The Notre Dame Fighting Irish needed a jolt to its 2021 recruiting class this week, and on Friday they got one. 4-Star linebacker Prince Kollie committed to Notre Dame over a long list of schools like the LSU Tigers, Louisville Cardinals, Georgia Bulldogs, and many others.
— Prince Kollie (@p_kollie_21) August 7, 2020
It was a recruitment that developed late, but according to insiders, Clark Lea kicked it up several notches to eventually be the one for Prince. The 6’1” 205 pounder from Jonesborough, Tennessee is a dynamic athlete that will likely develop into a ROVER at Notre Dame.
#AGTG pic.twitter.com/Mc679dd0Gi
— Prince Kollie (@p_kollie_21) August 7, 2020
Muscled up, hybrid frame that we don’t have verification on yet but looks to be big enough to be a factor in the box but barring further size info may be limited to a hybrid defender. Fearless player. Tackles face first and will sell out to make a play. Takes on blockers with physicality. Has some pass rush ability and closing speed in pursuit. Usage on offense shows ball skills and quicks after the catch. Feel in underneath coverage feeling routes and affecting the throw. Finds the football. Mediocre competition and size create some questions. May need to be a safety on the next level. Could be an elite linebacker with the right physical development but is a potential tweener. Valuable defensive talent with a defensive coordinator that uses him appropriately with NFL Draft upside.
Kollie is the 16th commitment of the 2021 recruiting class and the first 4-Star to make a pledge to the Irish since Philip Riley did back in May. 247 and ESPN have Prince ranked as a top 250 prospect while Rivals isn’t quite there yet (which is why his 247 Composite score is not as high at 300). This also adds another state to the Notre Dame class as Tennessee makes it 13 different states represented for 2021.
Notre Dame Football’s 2021 Commit List (27)
POSITION | PLAYER | SIGNED | STATE | HT | WT | RIVALS | ESPN | 247 SPORTS | 247 COMPOSITE | COMMIT DATE | EARLY ENROLLEE |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
POSITION | PLAYER | SIGNED | STATE | HT | WT | RIVALS | ESPN | 247 SPORTS | 247 COMPOSITE | COMMIT DATE | EARLY ENROLLEE |
QB | Tyler Buchner | ☘️ | California | 6'2" | 200 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 03/08/19 | YES |
DT | Gabriel Rubio | ☘️ | Missouri | 6'6" | 290 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 06/15/19 | YES |
OT | Blake Fisher | ☘️ | Indiana | 6'6" | 300 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 06/15/19 | YES |
TE | Cane Berrong | ☘️ | Georgia | 6'5" | 220 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 06/21/19 | YES |
WR | Lorenzo Styles | ☘️ | Ohio | 6'1" | 170 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 10/13/19 | YES |
S | Justin Walters | ☘️ | Illinois | 6'2" | 175 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 02/02/20 | YES |
OL | Pat Coogan | ☘️ | Illinois | 6'5" | 290 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 04/15/20 | - |
DE | Jason Onye | ☘️ | Rhode Island | 6'5" | 245 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 05/07/20 | - |
CB | Ryan Barnes | ☘️ | Maryland | 6'2" | 180 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 06/06/20 | YES |
OT | Joe Alt | ☘️ | Minnesota | 6'7" | 257 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 07/06/20 | - |
CB | Chance Tucker | ☘️ | California | 6'1" | 170 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 07/22/20 | - |
RB | Logan Diggs | ☘️ | Louisiana | 6’0" | 195 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 07/29/20 | - |
TE | Mitchell Evans | ☘️ | Ohio | 6'7" | 240 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 07/31/20 | YES |
LB | Prince Kollie | ☘️ | Tennessee | 6'2" | 205 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 08/07/20 | - |
OG | Rocco Spindler | ☘️ | Michigan | 6'5" | 315 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 08/08/20 | YES |
DE | Will Schweitzer | ☘️ | California | 6'4" | 220 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 08/16/20 | YES |
WR | Deion Colzie | ☘️ | Georgia | 6'4" | 195 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 09/28/20 | - |
WR | Jayden Thomas | ☘️ | Georgia | 6'1" | 205 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 10/02/20 | - |
CB | Philip Riley | ☘️ | Florida | 6'0" | 195 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 11/16/20 | YES |
K | Josh Bryan | ☘️ | Colorado | 6'1" | 185 | SAILER 6⭐️ | SAILER 6⭐️ | SAILER 6⭐️ | SAILER 6⭐️ | 11/17/20 | - |
LB | Kahanu Kia | ☘️ | Hawaii | 6'2" | 220 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 11/19/20 | - |
OT | Caleb Johnson | ☘️ | Florida | 6'7" | 295 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 11/19/20 | YES |
CB | JoJo Johnson | ☘️ | Indiana | 5'11" | 180 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 11/24/20 | - |
DE | Devin Aupiu | ☘️ | California | 6’6” | 225 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 12/09/20 | YES |
QB | Ron Powlus III | ☘️ | Indiana | 6'3" | 225 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 12/16/20 | YES |
S | Khari Gee | ☘️ | Georgia | 6'3" | 190 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 12/18/20 | - |
RB | Audric Estime | ☘️ | New Jersey | 6'2" | 215 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 12/18/20 | - |
This is a HUGE commitment for a variety of reasons, but the one that smacks you in the face is because of absolute need. As of right now, there were only 5 linebackers returning to South Bend in 2022. After loading up with the 2019 class, Notre Dame didn’t sign any linebackers in the 2020 class. Depending on how Kollie develops, he could be used in a significant role as a sophomore in 2022.
2021 Notre Dame Football Scholarship Chart
Position / Year | Freshmen | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | 5th Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position / Year | Freshmen | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | 5th Year |
Quarterback | Tyler Buchner, Ron Powlus | Drew Pyne | Brendon Clark* | - | Jack Coan |
Running Back | Logan Diggs, Audric Estime | Chris Tyree | Kyren Williams* | C'Bo Flemister* | - |
Tight End | Cane Berrong, Mitchell Evans | Michael Mayer, Kevin Bauman | - | George Takacs* | - |
Wide Receiver | Lorenzo Styles, Deion Colzie, Jayden Thomas | Xavier Watts | - | Kevin Austin*, Braden Lenzy*, Joe Wilkins*, Lawrence Keys III* | Avery Davis |
Center | - | - | Zeke Correll* | Jarrett Patterson* | - |
Guard | Pat Coogan, Rocco Spindler | - | Hunter Spears* | John Dirksen* | Cain Madden |
Tackle | Blake Fisher, Joe Alt, Caleb Johnson | Tosh Baker, Michael Carmody | Andrew Kristofic*, Quinn Carroll* | - | Josh Lugg** |
Defensive Tackle | Gabriel Rubio | Aidan Keanaaina, Rylie Mills | Howard Cross*, Jacob Lacey | Jayson Ademilola | Kurt Hinish**, Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa** |
Defensive End | Jason Onye, Will Schweitzer | Alexander Ehrensberger, Jordan Botelho | NaNa Osafo-Mensah*, Isaiah Foskey* | Justin Ademilola* | - |
Linebacker | Prince Kollie, Kahanu Kia | - | Jack Kiser*, Osita Ekwonu*, Marist Liufau*, JD Bertrand* | Bo Bauer, Shayne Simon, Paul Moala | Drew White, Isaiah Pryor |
Safety | Justin Walters, Khari Gee | - | Litchfield Ajavon*, Kyle Hamilton, KJ Wallace* | Houston Griffith, D.J. Brown* | - |
Cornerback | Ryan Barnes, Chance Tucker, Philip Riley, JoJo Johnson | Clarence Lewis, Caleb Offord, Ramon Henderson | Cam Hart* | TaRiq Bracy | - |
Specialists | Josh Bryan (K) | Alex Peitsch (LS) | Jay Bramblett | - | Jonathan Doerer** |
Totals | 26/85 (26) | 41/85 (15) | 60/85 (19) | 76/85 (16) | 85/85 (9) |
The Irish have been on fire on the recruiting circuit over the last month, and they are expecting more good news on Saturday with 4-Star Rocco Spindler. I still expect this class to be around 20 commits max which will probably only be good enough for a top 15 finish in February. Right now the Irish Irish maintain their #13 spot with Kollie’s commitment.
It’s an exciting day and there’s only one more thing to say — FIST PUMPS UP FOR PRINCE KOLLIE!