By: Connor D'Aquila ⏐ Writer ⏐ Twitter:@ConnorDaquilaIT
Photo via @DeuceKnight on Twitter
In a surprise move, Notre Dame has landed a commitment from elite 2025 quarterback Deuce Knight. For those unfamiliar with the name, he is a 6-5, 200-pound dual-threat passer out of Lucedale, Mississippi. Knight is a four-star by all platforms and ranked as high as number 26 overall by Rivals, which also has him as the number one quarterback in the class. 247Sports is the only site to have him outside of the top 100 overall or the top-four quarterbacks. Knight possesses a combination of athleticism, size, and arm talent that is truly unique. With a 40-time in the 4.5s, a vertical jump nearing 42 inches, and an arm that can make any throw on the field, he is a special player. Largely because of the offense he has played in, on-field production has been limited, but watching any film makes the tools he possesses evident.
For a little backstory on this recruitment, it has been clear for a little bit now that the Irish staff have narrowed their 2025 quarterback board to Deuce and Bear Bachmeier. Bear made his first visit to campus this weekend, and the hype around him was quickly gaining steam. Knight, however, was supposed to be on campus this upcoming weekend for Ohio State, and it was seemingly becoming a race to see who would commit first and lock up their spot. Luckily, we got the finish to that race today, and ND has themselves a stud.
Not only is this a huge get for the staff as a whole, it is a great sign for new quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli. While we had heard great things about him and the relationships he creates, seeing him be so impactful on both these recruitments is really promising. It is clear throughout the commitment video, and on his social media, that the coaching staff made a big difference for Knight. We should also not underestimate the impact Freeman had here as well. It was so profound that a picture of him can be seen on Deuce’s Instagram story with the caption “us vs. (the world emoji).” With every commitment, it becomes clearer and clearer how effective of a recruiter Freeman is.
Pair Knight with fellow 2025 commits Davion Dixon and Justin Thurman, the Irish have put together a great beginning to the class. Already ranked 7th overall with just three players, this ‘25 group has the potential to be truly special. Ohio State comes to town this weekend, and with the eyes of the nation on South Bend, it is a chance to show everyone that Notre Dame has returned to the highest level of college football. We can also expect tons of recruits to be on campus, and a win would certainly go far in adding to this class. Hopefully, the addition of Knight will only add another recruiter to the team and will give any offensive player more confidence in joining the Irish. Another name to keep an eye on is Kaleb Beasley, who was teammates with Deuce during his brief stint at Lipscomb Academy in Nashville this fall. Beasley has been rumored as a potential flip for some time now, and having this connection will only help.
The impact of this commitment cannot be overstated. Notre Dame has secured themselves another elite quarterback to make it three straight classes with big-name, high-level passers. We have certainly entered a new era at ND, and it is this type of recruiting that the staff needs to maintain to consistently compete at the highest level.
Comments