The 2023 recruiting cycle is raging, but it's never too early to look ahead to the 2024 offseason. Owen Wafle, a four-star defensive end from the Hun School in Princeton, New Jersey, announced his commitment to Notre Dame on Monday live on CBS Sports HQ. Wafle chose the Fighting Irish over other finalists Iowa, Michigan State, Rutgers and Vanderbilt.
Wafle is a 6-foot-3, 270-pound edge threat who is ranked No. 175 overall and No. 14 among edge players in the 2024 class, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. His size heading into his junior season will likely make a move to the interior of the defensive line a possibility once he arrives in college. If that happens, though, Wafle is perfectly fine with it.
"Well, I'm just a guy who likes to go out there and compete," he told Irish Illustrated last month. So, for me, it doesn't really matter where I'm put. I just want to help the team in any way I can. But I do have to say, as of right now, for the college level I feel like I'm a little bit more built towards defensive tackle just because of my height at the moment. But my family grows pretty late"
Wafle had 47 tackles, including five for a loss, and one sack in nine games last year. He also played a fullback and caught two touchdowns, which shows just how versatile he can be.
He was offered by Fighting Irish coach Marcus Freeman on March 18, and he has picked up 10 FBS offers since the end of the 2021 high school season.