The final class of 2020 rankings have been released by 247Sports and one Notre Dame signee earned a significant bump.

Alexandria (Ky.) Covington Catholic tight end Michael Mayer moved inside the Top32 nationally and is now considered a five-star recruit and the No. 23 overall player.

Irish Illustrated caught up with multiple members of the 247Sports Rankings Council for their thoughts on what earned Mayer that coveted fifth star.

247Sports National Director of Scouting Barton Simmons

“Michael Mayer is such a complete player and the way he has performed at such a high level at every event we have seen him at, it was just too much to ignore. He checks off all of the boxes athletically, he’s incredibly consistent, he had a huge senior year in terms of productivity, and he has a multi-sport background. He is a safe pick at this spot, but he is also a high-upside guy.”

247Sports National Director of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong

“Since seeing Mayer at The Opening Finals I instantly started saying he'll be the best tight end to come out of Notre Dame since Tyler Eifert and now he has the first round ranking out of high school to go with it. Football comes natural to Mayer, a big-bodied, sure-handed football player that can run and make things happen after the catch. He had one of the more dominant senior seasons of anyone nationally in leading his team to a state championship, shining on both sides of the ball. I imagine he'll be an instant impact player at Notre Dame where he walks into a talented tight end room even with the departure of Cole Kmet. He can stretch the field, he's a smooth route runner and a high IQ player. Mayer always finds a way to shine no matter the setting and no matter who else is on the field.”

247Sports National Analyst Charles Power

“The more and more we looked at Michael Mayer as a five-star candidate, it became clear he should be in the top 32. His on-field resume both as a high school player and at multiple national all-star events is outstanding and hard to argue. I first saw him at The Opening's Nashville Regional- he was very good there and was making diving catches in the rain. He then had a really strong week at The Opening Finals in July and backed that up with a senior year that saw him lead his team to a state title while being named Kentucky's Gatorade Player of the Year. Mayer was also great during the week of practices at the All-American Bowl. From a skill set perspective, he checks the boxes for what you want in an tight end. At 6-foot-4+ and 235 pounds, he has good athleticism and transfers that over to the field (and the basketball court). The ability to separate with quickness at the top of the route is a critical factor with tight ends, and Mayer may be the best I've seen in that regard for the 2020 cycle. He's a nuanced route-runner and consistently finds ways to get open at different levels of the field. Barton Simmons also made a very good point regarding Mayer's skill set- I don't think we've seen him drop a pass. His hands are as reliable as we've seen in this tight end group. I also love how hard he plays. Mayer goes all-out in all the settings I've watched him. The overall effort level is certainly on the high end. He's also physical and projects as a good blocker at the next level. Mayer is a complete tight end prospect with no real discernible weaknesses. It's a strong cycle at the tight end position and I feel good about him ending up as one of the best in this class. “

247Sports National Analyst Brandon Huffman

“Mayer was one of the top pass-catchers I saw at The Opening Finals but then took it to another level the week of the All-American Bowl. He's such a pristine route runner, with the ability to adjust to every ball thrown, and gets constant separation while also being able to get yards after contact. When he was blocking defensive linemen that week, he looked more natural and comfortable and as more than just a receiving tight end. He's as well rounded a tight end as I've seen in the last couple of classes.”

247Sports National Analyst Greg Biggins

“The more I thought about it, the more of a no-brainer it was for Mayer to earn a 5th star. He was my Alpha Dog performer the opening workout of The Opening Finals and I love how he plays. He's not your stereotypical tight end who is only good for picking up a few 1st downs on 3rd and short. This is a kid who is a high level athlete with great hands and body control and is able to make plays down the field. He's as pure a pass catcher as you'll find in this class and showed off the athleticism to win jump ball battles over athletic safeties. With his size and skill set, I think he has a chance to be an immediate contributor at Notre Dame and definitely has the potential to be a 1st round pick down the road, which is obviously what we're looking for in a five-star prospect."