Commit Tracker: Notre Dame RB pledge Nolan James Jr. has career-best game in Week 15

On the heels of its outstanding senior running back Nolan James Jr., Wayne (N.J.) DePaul Catholic captured its 11th football state championship on Friday. The Notre Dame commit finished with a career-high 244 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Spartans’ 33-21 win over Sparta (N.J.) Pope John XXIII.

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 James and the other six Notre Dame commits that competed from Nov. 29-30 in Week 15 fared.

Three-star RB Nolan James Jr.

Ran 29 times for a season-high 244 yards and 2 touchdowns and had a 14-yard catch in Wayne (N.J.) DePaul Catholic’s (11-1) 33-21 win over Sparta (N.J.) Pope John XXIII (5-8) in the New Jersey Non-Public B Group state championship.

SEASON COMPLETE

Season stats: 11 games | 243 carries, 1,921 yards, 19 touchdowns; 27 catches, 340 yards, 3 touchdowns; 11 tackles (8 solo), 1 interception.

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

Completed 8-14 passes for 184 yards and 3 touchdowns and also had 1 interception in Lake Mary (Fla.) High’s (11-2) 42-3 victory over Sanford (Fla.) Seminole (10-2) in the regional finals of the Florida Class 7A state tournament.

Next game: vs. Orlando (Fla.) Dr. Phillips (12-1) in the semifinals of the Florida Class 7A state tournament Dec. 6.

Season stats: 13 games | 173-289, 2,554 yards, 34 TD, 10 INT; 20 carries, 67 yards, 4 rushing TD.

Three-star WR Elijah Burress

Had a 15-yard touchdown catch in Wayne (N.J.) DePaul Catholic’s (11-1) 33-21 win over Sparta (N.J.) Pope John XXIII (5-8) in the New Jersey Non-Public B Group state championship.

SEASON COMPLETE

Seasons stats: 12 games | 37 receptions, 960 yards, 15 touchdowns; 3 solo tackles, 1 pass breakup.

Three-star CB Cree Thomas

Totaled 3 solo tackles and 2 kick returns for 51 yards in Phoenix Brophy’s (10-3) 28-27 loss to Mesa (Ariz.) Mountain View (12-1) in the semifinal round of the Arizona Class 6A state tournament.

SEASON COMPLETE

Season stats: 13 games | 40 tackles (36 solo), 2.0 TFL, 1 sack, 3 interceptions, 4 pass breakups, 2 caused fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries; 19 punt returns, 212 yards; 3 kick return, 68 yards.

Three-star DL Joseph Reiff

Recorded 3 tackles in Elmhurst (Ill.) York Community’s (11-3) 35-14 loss to Wilmette (Ill.) Loyola Academy (12-2) in the Illinois Class 8A state championship.

SEASON COMPLETE

Season stats: 14 games | 57 tackles (39 solo), 10.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 31 quarterback hurries, 2 pass breakups, 2 fumble recoveries.

Four-star LB Anthony Sacca

Had a sack and fumble recovery in Philadelphia St. Joseph’s Prep’s (10-2) 36-7 victory against Downingtown (Pa.) Downingtown West (13-2) in the semi-final round of the Pennsylvania Class 6A state tournament. Sacca’s complete stats were unavailable at this posting time.

Next game: vs. Pittsburgh Central Catholic (12-2) in the Pennsylvania Class 6A state championship Dec. 7.

Season stats: 10 games | 65 tackles (39 solo), 15 for loss, 4.5 sacks, 9 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble, 1 interception (returned 94 yards for a touchdown).

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

Matthews (N.C.) Weddington (12-0) beat Greensboro (N.C.) Northern Guilford (11-2) 55-0 in the third round of the North Carolina Class 4A state tournament. Davis’ complete stats were unavailable at this posting time.

Next game: vs. Kernersville (N.C.) East Forsyth (13-0) in the fourth round of the North Carolina Class 4A state tournament Dec. 6.

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

Three-star WR Jerome Bettis Jr. 

College Park (Ga.) Woodward Academy’s season has concluded. The War Eagles finished 8-4 and lost in the second round of the Georgia Class 5A state tournament.

Season stats: 11 games | 36 receptions, 630 yards, 7 TD | 47 tackles (38 solo), 1 TFL, 1 pass breakup, 2 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles.

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.

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

Boca Raton (Fla.) Saint Andrew’s season is over. The Scots finished 6-6 and lost in the regional semifinal of the Florida Class 1A state tournament.

Season stats: 11 games | 59 receptions, 809 yards, 9 touchdowns; 29 rushes, 96 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 TE James Flanigan

Green Bay (Wis.) Notre Dame de la Baie’s season is complete. The Tritons finished 14-0 and won the Wisconsin Division 3 state championship.

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 DB Dallas Golden

Tampa (Fla.) Berkeley Prep’s season is over. The Buccaneers ended the year 6-5 and lost in the regional semifinal of the Florida Class 2A state tournament.

Season stats: 11 games | 6 tackles, 2 pass breakups; 32 receptions, 441 yards, 5 TD; 150 rushes, 1,038 yards, 10 TD; 10 kick returns, 215 yards; 7 punt returns, 88 yards; 21-yard touchdown pass.

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 OT Owen Strebig

Waukesha (Wis.) Catholic Memorial’s season is complete. The Crusaders ended the year 11-3 and lost in the Division 3 Wisconsin state championship.

Season stats: A part of a Crusaders O-line that helped pave the way for 2,283 yards and 34 touchdowns on 374 attempts (6.1 yards per carry).

Three-star DL Gordy Sulfsted

Cincinnati St. Xavier’s season is complete. The Bombers finished 10-4 and lost in the regional final of the Division I Ohio State Tournament.

Sulfsted missed his senior year due to injury.

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.