2021 Team Preview: Notre Dame Prep Saints

<span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Overview</strong></span> Notre dame Prep comes off a strong 5-3 season where they were able to make it to the 5A semifinals, but ultimately fell short to the eventual state runner ups Ironwood High 41-22. The Saints were an explosive team to watch which held a number of big play type of guys in 2020. They were faced with adversity and were forced to have some younger, inexperienced kids step up a few times throughout the season due to COVID. However, they were able to bounce back after two consecutive losses to Mountain Ridge (28-10) and Campo Verde (27-12) to win their next two against Maricopa and Horizon to ultimately secure a playoff birth and upset the #2 seed Sunnyslope 42-7 in the first round. Notre Dame Prep will lose a handful of key players to graduation, and will also have to find their new QB with the departure of [player_tooltip player_id="42698" first="Tyler" last="Schweigert"]. Despite the talented group of guys they’re losing, they will also retain a handful of key players who have all the potential to bust loose in 2021, such as WR [player_tooltip player_id="42803" first="Gavin" last="Smith"]. They’ll have a big test in 2021 as they open up with their first 4 games on the road, and have a fairly tough schedule as well which includes powerhouse Saguaro, as well as Brophy, who has numerous power 5 level prospects and commits. Notre dame Prep will have to have some newer guys step up and fill big time roles, while the returning talent will have to lead the way and play lights out all 10 weeks. Keep an eye out for Notre dame Prep to be a sneaky team in 5A ball. <hr /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Players to Watch</strong></span> [player_tooltip player_id="42803" first="Gavin" last="Smith"], <em>WR, 2022</em> Smith is one of the most explosive WR’s in the state, and holds division 1 offers from Arizona State, North Dakota, Idaho, and a PWO from Arizona. He is the younger brother of former Notre Dame Prep standout and current USC WR (formerly Texas) Jake Smith. He’s a very dynamic player with big play ability with the ball in his hands. He possesses solid top end speed, can make opponents miss in space, body control, and a high ceiling with the potential to have a breakout 2021 season. &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="122246" first="Duke" last="Frye"], DL, 2022 Frye had just 17 tackles in 8 games played last season, but expect his role to take a major leap in 2021 as he’ll be a key player on the D-line for Notre dame Prep. He possesses solid functional strength to drive and control opponents and has flashed the ability to shed/disengage from blocks to plug gaps and stuff the run. &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="162029" first="Braden" last="Wells"], QB, 2022 Wells saw limited action last season as a junior but still flashed some solid potential. He’s had another year to develop, so he can be one of those sneaky upcoming gunslingers to light it up in 2021. He holds solid ball security and doesn’t force throws, and has flashed the ability to hit tight window throws. &nbsp; <strong>Jake Burrow,</strong> <em>OL, 2022</em> Burrow is a huge sleeper on the NDP offensive line and has finally started to draw in those offers. He comes in with a thick frame at 6’0" 300lbs, and although he was labeled as undersized at 6’0", he plays with a chip on his shoulder and his production was legit in 2020. He actually uses his height to his advantage to get underneath bigger opponents, and shows a solid understanding of leverage and control. Excellent functional strength and a 2022 OL to watch this season. [caption id="attachment_154674" align="alignright" width="191"]<img class="wp-image-154674 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/06/Noah-Trigueros-191x300.jpg" alt="" width="191" height="300" /> [player_tooltip player_id="115517" first="Noah" last="Trigueros"][/caption]&nbsp; <em><strong>Other names to know:</strong></em> [player_tooltip player_id="162047" first="Ethan" last="Bush"], <em>LB, 2022</em> [player_tooltip player_id="155813" first="John" last="Ruvo"], <em>DB, 2022</em> [player_tooltip player_id="165947" first="Andrew" last="Roe"], <em>WR, 2023</em> [player_tooltip player_id="115517" first="Noah" last="Trigueros"], <em>QB, 2024</em> [player_tooltip player_id="169421" first="Deacon" last="Shea"], <em>LB, 2024</em> &nbsp; <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Key Departures</strong></span> [player_tooltip player_id="42623" first="JD" last="Roberts"], <em>LB (New Mexico) </em> *41 tackes in 4 games played with 5 TFL’s &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="42635" first="Damien" last="Owens"], <em>WR (North Dakota) </em> *Season cut short due to an ACL tear, totaled 12 receptions for 94 yards and a TD in 3 games played &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="42698" first="Tyler" last="Schweigert"], <em>QB (Wisconsin-River Falls)</em> *1,281 yards and 14 TD’s passing, 2 rushing TD’s &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="42659" first="James" last="Jaquint"], <em>LB (San Diego) </em> *47 tackles and 1 INT in 6 games played <hr /> <span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>2021 Schedule</strong></span> <span style="font-size: 10pt;"><em>*5A San Tan Region Game</em></span> 9/3- @ Verrado 9/10- @ Corona del Sol<img class="alignright wp-image-66722" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/10/IMG_4681-rotated-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="423" height="278" /> 9/24- @ Brophy 10/1- @ Mountain View Marana 10/8- South Mountain 10/15- *Campo Verde 10/22- *@ Maricopa 10-29- *@ Gilbert 11/5- *Saguaro 11/12- *Horizon