If you haven’t already, check out our full 2023 Notre Dame Recruiting Review on this class a whole. Now we will look at each of the players from this Fighting Irish class in more detail. Today, it’s time to get excited for a really promising group of skill players at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end.

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

QB Kenny Minchey

18S Average: 91.7

Brendan: 94

What a last minute save at the position. In his commitment post I said that Minchey’s game reminds me of CJ Stroud’s, and upon further review I stand by that. He has decent mobility but he doesn’t look to run – he tries to slide the pocket first, look for off-platform throws second, and then run. His mechanics are uncannily consistent no matter what type of throw he makes.

He combines above average arm strength with elite accuracy and anticipation. I think with a healthy senior season (he missed over half of it with a separated shoulder) there’s no doubt he would’ve been a top 100 prospect, possibly top 50. I don’t see a ton of separation between him and some of the guys the Irish tried to land earlier. He should make the 2024 QB competition very interesting.

Eric: 90

First thing that jumps out to me with Minchey is his smoothness and calmness at quarterback. He seems to have a bit of a short but quick delivery and the ball comes out of his hand with good velocity. He throws an excellent spiral and most of his passes look really catchable which should endear him to receivers. He definitely show nice touch on deeper throws.

I like how comfortable he is running play-action and moving in the pocket to make a throw. I’ll be curious to see how he stacks up physically and athletically in the QB room. He was on his way to a huge senior season before injury, it’s possible Notre Dame got a bit lucky in flipping him from Pitt without him blowing up nationally and attracting other bluebloods.

Tyler: 91

I think Minchey can be a hell of a QB at the college level. His accuracy and touch on the deep ball is next level, something that has been sorely lacking at Notre Dame recently. He was a member of the Elite 11 in 2022 and actually won the Pro Day event that week. Gino Guidugli should be very pleased with the tools available with Minchey.

RB Jeremiyah Love

18S Average: 92.3

Brendan: 93

The Irish have landed some quality backs over the last few years, but even so, Love provides an unusually strong combination of speed, power, agility, and receiving ability. Tommy Rees reportedly told Love that he could fill a Deebo Samuel-type role in college; even with Rees gone, I think that future scenario holds for Love. He has flexibility that would make any offensive coordinator drool.

Eric: 91

You have to like the mixture of size and athleticism. Love has a really long frame and a galloping open field stride. I don’t see amazing open field speed, though. He’s not always running away from high school opponents. At his height, he does have very good feet. He can hard cut in tight spaces really well and doesn’t struggle breaking down and making defenders miss. You can see him as a slimmer version of Audric Estime in a lot of ways. 

Tyler: 93

I love his combination of speed and shiftiness at his size. You usually see running backs who move like him about 20 pounds lighter. He’s got great feet, makes some excellent cuts, and — as evidenced by his 4.4 40-yard-dash — runs faster than his stride makes it look.

WR Braylon James

18S Average: 92.7

Brendan: 92

Man, I love this kid. James transferred before his senior season to test himself against tougher competition. Test passed – despite the jump in level and no longer being the only offensive option, he posted similar catch numbers and improved his per-catch average from 12.1 yards to 19.1 yards.

He’s raw, which is the main question mark on him – of the four receivers the Irish he added in this class he has the most uncertainty around when he’ll be ready to see the field – but he also has the highest ceiling thanks to his combination of size (6’2″) and speed (reportedly a 10.6 100M and sub-4.5 40, and it shows on film). Physically he’s very similar to Kevin Austin, which, hey, you could do a lot worse. From his off-field personality, he also strikes me as someone who could be tabbed a captain down the road.

Eric: 94

Here I go getting ridiculously excited about a freshman receiver again. Braylon James ticks most of the boxes for an elite wideout coming out of high school. His style is reminiscent of AJ Green. He has a big burst out of his stance and gets up to full speed really well at his size. James should be a big play guy down field. He seems like the type of playmaker who will get so much better with a legit passing threat in college. I think he’ll push for some playing time in 2023.

Tyler: 92

How many times did Braylon burn his high school opponents on deep routes and crossers in 2022? They seemed to make up almost his entire highlight reel. I’m not sure if he will be a guy expected to make an immediate impact in 2023 as he’s more raw than, say, Jaden Greathouse, but his potential is the highest of all ND’s 2023 signees at receiver. He could be lethal to opposing defenses on downfield throws.

WR Jaden Greathouse

18S Average: 93.0

Brendan: 91

Kind of the other side of the coin from James is Greathouse – very polished, historically productive at the highest level of Texas football, could probably step into the rotation this fall, but there are questions about his athleticism that limit projections for him. He finished his high school career as powerhouse Austin Westlake’s all-time leader in receptions (232), receiving yards (4,035), and receiving touchdowns (53), and 15th all time in Texas for receiving yards. As in the entire state.

He’s a three-time state champ and as a junior set the Texas state record for receiving yards in the championship game with 236 – against Peyton Bowen’s Denton Guyer squad, in fact. He’s a great kid. He checks every box aside from 40 time, so while I don’t know how high his ceiling is it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s super productive at this level too.

Eric: 96

Everything about Greathouse screams someone who should’ve been a 5-star in this class. That he doesn’t have that ranking, particularly from 247 with one of the worst evaluations I’ve ever seen, is criminal. He’s playing at one of the biggest high schools in the nation, with huge production (over 4,000 yards with 53 receiving touchdowns in top level Texas high school ball!), and absolutely jumps off the screen athletically. He’s super twitchy with a great change of speed and small-area burst. He cuts so hard and quickly in and out of routes and also while running away from defenders.

Greathouse is built like a stronger outside receiver but gets open like a 180-pound dynamic slot receiver. He dominates in blocking, too. He’s about 6-1 or so with a powerfully built and college-ready body. You could argue he’s not a major homerun threat and benefitted from playing with Cade Klubnik prior to 2022. I still think Greathouse is the type of talent who will end up setting some records for the Irish. By all indications he’s a great fit for the school, as well. This is a seriously major talent coming to Notre Dame.

Tyler: 92

The WR signee most likely to make an impact in 2023 is definitely Jaden Greathouse, in my opinion. You just don’t see his blend of size, refinement, and athleticism too often in high school receivers. I’m really not sure what some of the recruiting sites (looking at you, 247) aren’t seeing in him. I get that he’s not considered a burner but… He just keeps outrunning guys at the highest level of Texas high school football. And when he’s not outrunning them, he’s high-pointing the football over the top of them, or outmaneuvering them with a surprising amount of shiftiness for someone who’s 6’1″/220 pounds.

WR Rico Flores

18S Average: 85.7

Brendan: 85

Flores’s highlight reel is the best set list out of Folsom since the Man in Black visited in 1968. He’s an outstanding route runner, maybe better right now than anyone else on the roster; some of the stuff on film is downright filthy to the point where I actually feel sympathy for the defender. His athletic traits tend more to good than great, which keeps his ceiling lower than Braylon James’s, but I think he’ll be ready to contribute sooner than James. He and Greathouse could both be in the rotation as true freshmen.

Eric: 87

Flores has a nice burst out of his stance and uses a strong one-cut move to create separation from defensive backs. Listed as tall as 6-2 in some places so he’s bringing some good size. Overall, he displays a good variety of route running with enough speed to create big chunk plays, too. I like the strength of Flores, he fights for yards and isn’t afraid to make tough catches over the middle. Bottom line, I think Flores is really well rounded and could have a long career for the Irish.

Tyler: 85

Probably the most refined of the WR signees this cycle, but maybe also the lowest ceiling? Feels like a guy we would be much more excited about if the WR haul wasn’t so good this year.

WR Kaleb Smith

18S Average: 85.7

Brendan: 87

Smith has film that belies his status as the lowest-rated recruit in the class. On his Hudl profile he claims a 4.52 40 and a 4.19 shuttle, and you can see that speed and acceleration in his highlights. He also show flashes of elite route running ability – he needs more consistency but the ability is there. He probably needs to bulk up a little but I can definitely see it all coming together for him to be a front line player.

Eric: 84

Smith is a smooth athlete who doesn’t waste a lot of motion. When the ball is in his hands he’ll make a move and gets up to speed in a hurry. He has homerun speed for sure. Smith gets in and out of cuts quickly and is difficult to cover on short routes and screens. His frame is pretty lean. How his body will hold up physically and if he can make contested catches will be big questions for him at Notre Dame.

Tyler: 86

There’s supposedly been a lot of buzz around Texas that Smith is one of the most underrated players in the state. I can understand it after watching his senior film. He’s electric with the ball in his hands, with the speed to hit big plays and the shiftiness to get himself into the open field on shorter throws. There is a case to be made for his ceiling potentially being the 2nd highest among the WR signees for Notre Dame, behind only Braylon James.

TE Cooper Flanagan

18S Average: 83.3

Brendan: 84

Another in the long line of solid TEs at Notre Dame. Flanagan doesn’t quite match the athleticism of freaks like Michael Mayer or Eli Raridon, but there’s a reason Alabama worked really hard up until the final bell to flip him. He’s a plus blocker and a smooth receiver who likely has a floor of being a dependable chain-mover at this level. I’m guessing there will be a place for a guy like that in the Irish offense for a long time.

Eric: 84

The De La Salle offense is still in the Stone Age and throws the ball about 12 times per game so it’s tough to get a good read on Flanagan’s receiving skills. He does look like a really big kid and moves well in his limited pass catching highlights, though. As a blocker, I’m sure he will come in and be ready to make an impact at Notre Dame.

Tyler: 82

A really well-rounded player. Nothing flashy to his game, but he should prove to be a reliable blocker and capable as a receiving threat. I could see him having a Brock Wright type of career at Notre Dame, with hopefully a little more production in the passing game.