One of the more interesting recruitments in recent memory drew to an exhilarating and merciful close today when top 50 tackle prospect Guerby Lambert put the cherry on the sundae of 2024 offensive line recruiting. Long rumored to be a heavy Irish lean, the 6’7”, 280 pound Bay Stater had sweat-inducing dalliances with Ohio State, Boston College, and Harvard and a decision timeline that bore much in common with the amoeba. Of course Notre Dame fans are a famously well-adjusted bunch, so none of this was any cause for concern.

The Harvard inclusion is more than a footnote – they received and official visit and in fact they may well have finished second for Lambert, who is as elite a student as he is an athlete. Shades of Jerry Tillery and his late official to Dartmouth… I think we’d all sign up for a Tillery-level contribution in South Bend, no?

One other background item worth noting: Lambert hails from the same high school as current Irish freshman Boubacar Traore. We don’t know that it was a deciding factor but it certainly helped.

Recruiting Service Rankings

247Sports Composite — 4 star (.9750 rating), #48 overall, #2 OT, #1 in MA

On3 Consensus — 4 star (94.70 rating), #54 overall, #4 OT, #1 in MA

The 247 Composite and On3 Consensus both combine 247, On3, Rivals, and ESPN rankings.

247Sports — 4 star (92 rating), #117 overall, #8 OT, #2 in MA

On3 — 4 star (96 rating), #28 overall, #4 OT, #1 in IL

Rivals — 4 star (5.9 rating), #63 overall, #4 OT, #1 in MA

ESPN — 4 star (85 rating), #59 overall, #4 OT, #1 in MA

Friend of the Stripes Jamie Uyeyama does the recruit evaluations for ISD, and we trust his evals as much as anyone’s. So while the 247 Composite and the On3 Consensus don’t factor in ISD evals, we put a lot of weight on them ourselves.

Irish Sports Daily — 4 star (93 rating)

Cohort

In addition to Notre Dame, Ohio State, the legendary program from Boston, and BC, Lambert holds offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan (lol), Michigan State, Penn State, Stanford, and Wisconsin, among others.

Highlights

Athletic and super aggressive. Wow. I’m pretty sure Lambert has a QHOP* loyalty card, because he apparently has never met a defensive lineman he didn’t want to bury under the turf. As a run blocker he fires off the ball with impressive burst and when he gets into a guy it’s over. As a pass blocker I think he’s pretty raw, but his footwork and movement at his size are excellent. The physical tools are all there and all elite. I especially love when he gets downfield and sends some poor 150 pound defensive back into another dimension.

* Q’s House of Pancakes. Obviously.

Impact

I don’t know if Lambert will be an instant impact guy – that’s a tall order for and line prospect – but I do think he can be an elite left tackle for Notre Dame. That was a key need in this class as the staff signed a very good class last year but one without a true left tackle. Whether it’s right away or a bit after, I see the potential for a high level multi year starter in Lambert.

Welcome to the Irish family, Guerby!