Well-respected kicking guru Chris Sailer has Chatsworth (Calif.) Sierra Canyon kicker Josh Bryan ranked as the No. 1 kicker in the country and the class of 2021 just committed to Notre Dame. The 6-0, 190-pounder had previously pledged to the Colorado Buffaloes, but decided to flip his commitment to the Fighting Irish.
According to Sailer, Bryan is a 6-star kicker, which is a ranking he gives to “FBS Power 5 Freshman Year Starter” types of prospects. This is a big, big win for Notre Dame.
“Josh is simply a phenomenal high school kicking prospect,” noted Sailer on his website, ChrisSailerKicking.com. “A great athlete with big time college potential. He hits a pure ball on field goal off the ground. He gets big time lift on his ball and has 60+ yard range. His kickoffs are excellent, D1 ready. He drives the ball deep in the end zone with 4.0+ hang time. Also a capable punter. He is a major competitor that thrives under pressure. Josh continues to prove that he is the best kicker in America in the Class of 2021. I look forward to seeing what the future holds. A fine young man that is always a pleasure to work with. One of the hardest workers out there. Josh is a scholarship pick without a doubt. Big time prospect.”
Due to his impressive work at the high school level, as well as the fact that he won the Chris Sailer Kicking Camp Top 12 competition, Bryan earned an invitation to the 2021 Polynesian Bowl.
“I have still been able to prep (during the pandemic) working with a kicking coach every week, but going out to Dallas, it was the first time since January that I had that type of pressure. I did really well,” said Bryan to 247Sports’ Adam Munsterteiger back in July. “Not only did I win the camp, I got an invite to the Polynesian Bowl, so it went really well.
That is far from the only honor Bryan has earned over the past few years of competition among the nation’s elite kickers. Check out his full list of major accomplishments below.
2018 Vegas XXXI Class of 2021 Field Goal Last Man Standing Champion
2018 Vegas XXXI Class of 2021 Kickoff Champion
2018 Vegas XXXI Class of 2021 Punt Champion
2018 Vegas XXXII Class of 2021 Kickoff Champion
2018 Underclassmen Invitational Class of 2021 Punt Champion
2018 Underclassmen Invitational Field Goal Finalist
2018 Underclassmen Invitational Overall Field Goal Champion
2019 CA Spring Camp Field Goal Champion
2019 Vegas XXXIV CA Prep Camp Kickoff Champion
2019 Vegas XXXIV CA Prep Camp Overall Champion
2019 Vegas XXXIV Punt Finalist
2019 Vegas XXXIV Field Goal Finalist
2019 CA Summer Camp Field Goal Champion
2018 TOP 12 Camp Invitee
2019 TOP 12 Camp Invitee
*2019 TOP 12 Selection*
2020 Vegas XXXV Field Goal Finalist
2020 Vegas XXXV Punt Finalist
2020 Vegas XXXV All-American Bowl on NBC Kicking Finalist
2020 Vegas XXXV All-American Bowl on NBC Punting Finalist
2020 TOP 12 Camp Invitee
2020 CA Spring Camp Field Goal Champion
2020 TOP 12 Camp Head to Head Field Goal Champion
2020 TOP 12 Selection
2020 Chris Sailer Kicking Pre-Season 2nd Team High School All-American Kicker
2021 Polynesian Bowl All-American (Selected by Chris Sailer)
Stay locked to Irish Illustrated for a ton of coverage on the newest member of the Notre Dame commit list from the 2021 class.