Three thoughts on 2024 four-star safety Malcolm Ziglar’s Notre Dame offer
Notre Dame has added another 2024 safety target to its recruiting board. On Tuesday, Fighting Irish safeties coach Chris O’Leary offered a scholarship to Fuquay-Varina (N.C.) High junior Malcolm Ziglar.
The 6-foot-2, 188-pound Ziglar is a four-star recruit. According to the On3 Industry Ranking — a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services — Ziglar is the No. 245 overall player, No. 22 safety and No. 5 prospect in North Carolina. He has a 90.66 rating. On3 gave him a 93 rating.
In On3’s own rankings, Ziglar is the No. 78 overall player, No. 6 safety and No. 2 prospect in North Carolina. On3 gave him a 93 rating.
Ziglar’s On3 NIL Valuation annual value is $59,000.
What Ziglar shows on film
Although lesser high school football competition makes his film study a challenge, Ziglar excels for the Fuquay-Varina Bengals. He doubles as a cornerback and safety for his team, often snatching interceptions or swatting down passes.
It appears most of Ziglar’s interceptions come courtesy of poor opposing quarterback play. However, there’s no denying he has a ball-hawking knack. Play recognition is one of his strengths. And when that is paired with his closing speed, it makes him a menace for opposing defenses.
Perhaps Ziglar’s most elite trait is his speed. The Bengal offense even utilizes it on offense by giving him jet sweeps, which typically leaves defenders in the dust.
During a college football camp last summer, Ziglar clocked a 4.40-second 40-yard dash. He also achieved a personal record 10.76-second 100-meter dash time in track.
Last football season, Ziglar collected six interceptions, three of which were returned for touchdowns. He also added six pass breakups. Ziglar earned first-team all-conference recognition during his sophomore and junior seasons.
What his recruitment competition looks like
In addition to Notre Dame, Ziglar reports 11 Power Five scholarship offers, most of which are teams in the Mid-Atlantic region. Duke, North Carolina, South Carolina, Wake Forest, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Maryland, Penn State, Vanderbilt, Louisville and West Virginia have also offered Ziglar.
So far, Ziglar has reported unofficial college recruiting visits to Duke (2), North Carolina (2), Wake Forest and South Carolina. He’s also been to N.C. State, but the Wolfpack have yet to offer him a scholarship.
What Ziglar’s Notre Dame offer means for the safeties board
O’Leary and the rest of the Notre Dame coaching staff have given themselves no shortage of options for the safety position.
Since the start of March, the Irish have hosted 2024 safeties Marquis Gallegos, Paul Mencke Jr., Kennedy Urlacher, Dejuan Lane, Oliver Miles, Justin Denson and Davis Andrews on unofficial college recruiting visits.
Urlacher announced his Notre Dame verbal commitment on May 1. Andrews, Gallegos, Mencke and Miles have all scheduled return official visits, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Lane do the same. Denson left the Irish out of his top 12.
Meanwhile, the Irish offered three-star Destrehan (La.) High safety Anthony Robinson on May 3. Robinson will pay an unofficial college recruiting visit to Notre Dame in June. The 6-2, 190-pound Robinson is the No. 477 overall player, No. 46 safety and No. 11 prospect in Louisiana in 2024.
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