Dylan Novak
Dylan Novak
About Dylan
Expert Analysis
Ty Xanders | Prep Lacrosse Scout
There’s no reason to question Notre Dame’s ability to evaluate and project defensive recruits, as the results speak for themselves. When he first emerged as a rising junior after starting for Malvern as a sophomore, Novak was a 6-foot-4 lump of clay with immense upside. Built like a Power 4 football player, he initially battled inconsistency, particularly when matched up against smaller, quicker attackmen, but his footwork, off-ball acumen, and overall confidence improved dramatically over time. After making significant strides as a junior, Novak erased just about everyone in his path as a senior, doing so against one of the toughest schedules in the country. As a result, Novak was named Inter-Ac Player of the Year and US Lacrosse Mid-Atlantic Player of the Year, having compiled 74 groundballs and 25 takeaways for a defense that allowed a shade over six goals per game. He projects as a multi-year starter for the Fighting Irish; however, with all but one starter on the defense returning in 2027, Novak will likely rotate in as the fourth close defender or second LSM.
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Read EvaluationCarey Smith | Prep Lacrosse Scout
Novak was recently named the MVP of the Inter-Ac, and after watching his performance on Tuesday night, it is easy to see why he garnered that award. This athletic and technically sound close defender was a major reason that Malvern was able to stifle Hill’s offense. Novak was a menacing on-ball presence who used his active stick and smooth lateral footwork to force Hill’s offensive players into ill-advised shots. Additionally, this Notre Dame commit did a tremendous job of using his physicality to push ball carriers off their intended paths. Plus, Novak executed several difficult ground ball pickups in traffic. His slides and switches were on point, too.
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