Category: Notre Dame

Notre Dame ’21 Commit Rubio Working Out in Not Ideal Conditions

Notre Dame ’21 DT commit Rubio puts offseason work in and bring good news about his recruiting status.

It’s always comforting when you see a player who has yet to arrive on campus continue to work at his craft. Yesterday, Notre Dame DT commit Gabriel Rubio of the 2021 class put on twitter that he was getting some drills in with his Lutheran of St. Charles County teammates, in the snow.

Rubio’s team took to the field in not ideal conditions, but Midwest football conditions however. One thing that cannot be taught is the work on a non-perfect field and Rubio is getting accustomed to it. Ranked as the 96th overall prospect by the 247Sports composite, Rubio is a high level athlete that had offers from Georgia, LSU, Ohio State, Oklahoma and others, is a huge recruiting win for Mike Elston and Brian Kelly.

The best part of this post is a twitter user asking Rubio if he was going to flip to Iowa. Rubio laughs at the notion, then gives two Irish clover emoji’s along with a green check mark. Rubio is one of eight commits for the Irish in the ’21 class, that ranks among the nation’s best early in this junction of the recruiting cycle.

A Couple Incoming Notre Dame Freshman Expected to Contribute Early in ‘20

Freshmen RB Chris Tyree, TE Michael Mayer, WR’s Jordan Johnson and Xavier Watts expected to contribute early for Irish in ’20 season.

Although the Irish didn’t finish inside the Top 10 in the 2020 recruiting rankings, there was still many bright spots for the class. Yesterday, Chris Hummer of 247Sports predicted which freshman will be impacting their teams immediately and a few Notre Dame recruits were mentioned.

Hummer first mentions RB Chris Tyree as a player to watch getting some early playing time. With graduating senior RB Tony Jones Jr., there is no player on the roster who rushed for more than 200 yards last year. There will be plenty of opportunities for the five-foot-ten and 180-pound back to get on the field. Tyree didn’t have the best senior campaign, which led to a fall in the recruiting rankings, but the talent is there, as he boasts a 4.38 forty time. Expect to see Tyree’s name called early in the season to see if he is ready for the big stage.

To no one’s surprise 5-Star TE Michael Mayer made Hummer’s list as well. In a similar depth chart situation as Tyree, with Cole Kmet leaving early to the NFL, Mayer doesn’t have much depth in front of him to challenge for playing time. Mayer uses his six-foot-five 234-pound frame to his advantage in the passing game, with a possibility of splitting out wide on occasion as well. The Tight End group returns a total of 20 catches from last year, and if Mayer lives up to his high ranking, he also could see the field early and often for Brian Kelly and the Irish.

Even if they didn’t make Hummer’s list, I believe that WR’s Jordan Johnson and Xavier Watts have chances to see the field when the season opens. The Irish have lost WR’s Chase Claypool and Chris Finke but bring in Northwestern Graduate-Transfer Ben Skowronek. The depth isn’t deep at the position and there will be opportunities for the freshman wide outs to see the field early.

Rivals Names Top 25 Recruiters, Again No Current Irish Coaches Ranked

Another service has no Irish coaches ranked among the best recruiters in the nation.

First it was 247Sports ranking their top assistant coaches for their recruiting prowess. It was Josh Helmholdt of Rivals turn Friday as they announced their Top 25 recruiters for the 2020 class. Once again, no current Irish coaches made this list, but Chip Long’s efforts prior to being released in December were recognized.

Long clearly didn’t mesh well with what Brian Kelly wanted offensively, but on the recruiting trail Long was very successful. “Brian decided to part ways with his offensive coordinator after the season, but the impact Long had on this Notre Dame class cannot be understated,” Helmholdt noted. Long’s impact will be felt in the ’21 class also, as prior to being relieved of his duties, he was instrumental in WR Lorenzo Styles Jr. and TE Cane Berrong’s commitments.

Some of the players he was responsible for included 5-Star TE Michael Mayer and RB Chris Tyree who were two of the top players in the ’20 class. Once again this is a reiteration of the fact that the rest of the Notre Dame staff has to step their game up on the recruiting side. So far in the 2021 class it has been a team effort to get the current 8 commits, but whatever works to get the best players to South Bend.

Nine Irish Invited to NFL Scouting Combine

Almost a handful of former Irish stars invited to NFL Combine.

For nine former Irish stars their first big interview will be coming up at the end of the month as the NFL announced which prospects have been invited to the NFL combine. It will be held in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium, from Sunday, February 23rd though Monday, March 2nd.

Many of the prospects who attend the combine typically get drafted after they go through the rigors of the NFL scheduled workouts. It begins for the Quarterbacks, Tight Ends and Wide Receivers with their on-field workouts on Thursday the 27th, which means you can watch former Irish WR’s Chase Claypool, Chris Finke and TE Cole Kmet perform.

On Friday the 28th the Offensive lineman, Running Backs and Special Teamer’s will hit the field which puts the spotlight on RB Tony Jones Jr as he is the only former Golden Domer who will be tested. Saturday the 29th turns to the Defensive front 7, Lineman and Linebackers, meaning DL’s Julian Okwara and Khalid Kareem will be out in front of the NFL scouts.

It wraps up on Sunday March 1st as the Defensive Backs will be put on an island once again, and a trio of former Irish will be working out. Safeties Jalen Elliott and Alohi Gilman along with Corner back Tony Pride Jr. will have NFL team’s eyes as they will get their chance to show off their athletic ability.

It bodes very well that multiple Irish will head down I-65 to Indy and perform in front of NFL scouts. One very big recruiting pitch can be that Brian Kelly and his staff can get their players to the next level, which getting their invite to the Scouting Combine is that first step. You can watch the former Irish stars show their skills during those dates on the NFL Network.

Irish Mentioned Among Top Class of ’21 Recruiting Story-Lines

The recruiting class of ’21 could be very prosperous for Notre Dame.

The recruiting class of 2020 still has a window to sign, giving them until the first of April to do so but players rarely wait that long to sign their Letters of Intent. However, teams and reporters are already looking towards next year and that is exactly what 247Sports did yesterday. They looked at the 5 biggest recruiting story-lines heading into the ’21 cycle and Notre Dame was mentioned more than once.

The first time the Irish are noted is when Steve Wiltfong mentioned the recruitment of star NC RB Will Shipley calling him the “Lightning Rod Recruit,” while delivering some news that will make Irish fans happy. The “schools that appear to be in the best position to land Shipley include the previously mentioned Tigers (Clemson) and Buckeyes alongside Notre Dame,” and being in the top 3 for Shipley at this moment is huge. Wiltfong also mentions that Shipley is a “very high academic kid” and bodes well for the Irish as they have the best academic profile of his perceived top 3.

The second mention of the Irish by Wiltfong was about Kelly’s notion that the Irish could have perennial Top 5 recruiting classes. Well, if you look at their composite class rankings at the moment, the Irish are firmly in the Top 3 behind Ohio State and Clemson. He mentions the commits of WR Deion Colzie and QB Tyler Buchner as the best of the bunch currently committed to the Irish. If Kelly is able to add the aforementioned Shipley, the class would look even better going forward. The fast start clearly has the Irish ahead of the game for the ’21 cycle, and a strong finish will find them among the nations best recruiting classes.

Irish Offer Class of ’22 Speedster RB Sawchuk From Colorado

Kelly and Taylor offer another class of ’22 RB.

Late last night the news of yet another offer came out, as Brian Kelly and RB Coach Lance Taylor have offered class of 2022 RB Gavin Sawchuk of Valor Christian High School. The Colorado native already hold plenty of impressive offers including Ohio State, USC, Oklahoma, Penn State and Oregon, the perceived favorite.

Sawchuk is the third sophomore RB to receive an offer from the Irish, after Nicholas Singleton and Emeka Megwa, would be a welcome addition to the unit. The impressive part to the five-foot-eleven 175-pound back is his speed. Recently running in an indoor track meet, Sawchuk posted a 6.77 second time in the 60-meter dash. That impressive time caught everyone’s eyes as that is currently the fastest time by a high schooler in the nation.

For a sophomore to possess that kind of speed at an early age is elite especially if it translates over to the football field, which it does. Valor is no stranger to high level running backs, as star NFL RB Christian McCaffrey prepped there prior to heading to Stanford. Irish fans would love to see Sawchuk line up in the backfield with the game-breaking speed he possess and although early in the recruiting process, Kelly and Taylor have identified running backs that fit what the offense is looking for. Sawchuk definitely fits that mold.

Alexander At It Again, Offers CA ’22 WR McMillan

WR Coach Alexander offers another prospect in ’22 CA WR McMillan.

The ink hasn’t even dried from the fax machines from the second signing peroid, but the Irish WR Coach Del Alexander was still out looking for the best WR talent in the nation. Alexander has been busy recently, this time going across the country to offer California WR Tetairoa McMillan yesterday.

McMillan, although just a sophomore, has already received offers from LSU, USC, Oklahoma, Oregon and others, making him a very highly sought-after prospect. McMillan was named to the MaxPreps sophomore All-American Team, showing many scouts that he has the ability to perform at the next level.

His highlights show a player who would need to add some speed to his game to be a receiver that has it all, but at the current moment McMillan looks like very sturdy possession and red zone target. He will surely add weight to his six-foot-three and 185-pound frame, and if he is able to add some speed, watch out.

McMillan is surely a prospect that that Irish would love to have in their WR room and Alexander is hard at work to make it happen. The Irish recruit the west coast very well and getting a commitment from McMillan would continue their recruiting success.

No Irish assistants among the Top 50 in recruiter rankings

No Irish assistants ranked among top recruiters in the nation.

In recruiting it isn’t just about the head coach, although they are very important in the decision process, equally important are the assistant coaches the player will interact with as they will most likely see them more than the HC. Yesterday 247Sports released their top recruiting assistants and on Brian Kelly’s current staff did not place one inside the Top 50.

Although you will see an Irish assistant inside the top 15, Chip Long, but he was let go by Kelly in early December prior to their Camping World Bowl win. The first active Irish coach that makes the list is all the way down at 72, DL Coach Mike Elston makes the list. Elston was accounted for 5 commits in this class, including DT Aidan Keanaaina and DE Rylie Mills.

Special team’s coordinator Brian Polian makes the top 100 as well, checking in at 88. Polian accounted for 7 total commits, his best being LB Jordan Botelho while assisting in the recruitment of 5-Star TE Michael Mayer.

If the Irish expect to continue to recruit at the highest level, there needs to be some assistants stepping their game up on the recruiting side. The jury is still out on Tommy Rees, who was elevated to Offensive coordinator just last month, but the rest of the staff needs to pick things up on the recruiting trail.

Alexander offers class of ’22 OLB Moss from Bishop Gorman

WR Coach Alexander verbally offers OLB Moss from Las Vegas.

It’s always a good idea to get in good graces with NCAA football feeder high schools and Las Vegas’ Bishop Gorman qualifies as one. WR coach Del Alexander spoke with and then offered OLB Cyrus Moss yesterday as they continue to scour the country for the top talent in the 2022 class.

Although Alexander was who offered Moss the scholarship, it will be Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Clark Lea who would work with Moss if he chooses to spend the next 3-5 years in South Bend. Moss is six-foot-five and weights 210 pounds, currently holds offers from Colorado, California, Utah, Arizona State and a few others still has a ways to go in his recruitment.

Moss is a Colorado native, so going away for school shouldn’t be an issue for the long and rangy linebacker. Brian Kelly and his staff are aware of this, as well as having Gorman Alumni such as Ronnie Stanley in their back pocket. Getting in early for Moss will be a huge key if the Irish want his commitment in the future.

What to expect from the Irish when the final class of 2020 signing period begins tomorrow

Don’t expect much news from the Irish as the 2020 recruiting cycle comes to an end.

Honestly, do not expect much from the Irish tomorrow when the final signing period begins for the 2020 recruiting cycle. At the current moment, Brian Kelly and his staff have accepted 17 commitments for the class, all of whom signed during the early period in December. Kelly also added two transfers in former Northwestern WR Ben Skowronek and Ohio State Safety Isaiah Pryor. The luster has clearly worn off the first Wednesday in February, as the majority of prospects end their recruitment by signing in the early period.

My unofficial count has the Irish at 86 current scholarship athletes, which is one over the 85 allotted by the NCAA. Hypothetically one of the commitments could gray shirt, meaning they would delay their enrollment until the second school semester before being put on scholarship and counting towards the 2021 class. The most logical player this could happen to is long snapper Alex Peitsch, as Jonathan Doerer and Jay Bramblett are already on scholarship at the position. That would get the Irish at an even 85, although there is a possibility a player could be put on a medial waiver, also getting them down to the correct scholarship number another way.

With the 2020 class pretty much being wrapped up, this has enabled Kelly and company to go out and get a step up on the 2021 class. The Irish are off to a great start in the ’21 class, eight total commits and many of them ranked extremely high by recruiting services. So, don’t expect much from the Irish tomorrow, unless a surprise commitment happens.