Notre Dame added another linebacker to its stable with Doug Randolph’s letter-of-intent coming into the Gug. Let’s see what the Irish have in the one-time Stanford commit and the high school teammate of CJ Prosise.
DOUG RANDOLPH
Woodberry Forest, Virginia
Measureables: 6-foot-3, 229-pounds
Accolades: U.S. Army All-American, four-star Rivals, ESPN, 247.
Impressive offers: Boston College, Stanford, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia
Projected position: Outside linebacker (or Will linebacker)
Quick take: Randolph might not be completely in-profile for the outside linebackers Notre Dame has inked in the past few recruiting cycles, but he’s athletic enough to make up for any size deficiencies that come along with being 6-3, 230-pounds. (We are a long way away from the days of Travis Thomas at OLB.)
A one-time Stanford commitment, Randolph could end up sliding inside to middle linebacker, where his natural athleticism will be an asset. Randolph stars in basketball at Woodberry Forest and also starts on the lacrosse team. He’ll need to make strides in the weight room, but that comes with the territory.
What it means to the Irish roster: Randolph’s commitment became significantly more important when Alex Anzalone decided to enroll at Florida instead of Notre Dame, as he had previously announced. With the Irish restocking the linebacker position in this class, Randolph has the type of versatility that helps cover up a roster deficiency, even if he doesn’t have the upside of some other high profile recruits.
Obligatory YouTube highlight tape: Here’s a look at Randolph’s junior season at Woodberry Forest.
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