Notre Dame football: What can we expect from Lorenzo Styles Jr. in 2022?
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame football team got flashes of brilliance from Lorenzo Styles Jr. in 2021, and here is what we can expect from him in 2022.
Looking back on the 2021 recruiting class for the Notre Dame football team, Lorenzo Styles Jr. was rated the No. 5 prospect overall by 247Sports.com. One of the top-115 players in the country, Styles Jr. was seen as a top-20 wideout in his class and the fifth-rated prospect in the State of Ohio.
Making his debut in the Toledo game, Styles Jr. appeared in nine games for the Irish last season, displaying the kind of talent that could make him a special member of this offense for years to come. Scoring his only regular-season touchdown of the season against Virginia, Styles Jr. had some shining moments, including a big catch and run against USC, as well as a four-catch game against Stanford.
However, he ended his true freshman season on a high note, dominating the Oklahoma State defense in the Fiesta Bowl, and setting the stage for what should be an exciting season for him in South Bend in 2022. In the loss to the Cowboys, Styles Jr. proved to be a top weapon for Jack Coan, hauling in eight catches for 136 yards and a score.
Notre Dame football has a star in Styles Jr.
In 2022, the Irish will see Braden Lenzy and Avery Davis return as the veterans of the wide receiver group, but Styles Jr. should be a starter in Year 2. He showed that he can be the kind of player you can build a position group around, and has already developed a tremendous relationship with presumed starter Tyler Buchner.
Last season, Styles Jr. had 24 catches for nearly 350 yards, and I believe in 2022, he more than doubles those totals. You can also expect a huge jump in touchdown scores, as he establishes himself as the top option on the outside for Buchner.
Overall, Styles Jr. is going to have a breakout season in 2022, becoming one of the best young wide receivers in the country. The Irish do not have a ton of depth in terms of numbers at the wide receiver spot, but they have special talent, and Styles should emerge as the WR1 when all is said and done.