2018 Recruiting: QB, RB, WR Grades

QB Phil Jurkovec

18S Average: 93.3

Brendan: 93

Multi-sport standout will need to focus on football to develop, but if it comes together, watch out. Outstanding mix of size, athleticism, arm strength, smarts, and moxie. Accuracy can be inconsistent due to sometimes-sloppy mechanics, but should be able to clean that up once he’s on football full time. Similar to Deshone Kizer, also a multi-sport standout, but with more polish coming in. Won’t be ready to take over in 2018, but after that the sky’s the limit.

Eric: 95

Phil “the Mongoose” Jurkovec! His running style reminds me of Colin Kaepernick. A quick release hides the fact that his arm is really strong. He looks really comfortable throwing on the run and getting outside of the pocket to make plays. Hopefully, he’ll be calm enough in the pocket and can set his feet to deliver balls quickly because it’ll probably be a big thing to work on early in his career.

Jaden: 92

On film, he’s a 5-star QB. In camps and showcases, not so much. What we know, though, is that the talent is there. He has a terrific frame, he runs well, and he has a quick release. Additionally, he ran an RPO offense in high school, albeit a more simplified version than what he’ll be asked to run at Notre Dame. The ceiling for Phil is a bonafide Heisman candidate with all the potential in the world. The worry is that he will struggle to read a defense and put the football in the right place consistently, much like Brandon Wimbush this year. Time will tell, but if he pans out, Notre Dame will have a national star on its hands.

Tyler: 93

I was really struggling thinking up a grade for Phil. On the one hand, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised one bit if he ends up being a star at Notre Dame. He’s got Heisman-level potential. He owns a heck of an arm, he’s a special athlete for a kid of his size, and he’s tough as nails too. Then, on the other hand, I could see him struggling a bit at the college level. He didn’t camp as well as I’d like, struggling with consistency at times. He was an absolute baller under the lights, though. And isn’t that what really matters? I like him as the kid with the highest potential in the class, but quarterbacks are so hard to gauge sometimes. So much is going to depend on his development.

RB Jahmir Smith

18S Average: 86.0

Brendan: 87

Downhill runner who improved his speed in his senior season. Makes sharp cuts without slowing down. Great vision allows him to set up blocks, especially in the open field. Refuses to go down. Good receiver out of the backfield. Likely to be RB3 by default; early enrollment is a huge help.

Eric: 85

One of the sleepers in the class. His running style reminds me of a lighter but taller Maurice Jones-Drew at UCLA. Good burst and change of direction. Overall, displays a lot of skills that should serve him well at Notre Dame. I can’t ever be too crazy about running backs without elite speed, though.

Jaden: 86

A solid pickup who hits holes with no hesitancy. He shows really good balance which is assisted by his compact frame. Probably doesn’t have great top-end speed, but his burst through the line is encouraging. His lateral movement reminds me somewhat of Tarean Folston. With the current depth chart situation, it’s key to have Smith in the fold, especially as an early enrollee.

Tyler: 86

Solid pickup for the Irish staff. There’s no way we could have foreseen how important it was that we land him back in the summer. With Stepp not getting admitted, and Holmes and McIntosh getting dismissed from the team, Smith will get to see the field pretty early. He’s a pretty shifty runner, he makes pretty good cuts, and it seems like he has pretty good vision. I’m glad he’s an early enrollee. Any extra practice he can get to prepare him before the season starts is a positive. That extra time with Balis should help prepare him as well.

RB C’Bo Flemister

18S Average: 83.8

Brendan: 85

Similar to Smith but more powerful and not as quick. Phenomenal balance and toughness make him a human pinball. Delivers the blow to the defender. Plus ability as a receiver out of the backfield. Sometimes looks fast, sometimes average due to inefficient footwork/stride. Can be much faster if he cleans that up, which makes me more bullish on him.

Eric: 81

Great mix of power and agility. It’s easy to see why Georgia Tech was so interested in him early on. I don’t think he looks 5’11” at all and might be a bit smaller than his listed measurements. Okay speed, he can scoot through holes and rip off some long runs. His name alone is worth an extra point in my grades.

Jaden: 83

I like Smith a little more as a prospect, but C’Bo has a much cooler name. C’Bo’s legs don’t look quite as thick as Jahmir’s, but he also seems to have really solid balance and breaks through tackles with acceleration. His speed and power both seem above average but not overly flashy. I think he’s going to be a reliable back but without an extremely high ceiling.

Tyler: 86

Really underrated by the recruiting services. Focused more on his strength and conidtioning during the summer and then had an excellent senior year. Not as polished as Smith, but man does he run with authority. Hits the hole hard and rarely goes down on first contact. Should have plenty of opportunity to work his way into the RB rotation fairly early, and I think he could be a very good back in a couple of years.

WR Kevin Austin

18S Average: 95.0

Brendan: 94

Middle-class man’s Michael Floyd – take everything about Floyd and turn it down by about 5%, and you get Austin. (Big compliment, if anyone was wondering.) Has a college-ready physique already. Not a burner but he’s fast enough to make you pay. Great hands. More wiggle than you’d expect in a guy his size. Has the mindset that he owns the ball when it’s in the air. Probably has the best shot of any of the noob receivers to step right in and play.

Eric: 96

Honest to goodness he reminds me of a heavier version of Calvin Ridley. And in doing some research they are actually both from Pompano Beach, Florida although different high schools. There’s something in the water! Austin is the type of freshman who shows up and immediately is in the conversation as the best athlete in the program..

Jaden: 94

Probably the most physically put-together WR we’ve gotten since….who? Austin is a big, physical receiver who can run in space. The thing I like most about him is how well he attacks the ball in the air. In the senior film there are numerous examples of him high pointing the ball over a defender or ripping the ball out of the air. He has really great body control, and I’d have to imagine the only thing that could possibly hold him off the field is any technical work needing to get fine-tuned in his route running..

Tyler: 96

Man, he looks like an absolute monster in his senior tape. If I had to pick one guy from this class as the most physically ready, it would be Austin. He’s got excellent size and strength. His tape is full of him catching passes over defenders like they’re not even there, shrugging off tacklers, and stiff-arming kids into another dimension. He’s big, he’s athletic, he’s got adequate speed, and he knows how to high-point the football. He should be a hell of a redzone threat, and I expect him to be an important part of the offense in a couple of years.

WR Braden Lenzy

18S Average: 93.0

Brendan: 92

Gunning for the Oregon state 200M record this spring. Don’t blink… Will almost always be the fastest guy on the field. The definition of turning one mistake into six points. Agility is borderline unfair. Runs with surprising authority. Worked hard between junior and senior seasons to develop from “fast guy” to “football player.” Should get a look on kick returns immediately and will probably get a shot on offense too. He and Jurkovec could be the next Fuller and Kizer (no pressure, kids).

Eric: 92

Put a safety over the top, you guys. A lot better hands and toughness than I was expecting given his background as a track guy. Also surprised that he’s fairly polished. He might be able to reinvigorate the Irish screen game from day one. It’s crazy to think because Austin wasn’t highly regarded when he committed, and of course Lenzy committed then left then came back, but this could be the best 1-2 punch at wideout for Notre Dame in a good long while.

Jaden: 93

If he gets one step on you, he’s gone. Terrific burst, terrific high-end speed. He has a really nice build and is thicker than the likes of a Will Fuller. We’ll see if he can get the separation that Fuller got at the college level, but if anyone can get close to it, it’s Braden Lenzy. Pretty cool, too, that he circled back around to Notre Dame in the recruiting process. By all accounts he has acceptable hands, even making a circus catch at the Polynesian Bowl. He’s going to put on a show in a Notre Dame uniform.

Tyler: 95

I really think Notre Dame landed one of the best WR duos in the country this cycle with Austin and Lenzy. I was thinking of grading him a bit lower, but I really think Lenzy could end up being a better-rounded version of Will Fuller. You know, the former All American and first round draft pick. Lenzy really progressed well from his junior to senior years. He still has that blazing speed, but he’s looking much more like a “football player” now, if that makes sense. He should see the field in limited capacity as a freshman, and by his second year I think ESPLOSIVAAAAA could make a comeback in South Bend.

WR Lawrence Keys

18S Average: 84.3

Brendan: 83

Lack of breakaway speed makes me a bit bearish on his prospects, but a solid all-around game. Strong, sure hands catch the ball effortlessly. Above average agility and balance make him very difficult to corral in the open field. Fearless in traffic. Route running can be uneven, will need to work on that and adding bulk. Definitely a potential contributor, though.

Eric: 87

Great first step and tremendous explosion out of his stance. Actually looks a little bigger than his listed measurables which would make him the first recruit in history to make himself seem smaller at wideout! If he is 6’0″ he’s probably a Top 150 recruit. I hate to knock a guy due to his size but it makes sense in Notre Dame’s offense. But, he could flourish here in a new offense down the road. With his speed he could be a major weapon at most schools.

Jaden: 85

I really like Keys’ senior film. He’s a smooth runner who scrapes across the field and weaves through traffic with ease. The obvious knock is his size. Not only is he short, but he’s really damn thin and his durability could be a problem. If used right, though, he could be a homerun hitter. You have to feel good about him being an extremely solid third option at WR in this class behind Lenzy and Austin.

Tyler: 82

Keys has good senior film out. He’s a shifty athlete who is tough to bring down when he’s out in open space. I’m just concerned about his size right now and how he fits into the offense. That’s not a knock on him, we just haven’t seen a lot of 5-10 or shorter guys make a real impact at ND recently. Maybe I’m penalizing Lawrence because I’m still bummed about CJ Sanders not panning out? I don’t know, man.

WR Micah Jones

18S Average: 81.3

Brendan: 83

Looked faster on senior film than junior film, but still doesn’t have the speed to threaten from everywhere. Even so, projects as a red zone nightmare. Big kid (6’5″) who knows how to use his body and shows oustanding – not good – hands. Has a knack for finding soft spots in coverage. Powerful runner after the catch. Every-down receiver? Maybe. Maybe.

Eric: 79

Good athlete with tremendous size. Reminds me of a mix between Corey Robinson and Duval Kamara. Most years he would be a little more prominent member of this class but I’m super high on the other receivers. It could be really hard for him to breakthrough over his career.

Jaden: 81

Really big body who reminds me of a Corey Robinson-Miles Boykin mix. I think he has the potential to win some corner endzone fade routes and be a big matchup problem for smaller corners. However, the concern is his speed and ability to get separation. By all accounts he works his butt off training, so hopefully he can make some huge strides athletically while at ND. He’s a good, not great, 3rd or 4th WR for this 2018 class.

Tyler: 82

I was prepared to give Micah a lower grade than this, but he looked much more athletic in his senior tape than his junior tape. A willing blocker and eventual red-zone threat for the Irish. Kind of reminds me of Miles Boykin. I’d expect him to struggle seeing the field too much in his first couple years on campus. He’ll probably redshirt in 2018, but he’ll find his way into the rotation eventually.