Notre Dame held on and knocked off Florida State 41-38 in the best game I watched this weekend.
Let’s look at the 20+ prospects in this game.
FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES
10 QB McKenzie Milton Sr 5-11 185
The story after this game was that of McKenzie Milton. The former UCF passer suffered a gruesome knee injury a couple of years ago and was told he would lucky to be able to walk properly again. But here he was on Sunday night nearly leading the Seminoles to an improbable win. Milton wasn’t the starter but entered the game after starter Jordan Travis lost his helmet and had to come out. Milton completed 5/7 passes for 48 yards. Before the injury, size questions were going to linger over Milton as an NFL prospect. I don’t know if he ends up being drafted but I am here to watch this great story play out over the rest of the season.
0 RB Jashaun Corbin Jr 6-0 215
Corbin is a transfer from Texas A&M. He is a physical runner with great vision. Corbin is explosive and showed it by outrunning the entire Notre Dame defense on an 89-yard TD scamper. He finished with 15 carries and 144 yards.
7 WR Andrew Parchment Sr 6-2 175
The Kansas transfer wasn’t targeted many times but showed off good body control on his one catch, an eight-yard touchdown reception.
87 TE Camren McDonald Jr 6-4 242
McDonald played but had zero targets.
53 C Maurice Smith rSO 6-3 277
Smith had several wild snaps and was eventually replaced by Baveon Johnson.
51 G Baveon Johnson Sr 6-2 305
Johnson started on the bench and then replaced Maurice Smith. He then proceeded to get a snap infraction inside the Notre Dame five and rolled a snap back to the QB. He probably isn’t going to be much of an NFL prospect.
55 G Dontae Lucas rSO 6-3 324
Lucas was a reserve in this game and didn’t see many snaps.
13 CB Brandon Moore Sr 6-0 190
Moore did not play.
10 S Jammie Robinson rSO 5-11 199
The former South Carolina corner started at nickel for FSU. He is solid in man coverage and tackles well. Robinson finished with two tackles.
33 LB Amari Gainer rSO 6-3 232
Gainer closes on the ball carrier quickly. He did a nice job of shooting gaps on multiple occasions. Gainer had six tackles against the Irish.
11 EDGE Jermaine Johnson II Sr 6-5 262
The star of the game for Florida State was Georgia transfer, Jermaine Johnson. He had five sacks a year ago for the Bulldogs but moved on. Johnson cleaned up a mess on his first sack and straight beat up the guard on his second. He has tremendous length. Johnson finished with seven tackles (two solos), 1.5 sacks, and 2.5 TFLs.
91 DL Robert Cooper Sr 6-2 338
Cooper was consistent in the run game as the nose tackle for the Noles. He had two tackles and shared a sack with Jermaine Johnson.
4 DL Keir Thomas Sr 6-2 272
Not on our initial watchlist, the former Gamecock played well enough to make it on. Thomas was mostly an interior player for South Carolina but played a big edge for FSU. He is so strong at the point of attack. Thomas compiled four tackles (two solos) and one sack against Notre Dame.
NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH
17 QB Jack Coan Sr 6-3 221
It was a record setting night for the Wisconsin transfer. Coan showed great touch on his intermediate passes and some nice deep ball accuracy. He completed 26/35 passes for 366 yards and four touchdowns. His one interception came on a Hail Mary at the end of regulation. Coan was sacked four times.
23 RB Kyren Williams Jr 5-9 194
Williams is a patient runner with a good burst and a second gear. He is a tremendous receiver and gives max effort in pass protection. Williams had 24 touches for 125 yards and a touchdown. He had a 55-yard reception on a 3rd and 17 screen pass.
3 WR Avery Davis Sr 5-11 202
Davis had zero targets.
55 C Jarrett Patterson Sr 6-4 305
52 C Zeke Correll rSO 6-3 295
62 G Cain Madden Sr 6-3 313
75 OT Josh Lugg Sr 6-7 305
Outside of true freshman Blake Fisher, there wasn’t much of note happening with the Irish offensive linemen. In particular, left guard Zeke Correll had a false start on the second play of the game and was later beaten up on sack by Jermaine Johnson.
54 DL Jacob Lacey Jr 6-2 293
95 DL Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa Sr 6-3 288
Tagovailoa-Amosa was the more active of the two interior defensive linemen but they both finished with one tackle each.
7 EDGE Isaiah Foskey Jr 6-5 257
Foskey is very aggressive and has a nice bend and speed off of the edge. He appears to be the next in the long line of talented Notre Dame edge rushers. Foskey finished with eight tackles (five solos) and two sacks.
52 LB Bo Bauer Sr 6-3 233
Bauer didn’t do a whole lot to stand out. He recorded only one tackle against FSU.
40 LB Drew White Sr 6-0 228
White is a quick closer to the football. He made a few nice tackles in the open field. White finished with seven tackles (three solos).
14 S Kyle Hamilton Jr 6-4 219
Hamilton lived up to the hype and may have even exceeded it. He is a big fluid athlete. He has absolutely ridiculous range. Hamilton can man cover WRs and TEs. He is the best safety prospect in years. Hamilton has six tackles and two picks, including this amazing play!
INSANE RANGE!! THIS IS ABSURDpic.twitter.com/59vEIt6A4q
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) September 6, 2021