The leader of the 2023 Notre Dame recruiting class is covered today as we continue to breakdown each position group from this past cycle. It’s the linebackers up next!
As a reminder, here’s our standard grading scale for this exercise:
95-100: Truly elite prospect with All-American potential
90-94: Multi-year starter with All-conference level potential
85-89: Eventual starter with chance to play as underclassman
80-84: Raw prospect with decent potential but a couple years away from impact
75-79: Likely a backup
70-74: Reach by the coaching staff
LB Drayk Bowen
18S Average: 92.3
Brendan: 92
One of the most puzzling things in this cycle was Bowen’s steady decline in the recruiting service rankings. Should he have stayed at his peak of #23 overall? No. Should he have fallen outside the top 200, as he did on 247 and On3? Also no. Absurdly productive despite literally never coming off the field and playing at a high level in baseball year-round. Mr. Indiana, Gatorade Player of the Year twice, Butkus Award winner… Bowen was hurt by not having a verified 40, I guess? Bowen projects as a high-level starter inside in college. And a pretty good shortstop or centerfielder despite his bulk.
Eric: 92
A man amongst boys in high school at the 2A level in Indiana. For a linebacker recruit you have to love his production and athleticism at running back. Still, he seems to play with something extra in viciousness on defense, almost like a predatorial extra gear. Bowen has the ideal frame and size to play early for the Irish. He’s just an all-around great football player. He has good pass rushing instincts and should flourish as a blitzer. He’s smooth in space and pass coverage, too. He should be pushing for a starting job very early in his career.
Tyler: 93
I just don’t see a weakness to Drayk’s game. Probably the only thing keeping him from 5-star status is that he doesn’t possess “elite” athleticism — just very, very good athleticism. I still think he’s underrated as a guy on the edge of the top 100 of the recruiting rankings.
LB Jaiden Ausberry
18S Average: 85.3
Brendan: 86
Ausberry is yet another puzzling rankings drop, with a record of excellent production and the services knocking him for his physical traits although there are smaller and slower guys who stayed above him. Who knows! Anyway, in what actually matters, at 6’1″/210 and with plus speed Ausberry has a perfect profile for the Rover position or, if he adds some size, could be an explosive weak-side linebacker. I’m fairly confident that he’s the first Notre Dame player ever from University Lab High School in Baton Rouge, which is quite literally on LSU’s campus. Take that, Brian.
Eric: 84
Ausberry is quick out of his stance and flashes good speed chasing down defenders. He shows a good nose for the ball and has a nice variety of tackling skills to take down ball carriers. I don’t see an athlete and linebacker quite as impactful as his rankings suggest, though. At his weight, you’d think outside linebacker is in his future but I don’t think that happens. I see him gaining weight, taking some time, and developing into a good middle linebacker.
Tyler: 86
Ausberry is twitchy and explosive, with the kind of talent that should allow him to be useful on all 3 downs at linebacker. If you need him to drop in coverage, he can do it. If you need him to blitz the QB, he can do it. Size is the only real knock on him right now, but he doesn’t play undersized.
LB Preston Zinter
18S Average: 84.0
Brendan: 82
Zinter is a plus athlete – he drew some interest at tight end on the recruiting trail – who I believe is also a lunch pail guy. I know the staff likes him a lot because of his physical ability and attitude. I think he’ll end up a bit of a tweener though and likely fit in a reserve role and/or special teams stalwart. I have no doubt Brian Mason targeted Zinter early, and that says only good things about him.
Eric: 85
Zinter does a little bit of everything on defense and he can flash on offense, too. I really like his pass-rushing skills. He seems like a natural when getting after the quarterback with his hands and footwork. Zinter is also quick and shows great bend coming around the corner. If he can add some weight I like him to follow in the footsteps of someone like Josh Burnham and play the Vyper position for Marcus Freeman.
Tyler: 85
There’s been talk of Zinter having the ability to bulk up a bit and play Vyper since he committed to the Irish around this time last year. I can definitely see that, but his vision and nose for the football at linebacker are VERY good as well. I would not be shocked either way, we’ll just have to see how he develops physically in the coming months.
