Commit Tracker: Chicagoland D-linemen dominate in senior season debut

If Notre Dame football fans do not remember On300 EDGE commit Christopher Burgess‘ senior season debut at Chicago Simeon, the Rochester (Ill.) High O-line will.

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

Here is how the 18 Notre Dame commits that competed on Thursday, Friday and Saturday fared.

Three-star RB Daniel Anderson

Accounted for 44 yards and 1 touchdown on 12 carries in Bryant (Ark.) High’s (1-0) 52-45 victory against Benton (Ark.) High (0-1).

Next game: at St. Louis Christian Brothers College High (1-0) Sept. 6.

Four-star OT Matty Augustine

Greenwich (Conn.) Brunswick School kicks off the season against Darien (Conn.) Chesire Academy on Sept. 13.

Three-star WR Jerome Bettis Jr. 

Had a 6-yard catch and 2 tackles in College Park (Ga.) Woodward Academy’s (0-3) 38-0 loss to Atlanta Marist School (2-0).

Next game: at Snellville (Ga.) Shiloh (0-3) Sept. 13.

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

Four-star OT Will Black

Wallingford (Conn.) Choate Rosemary Hall does not start the season until Sept. 13 at Cambridge (Mass.) Buckingham Browne & Nichols School.

Four-star S JaDon Blair

Did not play in Winston-Salem (N.C.) Mount Tabor’s (1-1) 42-0 win against Winston-Salem (N.C.) North Forsyth (1-1).

Next game: vs. Greensboro (N.C.) Page (0-2) Sept. 6

Season stats: 1 game | 11 tackles; 1 reception, 12 yards

Four-star EDGE Christopher Burgess Jr.

Racked up 12 tackles and 2 for loss in Chicago Simeon’s (0-1) 35-14 loss to Rochester (Ill.) High (1-0).

Next game: at Chicago Hope Academy (0-1) Sept. 6.

Three-star WR Elijah Burress

Brought in 4 passes for 104 yards and 3 touchdowns in Wayne (N.J.) DePaul Catholic’s (1-0) 47-14 win against Sparta (N.J.) Pope John XXIII (0-1).

Next game: vs. Olney (Md.) Good Counsel (1-0) Sept. 6.

Three-star DL Davion Dixon

Dominated with 5 tackles (4 solo), 3 for loss and 1 sack in the first half of Miami Palmetto’s (1-0) game against Miami Booker T. Washington (1-0). The game was delayed due to weather. It is uncertain when it will be resumed.

Season stats: 1.5 games | 13 tackles (8 solo), 5 TFLs, 2 sacks and 2 QB pressures

Three-star WR Dylan Faison (Notre Dame 2026 commit)

Flew by defenders for 2 catches worth 34 yards in Boca Raton (Fla.) Saint Andrew’s (1-1) 46-0 win over Boca Raton (Fla.) Pope John Paul II (0-1).

Next game: at Boca Raton (Fla.) High (2-0) Sept. 6. 

Season stats: 2 games | 2 receptions, 34 yards; 23 rushes, 80 yards

Four-star TE James Flanigan

Flashed with 3 catches for 36 yards and had 5 tackles (2 solo) and 1 TFL in Green Bay (Wis.) Notre Dame de la Baie’s (2-0) 7-3 win over De Pere (Wis.) High (1-1). Also had a successful extra-point kick.

Next game: vs. Sheboygan (Wis.) North (2-0) Sept. 6.

Season stats: 2 games | 6 receptions, 81 yards; 13 tackles (7 solo), 2 TFLs and 1 sack.

Four-star DB Dallas Golden

Had 8 carries for 73 yards and 3 catches for 47 yards and 1 touchdown in Tampa (Fla.) Berkeley Prep’s (1-1) 28-21 victory against Sarasota (Fla.) Booker (1-1). Also had an 18-yard kick return

Next game: vs. Tampa (Fla.) Carrollwood Day (0-2) Sept. 6.

Season stats: 2 games (unofficial) | 9 receptions, 145 yards; 19 rushes, 102 yards; 1 tackle; 1 kick return, 18 yards

Four-star QB Noah Grubbs (Notre Dame 2026 commtit)

Completed 18-32 passes for 197 yards, 1 TD and 1 interception in Lake Mary (Fla.) High’s (2-0) 24-7 victory over Kissimmee (Fla.) Osceola (1-1).

Next game: at Lakeland (Fla.) High (1-0) Sept. 6. 

Season stats: 2 games | 29-48, 359 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT; 2 carries, 3 yards

Three-star EDGE Dominik Hulak

Chicago IC Catholic Prep defeated St. Louis (Mo.) St. Mary’s 29-28 in overtime. Hulak sustained an injury in the first quarter, and his stats were unavailable at this posting time.

Next game: vs. Chicago Military Academy (1-0) Sept. 6.

Three-star LB Ko’o Kia 

Honolulu Punahou had a bye week.

Next game: at Honolulu ‘Iolani School (1-2) Sept. 6.

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

Four-star QB Deuce Knight

Connected on 8-10 throws for 167 yards and 2 touchdowns and had 6 carries for 72 yards in Lucedale (Miss.) George County’s (33-7) win over Klin (Miss.) East Central (0-1).

Next game: vs. Leakesville (Miss.) Green County (1-0) Sept. 6.

Three-star S Brandon Logan

Logged 9 tackles (4 solo), including a TFL, in Fort Wayne (Ind.) Snider’s (1-1) 35-10 victory against Kendallville (Ind.) East Noble (1-1). Also had 2 punt returns for 56 yards and 1 touchdown, and an 8-yard catch.

Next game: vs. Fort Wayne (Ind.) Concordia Lutheran (2-0) Sept. 6. 

Season stats: 2 games | 18 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 1 fumble recovery; 1 reception, 8 yards; 2 carries, 1 yard; 2 punt returns, 56 yards, 1 TD

Three-star S Ethan Long

Greenwich (Conn.) Brunswick School kicks off the season against Darien (Conn.) Chesire Academy on Sept. 13.

Four-star DL Joseph Reiff

Recorded 6 tackles (4 solo) and 0.5 TFL in Elmhurst (Ill.) York Community’s (1-0) 28-10 win against Glenview (Ill.) Glenbrook South (0-1).

Next game: at Plainfield (Ill.) Plainfield North (0-1) Sept. 6.

Four-star LB Anthony Sacca

Philadelphia St. Joseph’s Prep (0-1) fell 35-21 to Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward (2-0). Sacca’s stats were unavailable at this time of posting.

Next game: vs. Brooklyn (N.Y.) Erasmus Hall (0-1) Sept. 7

Four-star OT Owen Strebig

Waukesha (Wis.) Catholic Memorial (1-1) beat Sun Prairie (Wis.) High (0-2) 35-0. The Crusaders’ O-line paved the way for its rushers to gain 188 yards and 3 touchdowns on 32 carries (5.9 yards per carry. They only allowed 1 sack.

Next game: vs. Waukesha (Wis.) North (1-1) Sept. 6.

Three-star DL Gordy Sulfsted

Out for the season with a knee injury … Cincinnati St. Xavier (1-1) beat Centerville (Ohio) High (1-1) 34-10.

Next game: vs. Indianapolis Cathedral (1-1) Sept. 6.

Three-star CB Cree Thomas

Tacked on 2 solo tackles and 1 caused fumble in Phoenix Brophy’s (1-0) 35-28 win against Gilbert (Ariz.) Williams Field (0-1).

Next game: vs. Aurora (Co.) Regis Jesuit (0-1) Sept. 6.

Four-star RB Justin Thurman

Totaled 10 carries for 47 yards and 1 touchdown in Tampa (Fla.) Jesuit’s (1-1) 31-3 win against North Palm Beach (Fla.) The Benjamin School (0-2).

Next game: Valdosta (Ga.) High (3-0) Sept. 6.

Season stats: 2 games | 28 carries, 147 yards, 4 TDs; 2 catches, -2 yards

Four-star CB Mark Zackery 

Indianapolis Ben Davis (0-2) loss to Avon (Ind.) High (1-1) 29-28. The game began on Friday but was delayed until Saturday in the second quarter. Zackery’s complete stats were unavailable at this time of posting. However, he had a 56-yard touchdown and an interception.

Next game: vs. Indianapolis Pike (2-0) Sept. 6.