Notre Dame football commits called 'day one contributors' by analysts

While the Notre Dame football team has hit a rough patch in recruiting for most of the summer, they just landed one of the best quarterbacks in the class in 2025. That’s one thing to be excited about plenty.

Several other prospects on the Irish’s commit list could be equally or even more exciting once they get to campus and the smoke clears. Last week, a trio of 247Sports analysts sat down and talked about the players they believe could make an immediate impact.

A pair of Notre Dame football commits in James Flanagan and Elijah Burris stood out from the pack. Cooper Petagna picked Flanagan, a tight end with some serious upside, while Andrew Ivins went with Elijah Burress, son of former NFL Great Plaxico Burress.

Pair of Notre Dame football commits stand out as immediate contributors.

“Well, I'm going to go with James Flanagan,” Ivins began. “ I knew there was going to be some crossover, but, you know, Flanagan, given the genetics, the two-way snap … this is probably the more impact-ready prospect in the class…Traditionally, what Notre Dame is going to do with that wide tight end. He’s probably more as a run blocker than you are as a receiver, but certainly, as Mike Denbrock, Lexico 12, 13 personnel utilize those tight ends, I think James Flanagan is going to have a pretty easy path to the field.”

When it was Petagna’s turn, he laid out why Fighting Irish fans should be very excited.

“I'm going to stay on the offensive side of the ball, and I'm going to go to a position where Notre Dame is looking for some playmakers and that's wide receiver.  How about Elijah Burris, son of Plaxico Burris?  This is a kid we moved into the top 247 at our midseason update, right?  A few weeks ago, I think what he has put on tape, we're talking about a wide receiver, … so he's got the size, he’s got the play speed, and I just think what he has done as a senior in New Jersey is he's really taken his game to another level.  He's a polished route runner.  He attacks the football.  He can attack all three different levels of the field and find separation there, so I think when you look at Notre Dame, right, they've brought in some transfers.  They’ve had some high-profile recruits in the past.  When I go up and down this commit list, I think Elijah Burris is the one that's going to have a chance to make an impact right away.”

It can’t hurt excitement for Notre Dame football fans that two players are being talked about as guys who could contribute next year.