‘24 NJ DL Owen Wafle (Michigan Verbal)

[Te'o4Heisman]

Implying Wafle isn’t a elite DL? I disagree.

I really like Wafle and think some here are sleeping on just how good he is. The kid is long, really long in that he's got an '82 wingspan. He's in the 6'2 to 6'3 range currently but they say he wears a size 17 shoe and that his Dad is 6'6. He's got 2 more years left and plenty of realistic growth projection that his height will catch up with his length which is freakish.

Currently his talent is the same as BDS. They are both Top 100 talents if not better IMO.

I think his upside is huge. He's really fast for a DT, really strong and really athletic who should get taller and has freakishly long wingspan.

He's really, really good and not a pass by any means. Would love to see him partnered with Justin Scott as ND's interior D LINE Class in '24.

Agreed. Any time we have a chance to grab a legitimate top 5 player out of NJ you do it. If you can develop disruptors on the interior line, guys with length, athleticism and power you do it. Im sorry but DL is not a place you worry about numbers. It sorts itself out.

 

[NDMIA]

Owen Wafle is definitely not in the Elston tree of recruits. He’s not Keon Keeley but last cycle ND took Donovan Hinish who has 2 other power 5 offers and a bunch of MAC schools wanting him. They took Jason Onye and then Ehrensberger the cycle before that. I’m betting if Wafle actually spent the year uncommitted you’d see Penn State, VT, Michigan, and maybe Ohio State jump in the running for this kid. He’s a borderline .9200 4* recruit which is awesome. I wouldn’t compare Washington’s recruiting with Elston’s. It’s on a different playing field right now. Obviously I think Washington is helped by Freeman a ton and Elston would do well too but Washington has been awesome in his short time so far and ND DLine recruiting has gone bananas!

 

[Ricochet]

Wasn't Keon Keeley unranked when he committed. When he committed coming off his Sophomore season he wasn't the prospect we know now yet. He was a prospect that they saw his traits and projected that he was going to breakout sooner or later and he did as a Junior.

The point is that while I'm not saying he's going to make a Keeley like leap by any means however he's a damn good prospect who I think is in the Top 75 - Top 100 range who is projectable with his athleticism, strength and length. I'm sure if he continues to grow as one would expect as he's only a Soph and gets into that 6'4 to 6'6 range only will see his ranking skyrocket.

 

[Luckylucci]

Owen Wafle is definitely not in the Elston tree of recruits. He’s not Keon Keeley but last cycle ND took Donovan Hinish who has 2 other power 5 offers and a bunch of MAC schools wanting him. They took Jason Onye and then Ehrensberger the cycle before that. I’m betting if Wafle actually spent the year uncommitted you’d see Penn State, VT, Michigan, and maybe Ohio State jump in the running for this kid. He’s a borderline .9200 4* recruit which is awesome. I wouldn’t compare Washington’s recruiting with Elston’s. It’s on a different playing field right now. Obviously I think Washington is helped by Freeman a ton and Elston would do well too but Washington has been awesome in his short time so far and ND DLine recruiting has gone bananas!

Well, Elston landed Keeley and Vernon, not Washington. Keeley literally committed to Elston. So wouldn’t that be Elston’s tree of recruits? I think folks are really burying Elston a little too much lately.

Last season he took over as recruiting coordinator from Polian. He played a major role in the St. Patricks’s Day Pot of Gold. So, he had a significant imprint on the recruiting success of the 2022 class and start of 2023 on whole.

Freeman as DC doesn’t land Tyson Ford without Elston and vice versa. Our DL that is going to dominate this season is all Elston’s recruits. Jayson Ademilola was recruited by Bama through the end. Jacob Lacey was a top target of Clemson’s. Rylie Mills could’ve went too OSU but never gave anyone much of a shot because of Elston.

Now, sometimes he did prioritize fit and projection over rankings and offers. But, it also seemed to work out quite well for him. Since Elston came to ND with BK he immediately turned the DL into a strength of this team. And he left it as one of the very best position groups on the team, if not THE best.

The Wash/Freeman combo has been sensational but Elston recruiting is far better than some are making it out to be.

When asked why Michigan is in it for Jason Moore he says because of his relationship with Elston. Now, they won’t land him because it’s Michigan and Harbaugh created a dumpster fire for his program but it goes to show that Elston had ND in a great spot in that recruitment before he left. And, if he was still at ND we’re probably in the same spot with Moore.

 

[Ricochet]

Well said Lucky. I think a lot of the dismissing of Elston comes from the fact he left to go to Michigan even though its his alma mater and even more so the cleansing of Brian Kelly at this point.

Elston was very good for ND but the little bit of shade he is currently receiving is because of recently bias along with the new vibe in South Bend that Freeman brings and the fact that his replacement in Al Washington only adds to that..

Elston was pretty damn good for ND as a coach and even a better as a person. However his did settle way to often IMO. His strength is recognizing talent before others and that's a great skill to find the diamond in the rough at a higher rate others the frustration comes from the lack of him getting proven talent at a higher rate.

Most here had no problems with Elston and was in fact one of the favorite coaches at ND amongst the fans but with him returning to scUM and what Al Washington is doing on the recruiting trail has altered their view of Elston, rightly or wrongly. In time everyone here will recognize that he was a big part of what was good and right about this era of ND football but will look at it through a lens of what could have been. Because there is no doubt he can recognize and develop talent it's just the frustration that he often settled on finding and developing the diamonds in the rough than getting kids elite tools and making them better.

....and now it's time to get this thread back to Wafle.

 

[arrowryan]

Mike Elston was a lynchpin to Notre Dame’s recent success and Al Washington looks to be an upgrade on the trail. Both things can be true at the same time.

Keeley and Vernon are not the norm, compared to what Elston would land at ND. They were outliers. I think top 100 DL will be the norm for Washington/Freeman.

 

[allenm5333]

Mike Elston was a lynchpin to Notre Dame’s recent success and Al Washington looks to be an upgrade on the trail. Both things can be true at the same time.

Keeley and Vernon are not the norm, compared to what Elston would land at ND. They were outliers. I think top 100 DL will be the norm for Washington/Freeman.

And I feel like Vernon was a MF guy more than Elson. Remember the shoe thing that MF orchestrated for Vernon? Keeley was a 3 star when ND started recruiting him

 

[arrowryan]

And I feel like Vernon was a MF guy more than Elson. Remember the shoe thing that MF orchestrated for Vernon? Keeley was a 3 star when ND started recruiting him

It’s well documented that the staff loved Keeley immediately. They knew what they had when he committed. The recruiting sites were just way behind.

 

[Dale]

 

[Riddickulous]

Pretty crazy to see how far recruiting has come in just the last 5 months under MF that we have people questioning whether it's necessary to take the #175 overall prospect.

 

[arrowryan]

Had a feeling

 

[NDdomer2]

so whats the connection to CBS sports HQ?

 

[notredomer23]

aT lEaSt hE wOn'T wAfFlE

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

so whats the connection to CBS sports HQ?

CBS owns 247

 

[Dale]

I’m betting if Wafle actually spent the year uncommitted you’d see Penn State, VT, Michigan, and maybe Ohio State jump in the running for this kid.

I think if he were to camp places and reflect the measurables reported he’d get a significant amount of offers. A lot of schools recruit based off stuff like that and they think they’ll figure out the rest later.

 

[Dale]

I'm gonna guess that if he was at Red Bank his freshman year, he transferred to Hun and reclassified to '24, doing his freshman year over in 2020 at Hun, which is a prep school.

Dohn just confirmed this to be accurate. Wafle is 17. Makes him older than Shuler.

 

[Dale]

Being 17 already does lessen the chance he goes from 6’2 freak to 6’4 freak but there’s still hope

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

 

[Reaper97]

And I feel like Vernon was a MF guy more than Elson. Remember the shoe thing that MF orchestrated for Vernon? Keeley was a 3 star when ND started recruiting him

Keeley debuted a 4 Star and top 200 player nationally.

Keon Keeley at Berkeley Prep Recruit Rank History

247sports.com

 

[Luckylucci]

Short workout clip from this month. Owen is in all black. He's a hoss of a young man.

 

[fightingirish26]

I see a very similar prospect to Jayson Ademilola

 

[Ricochet]

Apparently ND is recruiting Wafle as a Nose.

 

[NDIrish88]

I can't wait to see who Jamie U compares him to. Will be a good Film Don't Lie.

 

[Dale]

Dad is a unit

 

[brewdog_14527]

Was thinking the same thing

 

[Dale]

Articles w/ quotes

BREAKING | 2024 DL Owen Wafle Commits to Notre Dame

Notre Dame has landed another 2024 commitment as Owen Wafle has joined the Fighting Irish.

t.co

Four-star DL Owen Wafle commits to Notre Dame football

Princeton (N.J.) Hun School class of 2024 defensive lineman Owen Wafle has announced his commitment to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

www.on3.com

Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football, Basketball & Recruiting

The latest Notre Dame Fighting Irish news, recruiting, transfers, and NIL information from on3.com

t.co

Top247 edge Owen Wafle details Notre Dame commitment

Owen Wafle, a Top247 edge rusher in the class of 2024, details why he committed to Notre Dame.

247sports.com

 

[choo choo]

He's Irish

 

[Rogue219]

I can't wait to see who Jamie U compares him to. Will be a good Film Don't Lie.

Who he could be:​

Former Stanford defensive tackle Harrison Phillips (the former ND player he reminds me of is Derek Landri)

Film Don't Lie | Owen Wafle

Notre Dame added their second defensive tackle commit in the 2024 class and there aren't many prospects who have a motor like him

irishsportsdaily.com

Derek Landri was always an unsung hero for me. He played above his physical limitations. Spent 7 years in the NFL.

 

[Dale]

Expert Breakdowns

In The Film Room . . . Owen Wafle

You don’t expect a kid that big to be that quick. You don’t expect a kid that quick to be that big. One of the most unique players you’re going to see

247sports.com

Film Don't Lie | Owen Wafle

Notre Dame added their second defensive tackle commit in the 2024 class and there aren't many prospects who have a motor like him

t.co

What the experts are saying about new Notre Dame commit Owen Wafle

New Jersey defensive lineman Owen Wafle has committed to Notre Dame. What do the experts think about the newest addition for the Irish?

www.on3.com

 

[irishff1014]

Welcome to ND young man!

They are making Kelly look foolish.