Class Impact: Ivan Taylor Commits To Notre Dame

Notre Dame has picked up another huge commitment in the 2025 class with Winter Garden (Fla.) West Orange safety Ivan Taylor committing to the Irish. This was a big pickup for the Irish, who beat out programs like Michigan, Florida State and Tennessee to land the talented safety. Let’s take a look at what the commitment of Taylor means for Notre Dame’s 2025 class and the Irish depth chart. NOTRE DAME CLASS IMPACT Taylor is the 10th player to commit to Notre Dame in the 2025 class. He is also the sixth defensive player, second defensive back and first safety to pledge to the Irish in this class. Safety has been a problematic position for years on the recruiting trail, going back and forth between good stretches and bad. Position coach Chris O’Leary landed a quality group in 2023 that included Adon Shuler, Ben Minich and talented walk-on Luke Talich. The Irish landed three more safeties in the 2024 class, landing Brauntae Johnson, Kennedy Urlacher and Taebron Bennie-Powell.

Despite the recent trend in an upwards direction, the Irish needed a strong class in 2025. The goal is to land at least two safeties in the class, and adding even more impact talent is a must. A third straight strong year, after the two previous years, would complete the turnaround at the position. Landing Taylor gives Notre Dame its first safety in the class, but also adds the impact talent the Irish were looking for. A Top 50 national recruit, Taylor is an outstanding all-around corner that is exactly what the Irish need more of at the position. NOTRE DAME FIT – FILM ANALYSIS Notre Dame is looking to add more cover players to its secondary, especially at the safety position. Taylor fits that bill perfectly, and he’s very much a player that plays the same in similar fashion to current Notre Dame star Xavier Watts. His ability to cover allows him to matchup from the back end, but also should allow to even play down in the slot if the need arises or the matchup fit. Notre Dame wants safeties that can do a little bit of everything, and that certainly describes Taylor. He isn’t the biggest safety, listed at 5-11 and just 170 pounds, but there’s a solid frame to work with. Taylor shows good length for this size and he has good range, which allows him to make a lot of plays in the run game and pass game. Despite his lack of girth, Taylor is a more than willing tackler. He shows good technique in the run game, but Taylor doles out punishment when he arrives at the ball at the prep level. After a season in a college strength program his striking ability and ability to get off blocks will take a big jump forward.

Taylor is a smooth and fluid athlete, traits that help him thrive in coverage. He transitions with ease, possessing loose hips and easy agility. He’s one of those players you don’t really think is running full throttle because of his smooth he is, but he is, and he covers ground in a hurry. Taylor’s ability to plant and redirect with speed makes him a weapon in the pass game. He can explode downhill and drive on in breaking routes just as easily as he can open up his hips and either get over top or jump a deep route in man coverage. On top of being a good athlete and productive player, Taylor also shows a high football IQ on film. He plays with great angles, is a decisive football player and puts himself in the right spot all the time. Even if you’re faster than him or more athletic, Taylor is able to win because he clearly studies the game, shows great instincts and he’s a patient player when he needs to be. This combination of skills allows him to project as a big time ball production player at the next level, which is another reason comparisons are made to Watts.