Deuce vs. Bear: Breaking Down the 2025 Quarterback Recruits

By: Connor D'Aquila ⏐ Writer ⏐ Twitter:@ConnorDaquilaIT

Photo via Matt Ray - On3

The 2025 quarterback recruiting race is just starting to heat up, and we could see a finish soon. It seems that the Irish staff has essentially narrowed the race down to two players: Bear Bachmeier and Deuce Knight. With Bachmeier visiting this weekend, Deuce coming off a summer visit, and a seemingly imminent commitment from Knight, it is time we break down these two quarterbacks and what they can bring to South Bend. We’ll look through their recruiting profiles, their high school performance, and Notre Dame’s chances.

Profiles

Bear Bachmeier comes out of Murrieta, CA's Murrieta Valley High School, and measures in at 6-foot-2, 220 pounds. Knight, on the other hand, originally comes from Lucedale, Mississippi, and George County High School, but most recently played at Lipscomb Academy in Nashville. Last week, it was reported, however, that Knight would be making the switch back to Mississippi for personal reasons. He measures in at an impressive 6-foot-4.5, 200 pounds. In terms of recruiting, the 247 Sports Composite doesn’t have them too far off. Bachmeier has 18 offers, comes in at 146th nationally, and is the number nine quarterback. Knight, meanwhile, has 24 offers, is ranked 70th nationally, and is the number five quarterback. For both players, there is a lot of disparity between platforms. Bear is ranked as high as the number four quarterback by ESPN and as low as number 11 by 247. Deuce sees even more of a range, coming in at number one by Rivals and number ten by 247. Nonetheless, both are elite prospects. Knight’s athleticism is off the charts, and he has the potential to be a truly special dual threat. At a recent Elite 11 regional event, he was able to post a 40-yard dash of 4.53 seconds paired with a vertical of 41.9 inches, while flashing impressive arm strength. These numbers are truly eye-popping for someone entering their junior year of high school. While Bachmeier doesn’t have quite the same level of athleticism, he can certainly run the ball and possesses impressive size that makes him very hard to tackle. In terms of recruiting, Deuce is definitely more impressive with the sky-high ceiling, but both are fairly well-regarded.

Photo via Overtime

High School Performance

In one full season as the starter at Murrieta Valley, Bear Bachmeier was prolific. Flashing a connection with his brother, and current Stanford wide receiver, Tiger Bachmeier, he ended with 2,853 yards, 26 touchdowns, and only four interceptions on a 72% completion percentage. He also added 644 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns. Watching film, you see a player who is comfortable in the pocket, can make all the throws, can get outside the pocket, and can make people miss with his legs. In three games this year, Bear has had to navigate life without his brother, but has still accumulated 817 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions with a 66% completion percentage. He has also added 83 yards on the ground. Watching those first few games, he is definitely missing his brother, as there are a lot of missed catches on some great throws. He still shows an ability to stay composed and make good decisions, though. Moving on to Knight, the story gets a bit confusing. Last year, in nine games in Mississippi, Deuce had 1,929 yards, 11 touchdowns, and four interceptions on a 62% completion percentage. He also added 488 yards and 12 touchdowns rushing. On film, he is an electric athlete who flashes a very strong arm and as much escapability as you’ll see in a high school player. This year, after his transfer to powerhouse Lipscomb Academy, he struggled in the preseason, but had a decent showing in their opening game against IMG Academy. The 25 of 37 performance for 237 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions was decent, but not enough to get the job done, as they lost 35-10. As he goes through his transfer process now, it will be important to watch his continued performance. In terms of proven ability thus far, I would give Bachmeier a slight edge.

Likelihood

Recent hype in Notre Dame communities has largely revolved around Bear Bachmeier, and it appears that the Irish are trending in a good direction with him. From the beginning, he was very open that the ND offer was special for him. His grandfather, who passed away ten years ago, was a huge fan of the Irish, which put them in his head for a long time. Working with this, Coach Guidugli has been able to form a strong relationship very quickly with Bear. He’s also a strong student who appreciates what the school can bring to the table academically. Along these lines, Stanford is a big competitor for him, as they have his brother, the academics, and the closer location. Bachmeier will be on campus this weekend for Central Michigan, and it is a major opportunity for the ND staff to close the deal. Knight, on the other hand, has had an interesting recruitment process thus far. Initially indicating an end-of-summer wrap-up time, the timeline has consistently been extending. Now, it seems like a decision should come in the next month or so, as he wants to watch the teams play, but there is no set date. The top three for Deuce appear to be Notre Dame, Ole Miss, and Tennessee with UT generally thought of as the leader. There is certainly no presumed choice, however, and he has been consistent in saying that all have their merits and drawbacks. We also do not know how his recent transfer will impact the recruitment. One thing to note is that he has said ND would be his mom’s choice if it were up to her. At the moment, Bear appears to be the more likely commitment for the Irish, but as is always the case with these recruitments, that could change at any moment.

Generally, the ND fanbase seems set on Deuce as the number one guy for this cycle, but I would argue that it is not as clear of a distinction as many think. Bear is a very strong prospect and would bring a ton of talent to the Irish squad. While he cannot compete with the athleticism and upside of Knight, Bachmeier would be a great get. The staff can’t go too wrong with either of these guys, so let’s hope they close the deal with one.