I like where ND stands should they push.
OG Grant Bingham (Paintsville KY, Johnson Central): Bingham is a guy who has recently soared up ND's list of targets. Listed at 6'6 and over 300lbs, he's already a big kid and his film shows weight that isn't poorly distributed at this point. Bingham projects to me a mauler of a guard and he has the frame to play in that 310-320lb range. I really like where ND stands with him already. Bingham has a lot of good things to say about Notre Dame and is really impressed by the OL that ND produces, seemingly every year. In state Kentucky will probably be the biggest challenger in the Bingham recruitment, but he also reports offers from Michigan and a smattering of SEC and ACC schools. He already visited Notre Dame last year, so he's been to campus and knows what he would be getting into. Right now I see him as a stronger run blocker than pass protector and he's not a guy that I think would play early. What you would be hoping for is a better version of Dillon Gibbons, and the #4 man in a 4 man class. In my opinion, I wouldn't take Bingham and Ty Chan in the same class, therefore, it could come down to these two for that coveted 4th spot.
Continued below...
Here is a list of some guys to know...
QB Steve Angeli (Westfield, NJ, Bergen Catholic): Angeli has a host of early offers, including Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan, LSU, Miami, Penn State, etc. He's already a big kid at 6'2-6'3 and 200+lbs, he has a well above average arm and he has enough athleticism to move the pocket, makes some plays in space and move the chains with his legs as a last resort. He's not the runner Ian Book is in terms of change of direction, but picture a player in the mold of Joe Burrow. A pass first player, at his best in the pocket, who can run when the the situation calls for it. While I don't think he's going to make public a decision anytime soon, ultimately, Angeli, who Rees is targeting aggressively, is the guy I see ND landing as their 2022 pivot. A really nice follow up to Tyler Buchner as Notre Dame strives to create more competition in the quarterback room. I've long said that I'm not a fan of Drew Pyne's game and I ultimately expect him to transfer, however, I was wrong about Ian Book, so I might be again. Regardless, Angeli has the skill set and appears to have the intangibles to be an eventual high end starter.
OG Joey Tanona (Zionsville, IN, Zionsville): Tanona is already committed to Notre Dame and I don't see that changing. at 6'4-6'5, 290+lbs, he has the type of frame you're looking for. Expect Tanona to be another one of the ND OL that plays at 310+lbs. At the time he committed to Notre Dame Tanona had all the regional offers you want to see. Notre Dame, Michigan, Ohio State, Iowa and Wisconsin were all in pursuit and he was beginning to become a national recruit as well, with schools like LSU and Tennessee throwing their hats in the ring. While he plays tackle in high school, he's an obvious fit at OG in Notre Dame's system. Brian Kelly loves to take high school offensive tackles who lack elite athleticism and move them inside. Once in a while you get a freak like Quenten Nelson, or Aaron Banks, who could play guard or tackle at a high level, but that's not Tanona. He's a nasty guard through and through. If you want a player comparison, he reminds me a lot of former ND OL Christian Lombard, before the injuries. A guy with NFL upside if he stays healthy and isn't recruited over. He should definitely contribute during his ND career and projects as a potential starter on the interior.
OT Jake Taylor (Las Vegas, NV, Bishop Gorman): Taylor is classic ND type OL. He comes from an excellent football school, has ideal measurables to play right tackle and could easily slide inside and play guard as well. ND loves these types and I think they'll do everything they can to get Taylor in the class. Listed at 6'5, 275lbs, Taylor has quite a bit of work to do in the weight room before he could compete among ND offensive linemen, but he's well coached and he would likely show up in South Bend much more advanced than most of his competition. Taylor reports early offers from schools such as Notre Dame, Michigan, Oklahoma, Penn State, USC, as well as pretty much the entire Pac-12. In watching his film he strikes me as a kid that is currently underrated, despite being a mid range 4 star. I think he has tremendous upside and he actually kind of reminds me of Jarrett Patterson, who was also physically overwhelmed earlier in his ND career, but is proving to be an excellent player after a few seasons in the weight room with Matt Balis. I'm not sure who the primary competition is going to wind up being for Taylor. Maybe Oklahoma and USC?... Regardless, this is a kid that I want ND to take as a part of any 4 man class. There are a lot of guys ranked higher than him currently that I'd take Taylor over without hesitation.
OT / OG Ty Chan (Groton, MA, Lawrence Academy): Chan profiles perfectly for Notre Dame. The Irish offered early and he's an excellent fit academically. The only thing that I think could stop Chan from committing is if Notre Dame decides that he is exclusively a guard and chooses another prospect over him as the second interior player in the class along with Tanona. That said, at 6'4+ and approximately 270lbs, Chan also looks like he could project as a top flight center prospect. Although he plays tackle in high school, I think he's a reach to play that position at the next level. Maybe he winds up able to play RT, but I definitely don't see a LT here. Chan's offer list is what you'd expect from a Mass kid. Notre Dame, Michigan, Penn State, Boston College, Duke, etc. Maybe not some of the national powers that you'd like to see, but if you're taking a 4 man class and you're recruiting Chan the be the 4th player in that class, he's a more than acceptable take, with quality upside. I struggled to add this name to the list because ND recruits really well on the OL and think he winds up being a backup option as Notre Dame goes hard after top 100 types Zack Rice, Gunner Givens and Jacob Allen, but I'm going to leave him here for now, until I see some positive movement from one of those guys. Don't count Chan in at this point, but I like where ND stands should they push.
OG Grant Bingham (Paintsville KY, Johnson Central): Bingham is a guy who has recently soared up ND's list of targets. Listed at 6'6 and over 300lbs, he's already a big kid and his film shows weight that isn't poorly distributed at this point. Bingham projects to me a mauler of a guard and he has the frame to play in that 310-320lb range. I really like where ND stands with him already. Bingham has a lot of good things to say about Notre Dame and is really impressed by the OL that ND produces, seemingly every year. In state Kentucky will probably be the biggest challenger in the Bingham recruitment, but he also reports offers from Michigan and a smattering of SEC and ACC schools. He already visited Notre Dame last year, so he's been to campus and knows what he would be getting into. Right now I see him as a stronger run blocker than pass protector and he's not a guy that I think would play early. What you would be hoping for is a better version of Dillon Gibbons, and the #4 man in a 4 man class. In my opinion, I wouldn't take Bingham and Ty Chan in the same class, therefore, it could come down to these two for that coveted 4th spot.
Continued below...
Last edited:
