Three Notre Dame football commits make On3 director of scouting’s future freaks list

Notre Dame football director of player personnel Chad Bowden and head coach Marcus Freeman have constructed one of the most athletic recruiting classes in the 2025 cycle. 

On Monday, On3 director of scouting and rankings Charles Power featured three Fighting Irish commits on his “future freaks” list — resembling The Athletic Bruce Feldman’s annual “Freaks List.” Only LSU and Georgia had as many pledges recognized on Power’s list as Notre Dame. The Irish were the only team with three recruits in the top 10.

Lucedale (Miss.) George County four-star quarterback Deuce Knight topped the list with his eye-popping measurables in multiple sports. Tight end James Flanigan and offensive tackle Will Black also claimed spots on it because of their outstanding athletic profiles. 

Here is where Power ranked Black and Flanigan. The complete list can be viewed here. 

RELATED: On3 director of scouting names Notre Dame QB commit Deuce Knight most athletic 2025 recruit

3. Four-star tight end James Flanigan 

Because the outcome of Green Bay (Wis.) Notre Dame de la Baie Academy’s Flanigan’s recruitment was almost a foregone conclusion once the Irish legacy recruit added his scholarship offer, his presence in the University of Notre Dame’s football class is often overlooked. Not by Power. 

The 6-5½, 245-pound Flanigan was the third overall player and first tight end Power projected as a future freak. 

“Nobody may have a more robust multi-sport profile in the 2025 cycle than James Flanigan,” Power said. “He is a true three-sport standout as a blue-chip football player, national-level track athlete and key contributor for a state championship hockey program that pumps out college players. 

“Flanigan’s combination of explosive strength and athleticism at his size sticks out. The Notre Dame legacy also has NFL pedigree as his father (3rd round pick) and grandfather (2nd round pick) both played in the league.” 

In Power’s report, he noted that Flanigan finished seventh in the shot put and 18th in the discus at the New Balance Nationals. His shot put registered at 61 feet, 7 inches, while his discus was 181 feet, 1 inch. 

Flanigan also ran an 11.44-second 100-meter dash during his high school track competition and cleared a 6-foot-high jump. On the ice, he scored 12 goals and had 16 assists in 23 games for his high school hockey team. That helped him claim All-State recognition. 

Power also has him down for 33½-inch arms and 10-inch hands.

Flanigan is the No. 92 overall player, No. 5 tight end nationally and No. 1 prospect in Wisconsin in On3’s 2025 class player rankings.   

9. Five-star offensive tackle Will Black 

Like Flanigan, Wallingford (Conn.) Choate Rosemary School’s Black — a Canadian product — has a hockey background. However, he traded in the skates for cleats a few years ago. That has resulted in him being On3’s No. 2 overall player in the 2025 class last Monday and the ninth prospect on Power’s “future freak list” one week later.

“Will Black‘s towering stature and ideal frame pair with top-shelf athleticism to make him one of the most physically-gifted offensive linemen in a historically loaded cycle at the position,” Power said. “It wouldn’t be surprising to see Black maintain his sub-5.0 second speed at over 310 pounds after time in a college strength program.” 

Power has the 6-7½, 283-pound Black down for a 4.9-second 40-yard dash. That mark would have ranked the best among all offensive linemen at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine. Power also said Black’s shuttle is in the 4.5-second range, which would have rivaled Joe Alt’s 4.51 time that ranked eighth at the combine among O-linemen. 

At the On3 Elite Series event in May, Power measured Black to have 34¼-inch arms and a 9¾-inch hand. 

In addition to being the No. 2 overall player in the class, Black is also On3’s top offensive tackle in the player rankings. He is also the first offensive lineman Power mentions on his future freaks list.