Bryce Young Has Everything In Place To Make Immediate An Impact With Notre Dame

It was a fascinating recruitment for 2024 Charlotte (N.C.) Christian defensive end Bryce Young, who officially signed with Notre Dame on the early National Signing Day. Irish fans are obviously very familiar with his father, Bryant Young, who was an all-time great for the Irish who now has been enshrined in both the College Football and NFL Hall of Fames.

After a dominant senior season, Young is officially out of his father’s shadow, collecting 97 total tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and 14 sacks. That production, on top of his 6-5, 245-pound frame and upside, has turned the North Carolina standout into one of the highest upside members in the 2024 recruiting class nationally.

Young is set to enroll at Notre Dame in January. Notre Dame fans all have high expectations for what he can accomplish early on in his career. In a recent interview with Irish Breakdown, Young talked a lot about the work he intends to put in. From there, impact and production will follow.

"It might actually be just as simple as going into the weight room, you know that first lift and you know it's just even before the moments where I put the helmet on or put the pads on,” Young told Irish Breakdown. "It's about what you do before that and I think the most important thing is taking one day at a time, getting better each day.

"That’s really what is going to help because that's so many goals, you know, so many things I want to accomplish,” he added. "That’s only going to happen if I take one day at a time and get better each day.”

One big advantage Young has is his familiarity with the program. He has been around South Bend his entire life, and understands the expectations that come with wearing the blue and gold. Young hopes to use those advantages to help ease his transition.

"For one, it’s a great advantage,” explained Young. "For two, just being there is big. I've been growing up there. I used to live with my dad when he was coaching there in 2010. We lived there for about two years when he was a graduate assistant so I know the place pretty well. It is kind of like a second home, but just knowing I can go in there and work.

"I've never been scared of work in my whole life,” Young continued. "I’m just excited for the opportunity to go in there and work and just know I have a family there. They'll be there the whole time, the coaching staff, just the people, the community, everybody there, the fans, my teammates. It's a great community to be in, to surround yourself in.”

Another big advantage is the fact that Young’s teammate, Micah Gilbert, also signed with Notre Dame in the 2024 class as a wide receiver. Those friends are set to both enroll with the Irish next month, which will be big early on when they arrive.

"You know, just knowing I have my brother there with me the whole time, even beyond football, it's greater than that,” he said. "Just the friendship we've built over the past couple of years, him coming in as a freshman, both of us meeting there.

“Then even going back to the spring game, it was just like a moment where like, okay, we both knew this is the school we want to go to,” Young stated. "It's like, let's do it, let's pull the trigger. So we committed that day in the spring, the spring game. Ever since then, it's been great. You know, and then today we come to today just solidifying that we're going to go on this journey together these next four years and just be great together.”

Then there is the rest of the 2024 Notre Dame class. They already feel like family for Young. Since committing back in April, that group has grown a great bond together. It is something that Young is very grateful for.

"Man, I love those guys,” Young said. "When I first committed, even before then, I knew those guys pretty well that past fall season from just going to the game days with them and then seeing everybody commit, everybody I've known.

"It’s like a family, and that just goes to show how quickly we got the guys signed in, how ready they are to get this thing rolling and get in there early,” he added. "We got that head start to get that, build that chemistry together, being together. It’s just up from there.”

Very soon, a Young will once again be dominating on the defensive line in South Bend. He has every support to make a smooth transition and there is a good chance he can make his impact felt early on in the blue and gold.