Notre Dame made linebacker a priority in the last recruiting class, finding four soon-to-be contributors. Thus, there may not be much of an impetus at the position in this cycle, making the Tuesday commitment of consensus three-star linebacker Jack Kiser (Pioneer High School; Royal Center, Ind.) that much more noteworthy.
Coming from just 70 miles south of Notre Dame, Kiser chose the Irish over Purdue, as well as Iowa and Michigan State.
Kiser’s high school is a small one — with an enrollment of approximately only 430 students from seventh to 12th grades, per the school website — part of why he played both sides of the ball the last two seasons, culminating with a 15-0 state title-winning 2017. Nonetheless, Kiser’s future is not at quarterback, and his commitment is not a hedge against Notre Dame failing to find a quarterback to join the now 12 pledges in the class of 2019.
Arriving a year after those four linebackers, Kiser’s route to playing time with the Irish will be a difficult one. He plays best against the run, typical of a physical high school senior who has yet to spend time in a collegiate conditioning program, pointing to a future on the interior, not at rover. As such, Bo Bauer and Jack Lamb will be the greatest roadblocks to Kiser finding playing time before his final years in college.
Jack Kiser is Notre Dame bound. pic.twitter.com/wnosSffT5X
— Beau Wicker (@PT_Wicker) June 12, 2018
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