College programs wasted little time identifying Sedrick Irvin Jr as an elite 2023 prospect. As the Gulliver Prep four-star has sliced and diced his way through 4A Florida defenses, college programs have filled up the Rivals250 running backs’ offer sheet. On Sept. 21, Irvin announced his Top Four of Michigan State, Notre Dame, Oregon, and Stanford verbally committing to the Fighting Irish Wednesday morning.
WHAT NOTRE DAME IS GETTING
When the Tigers are on offense, from the fans in the stands to the opposing defenders, everyone knows Irvin is getting the ball. That pressure didn’t stop Irvin from tallying 552 yards on the ground off 81 totes with six scores as a sophomore during his team’s six-game season. Showing his all-purpose back abilities, Irvin secured nine passes for 104 more yards.
Irvin has kept the productivity on the field going during his junior campaign carrying the rock 50 times for 275 yards with two scores while hauling in three passes for 38 more yards in just three games.
WHAT MAKES IRVIN ELITE
If there is a crease at the line of scrimmage, Irvin will find it. Not only will he find the hole, but he has the knack for turning an ordinary play into something extra helping move the chains downfield. Irvin’s field vision alone puts him in another category among his peer group, but what makes him special is his burst and top-end speed. That extra something in his game is the ability to set up defenders with a simple shoulder shake leaving defensive backs flatfooted as he flies by on an explosive run.
WHY IT’S BIG FOR NOTRE DAME
The running back room in South Bend is a stockpile of four-star talents. Irvin gives Notre Dame a four-year string of four-star backs beginning with Chris Tyree, Audric Estime (2021), and Jadarian Rice (2022) that will continue to pay off on the field in the coming seasons. The mold is having the all-purpose kind of back with fantastic speed that can turn the ordinary into extraordinary.
Notre Dame always recruits well, but the recent classes are taking those next steps adding even more highly ranked talent. The 2022 class is currently the top-rated in the nation, and Irvin’s addition should help the Irish replicate that success in the 2023 haul.
