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Commit Tracker: Multiple Notre Dame commits shine in senior season debuts

Kyle Kellyby:Kyle Kelly08/26/24

ByKyleKelly

Mark Zackery
2025 cornerback Mark Zackery. (© Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK)

Despite a bevy of losses from their teams, most of Notre Dame football’s 2025 and 2026 commits stood out in their junior and senior debuts.

Each week during this high school football season, Blue & Gold will report on how each Fighting Irish commit and their teams perform during the 2024 football season.

Here is how the 12 Notre Dame commits that competed on Friday and Saturday fared.

Three-star WR Jerome Bettis Jr. 

Brought in 3 throws for 103 yards and his first touchdown of the season, although College Park (Ga.) Woodward Academy (0-2) fell 21-14 to Suwanee (Ga.) Collins Hill (2-0). Also had 3 solo tackles and caused a fumble. 

Season stats: 2 games | 3 catches, 103 yards, 1 TD | 11 tackles (7 solo) and 1 forced fumble.

Four-star S JaDon Blair

In Week 1 against five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon, Blair totaled 11 tackles and a 12-yard catch in Winston-Salem (N.C.) Mount Tabor’s (0-1) loss to Greensboro (N.C.) Grimsley (1-0). 

Three-star DL Davion Dixon

Debuted with 7 tackles (4 solo), 2 TFLs, 1 sack and 2 quarterback pressures in Miami Palmetto’s (1-0) 14-10 season-opening victory over Miami Northwestern (0-1). 

Three-star WR Dylan Faison (2026)

The Boca Raton (Fla.) Saint Andrew’s Scots (0-1) fell 13-0 to the West Palm Beach (Fla.) King’s Academy Lions. Faison’s complete stats were unavailable at this posting time. However, we are told he played quarterback on Friday night.

Four-star TE James Flanigan

Hauled in 3 passes for 45 yards and had 8 tackles (5 solo), 1 for loss and 1 sack in Green Bay (Wis.) Notre Dame de la Baie Academy’s (1-0) 16-13 Week 1 win against Kaukauna (Wis.) High (0-1). 

Four-star DB Dallas Golden

Impacted on offense with 6 catches for 98 yards and 11 carries for 29 yards, to go along with 3 kick returns that totaled 47 yards in Tampa (Fla.) Berkeley Prep’s (0-1) loss to Clearwater (Fla.) Clearwater Central Catholic (1-0). Also lost a fumble on offense and had a tackle on defense.

Four-star QB Noah Grubbs (2026)

Completed 11-16 passes for 162 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception and had a 3-yard carry in Lake Mary (Fla.) High’s (1-0) 49-20 victory over Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Cardinal Gibbons (0-1). 

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Three-star LB Ko’o Kia 

Collected 6 tackles, including 1 for loss, in Honolulu Punahou’s (1-2) 49-17 loss to Ewa Beach (Hawai’i) James Campbell (2-0). 

Season stats: 3 games | 27 tackles, 7 TFL and 3 pass breakups

Three-star S Brandon Logan

Logged 9 tackles, including an assisted one for loss and a fumble recovery in Fort Wayne (Ind.) Snider’s (1-0) 15-0 loss to Indianapolis Warren Central (1-0). Logan also had 2 carries as a Wildcat quarterback but only gained 1 yard.

Four-star OT Owen Strebig

Waukesha (Wis.) Catholic Memorial (0-1) fell in Week 1, 34-24, to Franklin (Wis.) High (1-0). The Catholic Memorial O-line surrendered 10 tackles for loss and 2 sacks, but helped pave the way for 159 yards and 1 touchdown on 34 carries (4.7 yards per carry). Strebig also played defense and had 2 tackles (1 solo). 

Three-star DL Gordy Sulfsted

The Notre Dame commit did not play due to injury, and Cincinnati St. Xavier (0-1) lost to West Chester (Ohio) Lakota West (1-0) 17-13.

Four-star RB Justin Thurman

Notched a 100-yard game on the ground in his senior season debut, adding 3 touchdowns on 18 carries in Tampa (Fla.) Jesuit’s (0-1) 48-34 loss to Fort Myers (Fla. ) Bishop Verot (1-0). Also had 2 catches, but they totaled -2 yards. 

Four-star CB Mark Zackery 

Impacted on both sides of the ball, recording a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown, 6 tackles (4 solo), 1 for loss and 7 catches for 78 yards in Indianapolis Ben Davis’ (0-1) 24-6 loss in Week 1 to Indianapolis Cathedral (1-0). 

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