What to watch for with Notre Dame’s commits on the field this week

Notre Dame’s commits in the 2023 and 2024 classes are in the thick of their respective senior and junior seasons, and this article takes a look at what to watch for as the weekend approaches.

GAME OF THE WEEK

This is a rather easy choice, as two Notre Dame commits take the field against each other in a playoff tilt.

Irish class of 2024 tight end pledge Jack Larsen and his Charlotte (N.C.) Catholic (8-2) squad heads to Pfafftown (N.C.) Reagan (8-2), home of class of 2023 offensive line commit Sam Pendleton, in the first round of the North Carolina Class 3A state playoffs Nov. 4.

With both teams having just two-loss regular seasons, it’s a bit harsh that one of them has to go out in the first round of the playoffs, but that’s the draw they were dealt.

Larsen has had a strong junior campaign, recording 33 receptions for 633 yards and 6 touchdowns. Pendleton has paved the way for Reagan to be dominant on the ground this season. It should be a great battle between the two programs.

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TOP PERFORMER FROM LAST WEEK

It’s hard to go with anyone other than Drayk Bowen here.

The four-star linebacker from Merrillville (Ind.) Andrean (7-3) has been simply superb during his junior season and seems to have a great chance to win the Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year award in back-to-back years. His Andrean team is on a collision course to win a second-straight state title as well.

And in last week’s playoff tilt against an undefeated Lakeville (Ind.) LaVille squad, Bowen posted 15 tackles and 2 stops for loss in a 28-6 victory. Offensively, he ran 26 times for 218 yards and 3 scores.

Bowen put the team on his back in the Andrean game, and we’ll see more of the same from Bowen tomorrow night against Bremen (Ind.) High (9-4) in the third round of the Indiana Class 2 state playoffs.

WHERE WILL MIKE SINGER BE?

Nowhere this week. I didn’t want to be traveling for Clemson-Notre Dame weekend and risk any potential flight delay/cancellations or car issues that could risk me missing the big game. Right after the game, please head to our Blue & Gold YouTube channel to catch our postgame live show!

FULL NOTRE DAME COMMIT SCHEDULE

OL Sullivan Absher—Belmont (N.C.) South Point (9-1) vs. Hickory (N.C.) High (6-4) in the first round of the North Carolina Class 3A state playoffs Nov. 4.

LB Jaiden Ausberry—Baton Rouge (La.) University Lab (6-3) at Baton Rouge (La.) Parkview Baptist (8-1) Nov. 4.

CB Micah Bell—Houston The Kinkaid School (6-4) at Bellaire (Texas) Episcopal (7-2) Nov. 5.

LB Drayk Bowen—Merrillville (Ind.) Andrean (7-3) at Bremen (Ind.) High (9-4) in the third round of the Indiana Class 2 state playoffs Nov. 4.

S Peyton Bowen—Denton (Texas) Guyer (9-0) vs. Frisco (Texas) Rock Hill (3-6) Nov. 3.

RB Dylan Edwards—Derby (Kan.) High (7-2) vs. Lawrence (Kan.) High (6-3) in the second round of the Kansas Class 6A state playoffs Nov. 4.

TE Cooper Flanagan—Concord (Calif.) De La Salle (6-3) at Concord (Calif.) Clayton Valley Charter (6-3) Nov. 4.

WR Rico Flores Jr.—Folsom (Calif.) High (9-1) has a bye.

CB Christian Gray—St. Louis De Smet (5-5) vs. Troy (Mo.) Buchanan (8-2) in the second round of the Missouri Class 6 state playoffs Nov. 4.

WR Jaden Greathouse—Austin (Texas) Westlake (9-0) vs. Buda (Texas) Johnson (4-5) Nov. 4.

DL Devan Houstan—Hagerstown (Md.) St. James School (5-3) vs. Saltsburg (Pa.) Kiski School (3-5) Nov. 5.

WR Braylon James—Round Rock (Texas) Stony Point (5-4) vs. Manor (Texas) High (6-3) Nov. 4.

RB Jayden Limar—Lake Stevens (Wash.) High (7-2) vs. Bethel (Wash.) Spanaway (4-5) Nov. 4.

RB Jeremiyah Love—St. Louis Christian Brothers (9-1) vs. Kirkwood (Mo.) High (6-3) in the second round of the Missouri Class 6 state playoffs Nov. 4.

S Ben Minich—Cincinnati Lakota West (11-0) vs. Cincinnati Princeton (9-2) in the second round of the Ohio Region 4 state playoffs Nov. 4.

DL Armel Mukam—Woodberry Forest (Va.) High (5-2) vs. Fort Union (Va.) Military Academy (1-8) Nov. 4.

OL Sam Pendleton—Pfafftown (N.C.) Reagan (8-2) vs. Charlotte (N.C.) Catholic (8-2) in the first round of the North Carolina Class 3A state playoffs Nov. 4.

OL Joe Otting—Topeka (Kan.) Hayden (8-1) at Wellsville (Kan.) High (9-0) in the second round of the Kansas Class 3A state playoffs Nov. 4.

S Adon Shuler—Irvington (N.J.) High (8-2) vs. Allendale (N.J.) Northern Highlands (6-3) in the semifinals of the New Jersey Section 1, Group 4 state playoffs Nov. 4.

DL Brenan Vernon—Mentor (Ohio) High (7-3) vs. Canton (Ohio) McKinley (6-5) in the second round of the Ohio Region 1 state playoffs Nov. 4.

LB Preston Zinter—Lawrence (Mass.) Central Catholic (6-2) vs. Braintree (Mass.) High (6-5) Nov. 4.

2024 Notre Dame commits

QB CJ Carr—Saline (Mich.) High (8-2) at Belleville (Mich.) High (10-0) in the second round of the Michigan Division 1 state playoffs Nov. 4.

OL Peter Jones—Malvern (Pa.) Prep (7-1) vs. Newtwon Square (Pa.) Episcopal Academy (8-0) Nov. 5.

TE Jack Larsen—Charlotte (N.C.) Catholic (8-2) at Pfafftown (N.C.) Reagan (8-2) in the first round of the North Carolina Class 3A state playoffs Nov. 4.

DL Owen Wafle—Princeton (N.J.) Hun School (8-0) vs. Kingston (Pa.) Wyoming Seminary College Prep (3-4) Nov. 12.