Commit Tracker: Notre Dame pledges Elijah Burress, Nolan James Jr. lead team to state final

With the help of Notre Dame commits wide receiver Elijah Burress and running back Nolan James Jr., Wayne (N.J.) DePaul Catholic is headed to the state championship. Burress and James combined for 298 yards and four touchdowns in the Spartans’ 41-7 win against Absecon (N.J.) Holy Spirit (9-2) in the semifinals of the New Jersey Non-Public B Group playoffs

Each week during this high school football season, Blue & Gold reports on how each Notre Dame Fighting Irish commit and their teams perform.

Here is how Burress, James and the other 10 Notre Dame commits that competed from Nov. 22-23 in Week 14 fared.

Three-star RB Nolan James Jr.

Ran 21 times for 155 yards and 1 touchdown and 3 receptions for 56 yards and 1 more score in Wayne (N.J.) DePaul Catholic’s (10-1) 41-7 win over Absecon (N.J.) Holy Spirit (9-2) in the semifinals of the New Jersey Non-Public B Group playoffs.

Next game: Sparta (N.J.) Pope John XXIII (5-7) in the New Jersey Non-Public B Group state championship at Metlife Stadium at 11 a.m. ET Nov. 29.

Season stats: 10 games | 214 carries, 1,677 yards, 17 touchdowns; 26 catches, 326 yards, 3 touchdowns; 11 tackles (8 solo), 1 interception.

Three-star WR Elijah Burress

Caught 5 passes for 87 yards and 2 touchdowns in Wayne (N.J.) DePaul Catholic’s (10-1) 41-7 win over Absecon (N.J.) Holy Spirit (9-2) in the semifinals of the New Jersey Non-Public B Group playoffs. Also had a tackle.

Next game: Sparta (N.J.) Pope John XXIII (5-7) in the New Jersey Non-Public B Group state championship at Metlife Stadium at 11 a.m. ET Nov. 29.

Seasons stats: 10 games | 36 receptions, 945 yards, 14 touchdowns; 3 solo tackles.

Four-star TE James Flanigan

Finished with 9 tackles (8 solo), 4 stops for loss, 2 sacks and 1 quarterback hurry in Green Bay (Wis.) Notre Dame de la Baie’s (13-0) 41-21 win against La Crosse (Wis.) Logan (10-3) in the semifinal round of the Division 3 Wisconsin state playoffs.

SEASON COMPLETE

Season stats: 13 games | 25 receptions, 609 yards, 11 touchdowns; 61 tackles (42 solo), 19 TFLs, 13 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 forced safety, 1 pass breakup.

Four-star DL Joseph Reiff

Recorded 8 tackles (6 solo), 2.5 stops for loss and 3 quarterback hurries in Elmhurst (Ill.) York Community’s (11-2) 20-15 victory over Naperville (Ill.) Naperville Central (11-2) in the Illinois Class 8A state tournament semifinal.

Next game: vs. Wilmette (Ill.) Loyola Academy (11-2) in the Illinois Class 8A state tournament semifinal at Hancock Stadium on the campus of Illinois State on Nov. 30.

Season stats: 13 games | 54 tackles (38 solo), 10.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 31 quarterback hurries, 2 pass breakups, 2 fumble recoveries.

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

Completed 10-19 passes for 119 yards and 1 touchdown and also had 2 interceptions in Lake Mary (Fla.) High’s (10-2) 52-43 victory over Port Orange (Fla.) Spruce Creek (8-4) in the regional semifinals of the Florida Class 7A state tournament. Also had 2 carries for 10 yards and a score.

Next game: vs. Sanford (Fla.) Seminole (10-1) in the regional finals of the Florida Class 7A state tournament Nov. 29.

Season stats: 12 games | 165-275, 2,370 yards, 31 TD, 9 INT; 20 carries, 67 yards, 4 rushing TD.

Three-star CB Cree Thomas

Totaled 1 interception, 2 pass breakups and 3 tackles in Phoenix Brophy’s (10-2) 31-3 victory against Gilbert (Ariz.) Perry (6-6) at Central High School in the quarterfinal round of the Arizona Class 6A state tournament.

Next game: vs. Mesa (Ariz.) Mountain View (11-1) in the semifinal round of the Arizona Class 6A state tournament Nov. 29.

Season stats: 13 games | 37 tackles (33 solo), 2.0 TFL, 1 sack, 3 interceptions, 4 pass breakups, 2 caused fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries; 19 punt returns, 212 yards; 1 kick return, 17 yards.

Three-star WR Jerome Bettis Jr. 

Brought in 5 passes for 63 yards and had 5 tackles in College Park (Ga.) Woodward Academy’s (8-4) 35-20 loss to Canton (Ga.) Sequoyah (11-1) in the second round of the Georgia Class 5A state tournament.

SEASON COMPLETE

Season stats: 11 games | 36 receptions, 630 yards, 7 TD | 46 tackles (33 solo), 1 TFL, 1 pass breakup, 2 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles.

Four-star DB Dallas Golden

Had 4 catches for 31 yards and 1 touchdown and 11 carries for 34 yards in Tampa (Fla.) Berkeley Prep’s (6-5) 37-12 loss to Cocoa (Fla.) High (8-3) in the regional semifinal of the Florida Class 2A state tournament.

SEASON COMPLETE

Season stats: 11 games | 4 tackles, 2 pass breakups; 32 receptions, 441 yards, 4 TD; 150 rushes, 1,038 yards, 10 TD; 10 kick returns, 215 yards; 7 punt returns, 88 yards.

Four-star LB Thomas Davis Jr. (Notre Dame 2026 commit)

Matthews (N.C.) Weddington (11-0) had a 35-12 victory against Monroe (N.C.) Sun Valley (9-3) in the second round of the North Carolina Class 4A state tournament.

Next game: vs. Greensboro (N.C.) Northern Guilford (11-1) in the third round of the North Carolina Class 4A state tournament Nov. 29.

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

Boca Raton (Fla.) Saint Andrew’s (6-6) lost 70-0 to Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna (10-2) in the regional semifinal of the Florida Class 1A state tournament.

SEASON COMPLETE

Season stats: 10 games | 53 receptions, 764 yards, 9 touchdowns; 28 rushes, 89 yards, 2 touchdowns; 8 punt returns, 238 yards, 1 TD, 8 kick returns, 231 yards; Completed 1-5 passes, 8 yards; 29 tackles (10 solo), 3 interceptions, 1 blocked field goal.

Four-star LB Anthony Sacca

Philadelphia St. Joseph’s Prep (9-2) beat Allentown (Pa.) Parkland (11-3) 46-7 at Perkasie (Pa.) Pennridge High School in the quarterfinal round of the Pennsylvania Class 6A state tournament. Sacca’s complete stats were unavailable at this posting time.

Next game: vs. Downingtown (Pa.) Downingtown West (13-1) in the semi-final round of the Pennsylvania Class 6A state tournament.

Season stats: 10 games | 59 tackles (36 solo), 12 for loss, 4.5 sacks, 9 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble, 1 interception (returned 94 yards for a touchdown).

Four-star OT Owen Strebig

Waukesha (Wis.) Catholic Memorial (11-3) lost to Green Bay (Wis.) Notre Dame de la Baie (14-0) 49-28 in the Division 3 Wisconsin state championship.

READ: Strebig stays steady in final high school game (third headline)

SEASON COMPLETE

Three-star DL Gordy Sulfsted

Notre Dame D-line commit is out for the season with a knee injury … Cincinnati St. Xavier (10-4) lost to Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller (13-1) 28-23 at William Mason (Ohio) High in the regional final of the Division I Ohio State Tournament.

SEASON COMPLETE

NOTRE DAME COMMITS SEASON PREVIOUSLY COMPLETE

Four-star OT Matty Augustine

Greenwich (Conn.) Brunswick School’s season has concluded. The Bruins finished 8-2 and lost in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Championship.

Season stats: A part of an O-line that only allowed 1 sack and rushed for 2,229 yards (8.3 yards per carry) and 30 rushing touchdowns

Five-star OT Will Black

Wallingford (Conn.) Choate Rosemary Hall’s season is complete. The Wild Boars finished 9-0 and won the NEPSAC championship.

Four-star S JaDon Blair

Winston-Salem (N.C.) Mount Tabor’s season has concluded. The Spartans finished 8-3 and lost in the first round of the North Carolina Class 4A state tournament.

Season stats: 10 games | 66 tackles (62 solo), 1 TFL, 3 pass breakups, 1 caused fumble, 2 interceptions; 22 catches, 529 yards, 6 touchdowns; 7 carries, 63 yards; 4 punt returns, 21 yards.

Four-star EDGE Christopher Burgess Jr.

Chicago Simeon’s season has concluded. The Wolverines finished 7-4 and lost in the first round of the Class 6A IHSA State Tournament.

Season stats: 11 games | 101 tackles (51 solo), 8 TFLs, 5 sacks, 8 quarterback hurries, 1 pass breakup, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery.

Three-star DL Davion Dixon

Miami Palmetto’s season is complete. The Panthers finished 6-5 and lost in the regional quarterfinal of the Florida Class 7A state tournament.

Season stats: 11 games | 82 tackles (54 solo), 25 TFLs, 11.5 sacks, 8 QB pressures, 1 pass breakup, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery.

Four-star QB Blake Hebert

Greenwich (Conn.) Brunswick School’s season has concluded. The Bruins finished 8-2 and lost in the NEPSAC Championship.

Season stats: 10 games | 96-156, 1,589 yards, 16 touchdowns, 5 interceptions; 48 carries, 625 rushing yards, 11 TDs

Four-star OL Cameron Herron

Indianapolis Warren Central’s season is complete. The Warriors finished 10-2 and lost in the Class 6A Indiana state tournament regional championship.

Four-star EDGE Dominik Hulak

Chicago IC Catholic Prep‘s season has concluded. The Knights finished 4-5 and did not qualify for the playoffs.

Season stats (unofficial): 7 games | 26 solo tackles, 3 TFLs, 4 sacks, 1 quarterback hurry, 1 fumble recovery; 11 catches, 132 yards, 2 touchdowns; 12 carries, 72 yards; 17 punts, 513 yards, 27 kickoffs, 1,436 yards, 12 touchbacks.

Three-star LB Ko’o Kia 

Honolulu Punahou’s season has concluded. The Buff-n’Blue finished 3-6 and lost in the ILH Open Division Championships at Honolulu Radford High School.

Season stats: 9 games | 87 tackles, 15 TFL, 5 pass breakups, 2 quarterback pressures, 1 fumble recovery.

Three-star S Brandon Logan

Fort Wayne (Ind.) Snider’s season has concluded. The Panthers finished 8-3 and lost in the sectional championship of the Class 6A IHSAA State Tournament.

Season stats: 10 games | 57 tackles (33 solo), 2.5 TFLs, 2 fumble recoveries, 5 interceptions; 11 receptions, 117 yards; 7 carries, -5 yards; 8 punt returns, 66 yards, 1 TD; 1 kick return, 18 yards.

Three-star S Ethan Long

Greenwich (Conn.) Brunswick School’s season has concluded. The Bruins finished 8-2 and lost in the NEPSAC Championship.

Season stats: 10 games | 51 tackles, 5 TFLs, 3 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries.

Four-star WR Antavious Richardson

Greenville (Ga.) High’s (3-6) season has concluded. The Patriots finished 3-6 and lost in the first round of the Georgia Class A, Division II state tournament.

Season stats: 9 games | 53-90, 993 yards, 6 touchdowns, 3 interceptions; 88 carries 1,075 yards, 7 touchdowns; 81 tackles (63 solo), 8 TFLs, 1 interception.

Four-star CB Mark Zackery 

Indianapolis Ben Davis‘ season has concluded. The Giants finished 5-6 and lost in the sectional championship of the Class 6A IHSAA State Tournament.

Season stats: 11 games | 62 tackles (57 solo), 4 for loss, 1 sack, 8 interceptions, 4 pass breakups, 1 fumble recovery, 1 caused fumble, 1 quarterback hurry, 2 blocked punts; 58 receptions, 1,036 yards, 12 touchdowns; 1 carry, 4 yards; 1-1, 38 yards; 8 kick returns, 187 yards; 5 punt returns, 28 yards.