Notre Dame commit recap: RB Kyren Williams scores four touchdowns

Between Thursday and Saturday, 10 Notre Dame commits combined for as many touchdowns. ND Insider recaps how each pledge fared, along with an injury update on 2019 DT Jacob Lacey. 

• 2019 RB Kyren Williams | Kirkwood (Mo.) St. John Vianney 28, Fayetteville (Ark.) 51: Although the Golden Griffiths couldn’t keep pace, Williams' presence was felt. Williams registered 183 receiving yards and added 83 yards on the ground. He scored all four of his team’s touchdowns.

Notre Dame 2019 commit Kyren Williams (@Kyrensiren) scored 4 touchdowns on 266 total yards last night (h/t @GriffinsTV_Live). pic.twitter.com/o3MKwREtTj

— Carter Karels (@CarterKarels) August 25, 2018

Williams converted the game’s first touchdown out of the wildcat, running up the middle for a 13-yard score. The Golden Griffiths (0-1) reclaimed a 12-7 lead once Williams took a screen 65 yards to the house. Williams’ third touchdown — a 53-yard rush — also came out of the wildcat.

Beyond Williams’ 78-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter, most of his production came in the first half. He recorded 154 total yards in the opening two quarters.

• 2020 TE Michael Mayer | Park Hills (Ky.) Covington Catholic 41, Henry Clay 0: In the first half alone, the 6-5, 240-pounder caught six passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns. Mayer hauled in a 20-yard jump ball in the first quarter, giving the Colonels a 14-0 lead.

.@Jacob14C Jacob Caleb #5 w/ jump-ball TD to @CovCathColonels@CovCathFootball TE Michael Mayer #87 @MMayer1001 puts CovCath up 14-0 in the 1st@BlueColonels@Colonels_@CovCathFBAlumni@NotreDame@NDFootball@CoachBrianKelly@FOX19Joe@NKYSports@JWeberSports@TriStateIntSptspic.twitter.com/pb3dEg4Lp5

— Andy Dalton’s Hair (@CincinnatiPR) August 27, 2018

Late in the second quarter, Mayer found the endzone again on a drag route.

We'll play the rest of the game with a running clock. Caleb Jacob finds Michael Mayer for his second TD and Covington Catholic has a 38-0 lead following the PAT. Just 28 seconds left in the first half. pic.twitter.com/UHpKlvHeuG

— Josh Moore (@HLpreps) August 24, 2018

The Colonels then no longer required Mayer’s services, as the contest became out of reach.

• 2019 S Kyle Hamilton | Atlanta Marist 40, Atlanta Lovett 20: Hamilton outshined fellow 2019 Notre Dame commit K.J. Wallace. On both sides of the ball. Hamilton first made his mark by undercutting and picking off Blaine McAllister’s pass in the first quarter. His interception set up a 15-yard touchdown run that provided Marist (1-0) a 20-0 advantage.  

Hamilton also caught two passes — one of which was a 61-yard touchdown — for 109 yards. He created separation on a go route to make a 48-yard catch on the far sideline. Along with his pick, Hamilton recorded three tackles.

• 2019 LB Jack Kiser | Royal Center (Ind.) Pioneer 76, Winamac 0: The reigning, undefeated IHSAA Class A champs might not have much competition this year. It’s a blessing and a curse for Kiser, who will surrender playing time. In limited action, he tallied two touchdowns and an interception.

The Panthers (2-0) opened the game with a 6-play, 53-yard drive capped by Kiser’s 11-yard touchdown pass to Addai Lewellen in the back of the end zone. Kiser ran for 61 yards on two carries for the night, and all of it came in the second drive. His final rush resulted in a 12-yard score.

Kiser continued to play multiple positions for the Panthers, including punt returner. Although he’s listed as a linebacker, Kiser primarily plays safety. The 6-2, 215-pounder intercepted a pass and recorded two PBUs.

• 2019 DT Jacob Lacey | Bowling Green (Ky.) South Warren 39, Warren Central (Ind.) 22: The Spartans (2-0) were without Lacey, who was held out from Saturday’s contest. He does not have a serious injury, South Warren coach Brandon Smith told the Bowling Green Daily News. Lacey told ND Insider he had a minor ankle sprain, but he could have played. He should be well rested for Friday's game against defending 4A state champ Franklin-Simpson. 

• 2019 WR Cam Hart | Olney (Md.) Good Counsel 40, Marietta (Ga.) 28: Good Counsel quarterback Kam Snell completed 5-of-6 passes against Marietta. He connected with Hart on four of them, and each traveled at least 10 yards. Hart finished with 106 receiving yards. His 58-yard touchdown catch in the final minutes secured the Falcons (1-0) victory. 

• 2019 OG Zeke Correll | Anderson (Ohio) 34. Mt. Healthy (Ohio) 25: The Redskins (1-0) scored 20 unanswered points in the third quarter. But no play raised more eyebrows than Correll’s pancaking of a Mt. Healthy defensive lineman.

Tis the season... 1-0 #goskins#goirishpic.twitter.com/kz6IFC7bDU

— Zeke Correll (@zekecorrell) August 24, 2018

• 2019 P Jay Bramblett | Tuscaloosa (Ala.) Hillcrest 14, Spain Park 24: Bramblett proved why he’s listed as a punter and not a quarterback. As Hillcrest’s (0-1) gunslinger, Bramblett threw for 122 yards with an interception on 13-of-21 passing. He handled punting duties, though, booting the pigskin by an average of 40.2 yards across five punts.

• 2019 LB Osita Ekwonu | Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day 7, Ridge View (S.C) 33: Ekwonu found a silver lining in his week one loss with this eventful 43-yard rushing touchdown.

Notre Dame 2019 commit Osita Ekwonu (@Osita_Ekwonu59) went beast mode against Ridge View last night (h/t @overtime). pic.twitter.com/PINSH0mGWg

— Carter Karels (@CarterKarels) August 25, 2018

Ekwonu found few positives last Friday. Ridge View established a balanced attack. The Chargers (0-2) yielded 237 passing yards and 243 yards on the ground.

• 2019 OL Andrew Kristofic | Gibsonia (Pa.) Pine-Richland 0, IMG Academy (Fla.) 42: Kristofic couldn’t make an impact offensively against an overpowered IMG squad. The Rams (0-1) did find defensive production from the offensive lineman, however. He recorded two sacks on the night.

• 2019 CB K.J. Wallace | Atlanta Lovett 20, Atlanta Marist 40: Although he contributed at several positions, Wallace watched as Hamilton made all the plays. The Lions (0-2) could not stop Marist’s attack. The War Eagles gained 399 yards — 214 of which came through the air.

*Stats reported were provided by players, MaxPreps and the following news organizations: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Lexington Herald-Leader, Pharos-Tribune, Bowling Green Daily News, Marietta Daily Journal, Cincinnati Enquirer and Hoover Sun.