The Notre Dame football staff continued its strong start to the 2022 recruiting class today when rover prospect Nolan Ziegler decided to verbally commit to the Fighting Irish. The 6’4″/205-pounder of of Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School in Michigan is the 3rd verbal commitment for Notre Dame in the class of 2022.

This commitment will come as no surprise to those of you who closely follow Notre Dame recruiting. Nolan has had several family members attend Notre Dame in the past, including some that have played football for the Fighting Irish. His maternal grandfather, Tim Sullivan, even played linebacker for the 1973 national champions under Ara Parseghian. Needless to say, Nolan grew up a huge Notre Dame fan. Upon earning an offer from the Irish on August 5th, he described a scholarship to Notre Dame as “the Holy Grail of college football.” At that point, it was pretty obvious this was a matter of of “when” Nolan would commit to the Irish, rather than “if” he would.

Recruiting Service Rankings

Rivals — 3 star (5.7 rating), NR overall, #28 ATH, #10 in MI

ESPN — NR

247Sports — 3 star (88 rating), NR overall, #21 S, #9 in MI

247Sports Composite — 3 star (.8789), #365 overall, #21 S, #11 in MI

Irish Sports Daily — 4 star LB (90 rating)

Cohort

Nolan chose the Irish over other offers from Michigan, Virginia Tech, Iowa, Nebraska, Cincinnati, Boston College, Western Michigan, Central Michigan, Buffalo, Bowling Green, and Toledo. He had interest in Michigan as well, but this one was the very definition of a Notre Dame lock.

Highlights

LINK TO IRISH SPORTS DAILY’S FILM REVIEW

Nolan plays a lot of safety for his high school team, and he plays it very well. It’s no surprise that he’s ranked as an athlete and safety on Rivals and 247. Nolan absolutely flies around the field — he is very decisive early on in the play and he does NOT hesitate. He seems to have superb instincts and an uncanny ability to get to the ball before anyone else. He plays physical and is not afraid of going through blockers to get to the ball carrier. The competition he plays in Michigan Division 4 isn’t the greatest, but he’s clearly the best player on the field and it’s no contest. I really like the potential that he shows on film.

Impact

This continues the strong start Notre Dame has had recruiting the class of 2022, and it’s an early commitment at a position of need for the cycle. I said earlier in the week that I think Notre Dame would try to land three linebackers in the class, and I still see that being the case.

Now if the Irish can land two more of Devon Jackson, Sebastian Cheeks, Tevarua Tafiti, and Robby Snelling, that would be an A+ recruiting job by Clark Lea. The Irish should have a good shot with each of these guys, but they have more than a year before their early signing day so there is plenty of time for things to develop.

Nolan will almost certainly start his Notre Dame career at rover, which will need the depth in 2022 with the departures of Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoa and Paul Moala. It’s tough to say how the rover depth chart will look at that point, but there could be an opportunity for early snaps there. Whether he stays at rover or continues growing into a buck, I think the Irish just landed a kid with multi-year starter potential.

Welcome to the Irish family, Nolan!