Notre Dame has landed another commitment in the 2027 class with Pittsburgh (Pa.) Central Catholic offensive tackle James Halter pledging to the Irish. Halter committed to Notre Dame over Ohio State, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Indiana and many others.

Let's take a look at how the commitment of Halter impacts the Notre Dame class and depth chart.

NOTRE DAME CLASS IMPACT

Halter is the fifth player to commit to the Fighting Irish in the 2027 class, the second offensive player to commit to the Irish and he's the first offensive lineman to pledge to Notre Dame in the class. He joins Georgia quarterback Teddy Jarrard, Alabama linebacker Ellis McGaskin, Wisconsin defensive lineman Richie Flanigan and North Carolina snapper Sean Kraft.

Notre Dame landed commitments from six offensive linemen in the 2026 class, but it was a class that was heavy on prospects that project inside. With six commitments the Irish aren't in great need of numbers up front in 2027 class, but high impact talent or upside is a must. Halter has a very high ceiling and he's already ranked as a Top 150 caliber recruit, so he gives the Irish the kind of high-end talent it needs in the class. Halter plays right tackle for Pittsburgh Central Catholic and he projects to play offensive tackle at the next level, which means the Irish are kicking off their 2027 offensive line class with a tackle.

NOTRE DAME FIT

Halter has the frame and tools to play offensive tackle at the next level. Although he plays right tackle now, Halter has the tools to play on either side (left, right) for the Irish. He's a quality athlete, which is a must for Notre Dame, and he plays with a great motor, another must. Halter plays with impressive fire in the run game and he's a fundamentally sound player that projects to be an impact pass blocker at the next level. Although he has the athleticism and overall skillset to thrive on the outside, his power and motor could allow him to move inside down the road, but Notre Dame really needs him to stick at tackle.

FILM ANALYSIS

Halter is listed at 6-5 and 270 pounds, and when you look at him it's obvious that he needs to fill out quite a bit. The good news is he has the frame to easily get to 300 pounds and he should be able to add a lot of power as well. Halter has already filled out over the last year. As a sophomore, Halter was a tight end for Central Catholic, and while he was certainly more of a blocking tight end, he looked like a tight end from a body type standpoint. He's filled out and added at least 20 pounds over the last year, but there is plenty of room for more growth. His frame reminds me of a bit of a shorter version of current 2026 commit Grayson McKeogh and former Irish star Joe Alt, who were also 270 pounds or less as juniors. On top of having the frame to add weight, Halter also has the length you want on the edge, which is another reason he projects well on the outside.

Athletically, Halter moves quite well and shows those tackle traits. Even though he plays on the right side right now, there is certainly the combination of length, frame and athleticism to play on the left side as well. Halter shows impressive short area quickness in the run game. He fires off the ball, shows good pad level and he gets around on traps and pulls quite well. He shows easy change of direction skills in the pass game, which combines with his length to make him an impressive player in pass protection. 

Despite being on the light side, Halter already shows the power and punch you want in an offensive lineman. He has good lower body strength already and he is able to anchor well, even against bigger defensive linemen. His length and pop allows him to lock out defenders and it makes him very hard to get around. in pass protection. As he fills out and adds more weight you'll see him become even more effective as getting movement in the run game. He's already good in that area at the prep level, but he'll need more beef and will need to continue adding good weight room strength if he's going translate that to being a strong mover in the run game in college.

It's no surprise that Halter is a sound fundamental player, considering he plays for one of the best programs in the state of Pennsylvania and the fact his dad was a college offensive lineman at Notre Dame. He plays with a great base, he does a really good job bending his knees (and not bending at his waist), he plays with impressive pad level and his change of direction skills are impressive. At times he'll place his hands instead of shooting them, but there are plenty of snaps where he gets the proper punch. 

———————

Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and our premium message board! Click on the link below for more.

BECOME A MEMBER

Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time!

Join the Irish Breakdown community!
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channel
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunes
Follow me on Twitter: @CoachD178
Like and follow Irish Breakdown on Facebook

Sign up for the FREE Irish Breakdown daily newsletter