What to watch for: Game of the week + schedule for Notre Dame commits

Before Notre Dame hosts Cal to look to rebound after a brutal 0-2 start, the Fighting Irish commits in the 2023 and 2024 classes will hit the field for their respective high school teams. Below is a look at who is playing and where, plus a preview of the top matchup.

GAME OF THE WEEK

Two of the top-10 teams in Ohio match up on Friday night. Notre Dame safety commit Ben Minich‘s Cincinnati Lakota West (4-0) squad ranks as the No. 4 team in The Buckeye State per MaxPreps, and they face the Cincinnati Princeton (4-0), the No. 9 program in the state.

Lakota West’s last three games have resulted in blowout wins, as Minich’s defense has only allowed 13 total points. He’s been solid when he’s not on the sideline due to the game being out of hand, recording 12 tackles, 1 sack and 1 interception (returned 36 yards for touchdown).

He only has 1 reception for 2 yards, but it was a key catch, as it was for the game-winning touchdown in Lakota West’s season opening 16-13 triumph against Cincinnati St. Xavier, a perennial powerhouse.

Minich ranks as the No. 330 overall recruit and No. 31 safety according to the On3 Consensus ranking.

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WHERE WILL MIKE SINGER BE?

On Friday afternoon, I’ll be making a drive out to North Carolina to watch Notre Dame class of 2024 tight end commit Jack Larsen in action. His Charlotte Catholic (2-1) squad battles against Charlotte (N.C.) Providence (2-1) at home, and I’m looking forward to seeing the four-star recruit in action for the second time.

The first time I got to see Larsen was for the Irish Invasion camp in which he had a stellar performance in front of tight ends coach Gerad Parker and Co. Larsen, who ranks as the No. 174 overall recruit and No. 9 tight end in the country, committed to Notre Dame June 24.

Larsen has posted 11 receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown through three games.

FULL NOTRE DAME COMMIT SCHEDULE

OL Sullivan Absher—Belmont (N.C.) South Point (3-0) at Belmont (N.C.) Stuart W. Cramer (2-1) Sept. 16.

LB Jaiden Ausberry—Baton Rouge (La.) University Lab (1-1) at Baton Rouge (La.) Catholic-B.R. (1-1) Sept. 16.

CB Micah Bell—Houston The Kinkaid School (1-2) vs. Orange (Texas) Little Cypress-Mauriceville (2-1) Sept. 16.

LB Drayk Bowen—Merrillville (Ind.) Andrean (2-2) vs. Highland (Ind.) High (1-3) Sept. 16.

S Peyton Bowen—Denton (Texas) Guyer (3-0) vs. Prosper (Texas) High (3-0) Sept. 16.

RB Dylan Edwards—Derby (Kan.) High (1-1) at Wichita (Kan.) Bishop Carroll (2-0) Sept. 16.

TE Cooper Flanagan—Concord (Calif.) De La Salle (2-1) at San Diego Cathedral Catholic (2-2) Sept. 16.

CB Christian Gray—St. Louis De Smet (1-2) vs. Kirkwood (Mo.) Vianney (0-3) Sept. 16.

WR Jaden Greathouse—Austin (Texas) Westlake (3-0) has a bye.

DL Devan Houstan—Hagerstown (Md.) St. James School (1-1) at Williamsport (Md.) High (2-0) Sept. 16.

OL Charles Jagusah—Rock Island (Ill.) Alleman (1-2) vs. Sterling (Ill.) High (2-1) Sept. 16.

WR Braylon James—Round Rock (Texas) Stony Point (3-0) at Austin (Texas) Vandegrift (2-1) Sept. 16.

RB Jayden Limar—Lake Stevens (Wash.) High (1-1) vs. Federal Way (Wash.) High (2-0) Sept. 16.

S Ben Minich—Cincinnati Lakota West (4-0) at Cincinnati Princeton (4-0) Sept. 16.

DL Armel Mukam—Woodberry Forest (Va.) High (1-0) at North Bethesda (Md.) Georgetown Prep (2-0) Sept. 17.

OL Elijah Paige—Phoenix Pinnacle (1-1) vs. Queen Creek (Ariz.) High (1-1) Sept. 16.

OL Sam Pendleton—Pfafftown (N.C.) Reagan (2-1) vs. Kernersville (N.C.) East Forsyth (3-0) Sept. 16.

OL Joe Otting—Topeka (Kan.) Hayden (2-0) vs. Rossville (Kan.) High (1-1) Sept. 16.

S Adon Shuler—Irvington (N.J.) High (3-0) at Maplewood (N.J.) Columbia (0-2) Sept. 17.

DL Boubacar Traore—West Roxbury (Mass.) Catholic Memorial (0-0) at Providence (R.I.) La Salle Academy (1-0) Sept. 16.

DL Brenan Vernon—Mentor (Ohio) High (2-2) has a bye.

LB Preston Zinter—Lawrence (Mass.) Central Catholic (0-1) vs. Danvers (Mass.) St. John’s Prep (1-0) Sept. 16.

2024 commits

QB CJ Carr—Saline (Mich.) High (3-0) at Monroe (Mich.) High (2-1) Sept. 17.

DL Brandon Davis-Swain—West Bloomfield (Mich.) High (3-0) vs. Clarkston (Mich.) High (2-1) Sept. 16.

OL Peter Jones—Malvern (Pa.) Prep (2-0) vs. Philadelphia Imhotep Charter (1-1) Sept. 16.

TE Jack Larsen—Charlotte (N.C.) Catholic (2-1) vs. Charlotte (N.C.) Providence (2-1) Sept. 16.

DL Owen Wafle—Princeton (N.J.) Hun School (2-0) at Greenwich (Ct.) Brunswick School (0-0) Sept. 17.

WR Cam Williams—Glen Ellyn (Ill.) Glenbard South (3-0) at Streamwood (Ill.) High (1-2) Sept. 16.