‘27 NJ DE Jackson Vaughn (Notre Dame Verbal)

[jason_h537]

I don't see how he had a 90 grade and the guys ranked right BEHIND him (Vargas and Wade) are both sitting with 96 grades currently 🤔🤔

Because the grades change over time. Look at Prescott, on 247 he is the number 7 player in the country and has a 95 grade in the 2028 class. Compare that to the 2026 class, the number 7 player has a 99 grade. A 95 grade would slot him in 80-100 range. And this is after the latest update. His grade was lower last week. When Monds reclassified, I bet they all had lower grades.

1. These sites don't scrutinize underclassman as much as seniors. This is why the initial top 150 players is usually night and day compared to the final top 150.
2. Grades change over time. They rise as they have more film and scouting done on players.
3. Also, grades are a better measure than rankings which ultimately comes down to personal preference.

Monds was really impressive as a raw talent. That is why he was ranked so high as an underclassman. But when he reclassified, you are now comparing a player that essentially has only played a year of freshman football to seniors. He has to show more.

It is not a conspiracy guys. You guys keep going to the class calculator to determine ND's final rankings knowing full well those rankings and grades are going to change dramatically between now and February when the final rankings are released.

 

[Rocketman84]

Because the grades change over time. Look at Prescott, on 247 he is the number 7 player in the country and has a 95 grade in the 2028 class. Compare that to the 2026 class, the number 7 player has a 99 grade. A 95 grade would slot him in 80-100 range. And this is after the latest update. His grade was lower last week. When Monds reclassified, I bet they all had lower grades.

1. These sites don't scrutinize underclassman as much as seniors. This is why the initial top 150 players is usually night and day compared to the final top 150.
2. Grades change over time. They rise as they have more film and scouting done on players.
3. Also, grades are a better measure than rankings which ultimately comes down to personal preference.

Monds was really impressive as a raw talent. That is why he was ranked so high as an underclassman. But when he reclassified, you are now comparing a player that essentially has only played a year of freshman football to seniors. He has to show more.

It is not a conspiracy guys. You guys keep going to the class calculator to determine ND's final rankings knowing full well those rankings and grades are going to change dramatically between now and February when the final rankings are released.

I gotcha on that part, I just never recall seeing those guys with grades of 90 or less especially Vargas. I thought Monds had a grade of 96 before he reclassified but it's very possible that they did those national rankings and didn't go thru the process of doing their due diligence on their grade, because it usually happens with the underclassmen until they go thru and do the evaluations after Summer and another after the season.

I agree that the only things working against Monds were that after a huuuuge Freshman year is that he missed most of his Soph season until the Playoffs (but also still led his team a runner up finish), then he ultimately released and will basically have a 2¼ year HS career. The biggest thing these evaluators look for is these guys to attend camps (some of it is relationships bias bumps/some are measurables/some are thorough evals).

 

[Crazy Balki]

Just a quick note, Jamie posted ISD's Fab 50 for 2027 going into the senior year.

Jackson Vaughn came in at 30th overall.

 

[allenm5333]

Just a quick note, Jamie posted ISD's Fab 50 for 2027 going into the senior year.

Jackson Vaughn came in at 30th overall.

6 commits in his top 50. Texas A&M has 8. If only there was a LB we could flip from them to even it out

 

[IRISHbluehen]

6 commits in his top 50. Texas A&M has 8. If only there was a LB we could flip from them to even it out

11 in the top 100, over 10 percent of the 100 best high school seniors are going to ND next year, unfathomable to me 5 years ago. Ive long held the belief that ND needed to sign ~1 more top 50 guy along with ~2 more top 100 level guys to compete at the highest level. This is a level I didn't think possible

 

[Te'o4Heisman]

Because the grades change over time. Look at Prescott, on 247 he is the number 7 player in the country and has a 95 grade in the 2028 class. Compare that to the 2026 class, the number 7 player has a 99 grade. A 95 grade would slot him in 80-100 range. And this is after the latest update. His grade was lower last week. When Monds reclassified, I bet they all had lower grades.

1. These sites don't scrutinize underclassman as much as seniors. This is why the initial top 150 players is usually night and day compared to the final top 150.
2. Grades change over time. They rise as they have more film and scouting done on players.
3. Also, grades are a better measure than rankings which ultimately comes down to personal preference.

Monds was really impressive as a raw talent. That is why he was ranked so high as an underclassman. But when he reclassified, you are now comparing a player that essentially has only played a year of freshman football to seniors. He has to show more.

It is not a conspiracy guys. You guys keep going to the class calculator to determine ND's final rankings knowing full well those rankings and grades are going to change dramatically between now and February when the final rankings are released.

Counterpoint, its extremely lazy to just “keep the same grade” and slot him wherever that ranking would fall within the new recruting class he joined.

 

[jason_h537]

I gotcha on that part, I just never recall seeing those guys with grades of 90 or less especially Vargas. I thought Monds had a grade of 96 before he reclassified but it's very possible that they did those national rankings and didn't go thru the process of doing their due diligence on their grade, because it usually happens with the underclassmen until they go thru and do the evaluations after Summer and another after the season.

I agree that the only things working against Monds were that after a huuuuge Freshman year is that he missed most of his Soph season until the Playoffs (but also still led his team a runner up finish), then he ultimately released and will basically have a 2¼ year HS career. The biggest thing these evaluators look for is these guys to attend camps (some of it is relationships bias bumps/some are measurables/some are thorough evals).

Yeah there is truth to that but part of it is these sites have limited resources. They go "where the talent is". This is why you see those initial top 150 tends to be very Florida heavy. Texas heavy. Elite program heavy. Brennan Vernon with his elite measurables, playing for a powerhouse, and having offers from major programs debuts as a 5 star.

I bet neither Rivals or 247 has a scout in Connecticut. That's why it takes Will Black going to a camp for the sites to realize, "oh shit, this kid is really good." But when his best offer was Syracuse, no one gave a fuck about him.

We are all looking at the 28 class now because 27 is basically wrapped up. These sites half ass it for underclassman. That top 150 is going to change dramatically as sites start looking at them more seriously. Notre Dame wasn't really in on many of those initial 5 stars in 26 and 27, look at those classes now. The number 50 player in the 28 class is a 91 grade. a 91 grade might not even crack the final top 250. These are placeholder grades as they actually start doing the real work to evaluate these kids. Monds and Vaughn are victims of that. But they have a whole year to prove they belong.

 

[Rocketman84]

Yeah there is truth to that but part of it is these sites have limited resources. They go "where the talent is". This is why you see those initial top 150 tends to be very Florida heavy. Texas heavy. Elite program heavy. Brennan Vernon with his elite measurables, playing for a powerhouse, and having offers from major programs debuts as a 5 star.

I bet neither Rivals or 247 has a scout in Connecticut. That's why it takes Will Black going to a camp for the sites to realize, "oh shit, this kid is really good." But when his best offer was Syracuse, no one gave a fuck about him.

We are all looking at the 28 class now because 27 is basically wrapped up. These sites half ass it for underclassman. That top 150 is going to change dramatically as sites start looking at them more seriously. Notre Dame wasn't really in on many of those initial 5 stars in 26 and 27, look at those classes now. The number 50 player in the 28 class is a 91 grade. a 91 grade might not even crack the final top 250. These are placeholder grades as they actually start doing the real work to evaluate these kids. Monds and Vaughn are victims of that. But they have a whole year to prove they belong.

Absolutely, I mean my nephew is the starting Z and CB for his team and they have a kid who played JV the whole season and played in 1 Varsity game in the 3rd Rd of a Playoff loss (1rec and STs play). The kid goes to some Nike camp and supposedly runs a 4.34 at 6'1½ at the camp and then is ranked as a top 20 WR in the country!!! Kid has 1 catch and has played JV for 2 years🤔🤔

 

[NDPhilly]

IMG pushing some poor Utah teams shit in.

Just an absurd first step here from Vaughn.

 

[IAIrish]

That first step is gonna make him a lot of money for the next decade.

 

[Rocketman84]

That first step is gonna make him a lot of money for the next decade.

Frightening

 

[Irish du Nord]

Yeah, Kam McGee doesn't move like that.

 

[T-Boone]

That first step is gonna make him a lot of money for the next decade.

call him Michael Jackson Vaughn?

 

[T-Boone]

Frightening

thrillering

 

[irishandy]

That first step is gonna make him a lot of money for the next decade.

Great first step, sneeky, and great speed. Can't wait to see that when he is wearing the gold helmet.

 

[NDFAN420]

Chase Young vibes

 

[CoachB]

I am not into HS rankings a ton, but I would be shocked if there are 268 players better than him.

 

[arrowryan]

My unprofessional player evaluation:

I came away very impressed with Vaughn's sophomore tape, and it is hard to imagine he still has two years of high school ball left. His get off at the LOS is elite, and probably some of the best I've seen at the high school level. The violence he plays with is evident. He doesn't appear to be just a pass rusher, as he holds up against the run well. Vaughn is already 6'4", 225; physically, I would expect him to be game ready when he gets to college. Rivals ranks him at #201 overall, and 247 ranks him at #19 overall. I have a hard time believing there are 200 players better than Vaughn. I think a top 50 ranking is fair.

If he were to choose Notre Dame, I think he would be in the rotation immediately.

The way he explodes off the LOS was on full display last night.

 

[allenm5333]

I am not into HS rankings a ton, but I would be shocked if there are 268 players better than him.

Wont be when senior evals are over

 

[CoachB]

Wont be when senior evals are over

How does that work? This class still can move around in the rankings? And if so, until when?

 

[allenm5333]

How does that work? This class still can move around in the rankings? And if so, until when?

Usually after all star games. They will watch the senior tape. Monds, Vaughn, and Alexander will rise, especially bc of their reclassifications. I think Coleman and the Texas Rb will rise because of them being studs

 

[IrishInOntario]

Yeah, Kam McGee doesn't move like that.

Different ends. Vaughn is a pure WDE / Rush Edge in a 4-3 scheme. McGee can play that position, but probably projects better to the bigger end in ND's front. He's going to be 6'4, 260-265lbs in college and projects as more of a power rusher. Where as Vaughn probably stays in that 6'3, 250lb range and is cat quick, with great ankles and hips, and can bend the edge well.

 

[IrishInOntario]

I am not into HS rankings a ton, but I would be shocked if there are 268 players better than him.

Don't expect him to be ranked anywhere close to where he should be at the end of the day due to the reclassification, but if the services don't vault him up into AT LEAST the top 100-125 range by the end of the cycle, they're absolutely delusional. In reality, he's a top 30-50 talent, regardless of what cycle he's in. The lack of elite height (his length is fine) will hold him back among "talent evaluators", but we just watched Reuben Bain absolutely wreck college OL as a guy without ideal height, so I could not care less.

 

[NDFAN2008]

He was better last night than Forstel 🤷‍♂️

 

[Ricochet]

Yeah, Kam McGee doesn't move like that.

No but don't make the mistake McGee isn't the stud he is because like Vaughn that kid is a flat out stud. They are just different type DE's

 

[IrishInOntario]

He was better last night than Forstel 🤷‍♂️

He's a better football player at this stage. I'm highly confident of that.

 

[Rocketman84]

Don't expect him to be ranked anywhere close to where he should be at the end of the day due to the reclassification, but if the services don't vault him up into AT LEAST the top 100-125 range by the end of the cycle, they're absolutely delusional. In reality, he's a top 30-50 talent, regardless of what cycle he's in. The lack of elite height (his length is fine) will hold him back among "talent evaluators", but we just watched Reuben Bain absolutely wreck college OL as a guy without ideal height, so I could not care less.

He will finish in the top 75

 

[allenm5333]

He will finish in the top 75

In Jamie U’s top 50. He is better than most

 

[Irish du Nord]

No but don't make the mistake McGee isn't the stud he is because like Vaughn that kid is a flat out stud. They are just different type DE's

Agreed, this was in response to posts in the other thread that called McGee a bigger Vaughan. I don’t think anyone does what Vaughan can do in either of these classes.

 

[Rocketman84]

In Jamie U’s top 50. He is better than most

As he should be....he"a a top 5 Edge in the class