Penn State HC James Franklin in to see Notre Dame WR commit Elijah Burress

Penn State is not on a bye this week, but head coach James Franklin is still on the recruiting trail before his Nittany Lions take on Illinois on Saturday.

Franklin is in New Jersey taking in DePaul Catholic vs. Paramus Catholic. DePaul, the No. 4 team in the state this week, features senior three-star wide receiver and current Notre Dame commit Elijah Burress.

Joining Franklin on the sidelines is a pair of former New York Giants in Plaxico Burress, the father of Elijah, and Brandon Jacobs:

Plaxico Burress, Brandon Jacobs and James Franklin at Paramus Catholic. Plax’s son Elijah Burress plays for DePaul Catholic and is committed to Notre Dame next year pic.twitter.com/3NwXY2L5Kq

— Justin Penik (@JustinPenik) September 28, 2024

Burress has been committed to Notre Dame since Feb. 10. He is the No. 579 overall prospect and No. 95 wideout in the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 16 player in New Jersey.

“I think it’s the perfect spot for me,” Burress told Blue & Gold ahead of his decision. “The coaching staff, the players there, the place, the scheme — it’s all perfect for me.”

Entering Friday night, Burress has caught 10 passes for 297 yards and five touchdowns to open his senior season. DePaul Catholic is off to a 4-0 start and enters the week as the No. 131 team in the nation, according to the On3 Massey Ratings.

Burress is one of two wide receivers in Notre Dame’s 2025 class. Penn State already has a trio of WR pledges in its class, including four-star Jeff Exinor, four-star Koby Howard and On3 four-star Lyrick Samuel. The Irish’s class ranks No. 12 in the nation, while PSU checks in at No. 17, per the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

Scout’s Take on Elijah Burress

On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power writes this of Burress as a prospect:

“Elijah Burress has shown flashes of a well-rounded skill set. He measured in at 6-0, 165 pounds in the offseason, and he’s a guy who moves well, runs laser-timed in the 4.6s (40-yard dash), shows route running ability and encouraging change of direction. He’s also shown flashes of ball skills and ability to make high difficulty grabs over the middle of the field. I think Burress is a guy who will continue to grow and mature physically.”