The early signing period opens in two weeks, and Notre Dame is not done adding to its class. Rivals.com three-star athlete Brandyn Hillman (Churchland High School; Portsmouth, Va.) joined the Irish class of 2023 on Wednesday afternoon, turning down offers from North Carolina, Kentucky and Virginia Tech in doing so.
Hillman’s recruiting process was a unique one, also holding offers from USC, Oklahoma and Tennessee, as well as closer offers like Virginia, West Virginia and Boston College.
Three months ago, Hillman had none of these offers, a startling late process for someone who is expected to sign on the dotted line in two weeks. In less than one week in September, Hillman went from only one scholarship offer, from FCS-level Norfolk State. Within a week, nine FBS offers had flooded in. He visited South Bend in mid-October, watching Notre Dame fall to Stanford.
Some of that may be group-think, one school following another’s lead in uncovering hidden talent, but Hillman’s spring and early summer recruit camps put him on those schools’ radars. In physical-ability testing, Hillman’s gifts were clear.
The Irish have reportedly chased him with an open-ended thought as to where he will play, at an offensive skill position or at defensive back. He played both quarterback and cornerback in high school, and at 6-fo0t-1 and 200 pounds, he could easily adjust into either a running back or receiver, or defensive back role.
Looking at his highlight reel, Hillman’s abilities are nearly comical compared to his high-school competition. In fact, let’s dispense with the usual 2-3 paragraph summation of these clips, and instead just publish the notes taken while watching it, with some light editing.
The first clip of Hillman’s eight-minute highlight reel has him taking a shotgun snap, faking a screen pass and then cutting upfield through two defenders. About 20 yards later, he jumped over the last remaining defender en route to a 73-yard touchdown run. Okay then.
Next highlight, a stiff arm to clear his way for another long touchdown run. Third, jumped another defender, another long touchdown. Long touchdown runs are not highlights for this guy; he needs to show how he embarrassed the defense.
It is easy to see how these types of plays led to a rapid recruiting process, albeit a late one. Every coach who sees him thinks this is the scat back of the future.
He is not sought as a quarterback, and his passes make it clear why. They look to all be on the first read and are far from thrown on a line.
But quick hips and churning legs make him a dynamic runner. His quick acceleration is not apparent when focusing solely on him, his legs not necessarily spinning at a high rate, but given how easily he outruns every defender, he is clearly accelerating with ease and effectiveness.
Arm tackles against Hillman are hopeless. This is one of the most fun highlight reels I have ever watched. On some of his long touchdown runs, receivers are throwing up touchdown signals when Hillman still has three defenders to beat, and they are right.
But again, outside of perhaps Navy, Hillman will not be an FBS-level quarterback. Most of his passes would be intercepted, and it is not a complicated passing offense he used in high school. There is not much zip on these balls. Fans should dismiss thoughts of him becoming a preferred quarterback.
Defensive highlights begin at the 5:17 mark. Shorter, I suspect, both because Hillman prefers offense and because those highlights are generally more dramatic.
First defensive play, he is sagging off a slot receiver. Screen pass to the receiver wide of the slot, ball carrier gains some steam. Hillman plants him 10 yards down the field with such suddenness, a literal laugh out loud was heard in this office.
That acceleration mentioned earlier helps Hillman make up ground when chasing down ball carriers, even if simply trying to work through the tackle box.
It is not hard to imagine that acceleration helping Hillman catch up to a receiver who has beaten him downfield, especially if that pass is at all underthrown.
A physical defensive back, far more so than most.
This is not the most elite of preps football. The field conditions give that away. In that respect, maybe there is a comparison to Jack Kiser, and if that is the impact Hillman delivers at Notre Dame, it would be quite the recruiting win.
This does not seem to be a passing-heavy level of football, so his coverage skills would presumably need some work, likely his route-running, as well. But the Irish have three cornerbacks for 2023 and four other receivers in this class. There’s time.
