Tag: notre dame fighting irish recruiting

Quick Notre Dame football recruiting update after North Carolina win

The Irish were busy not only winning on the field but on the recruiting trail as well

The Irish are in the midst of building on the great class of 2022 and continuing to add on to the 2023 and beyond classes.

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Every weekend this fall there have been plenty of visitors but recently we have seen an uptick with recruiting action. Here are a few of the notable happenings regarding Notre Dame football from this past weekend.

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Quick Notre Dame midweek recruiting roundup

Get up to date on Notre Dame football’s recruiting

It’s been a little quiet on the recruiting front for Notre Dame, but that doesn’t mean that things aren’t happening.

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With the first home game on the horizon, there will be plenty of information about potential recruits that could end up in South Bend. Here’s a quick wrap up of how some commits are doing as well as some notes on uncommitted prospects.

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Five potential 2022 running back targets for Notre Dame

Who will be the second RB in Notre Dame’s 2022 class?

It was back to the drawing board for Notre Dame after they missed out on Pennsylvania running back Nicholas Singleton. It seemed like at one point the talented back was leaning towards the Irish but ultimately, the home state team won out.

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With Texas back Jadarian Price already in the fold, Brian Kelly would love to add another prospect to make a pair. Here are five viable running back targets for the Irish.

Instate 2023 linebacker gets Notre Dame football offer

The Notre Dame coaching staff extends an offer to the best player in the state in the 2023 class, Drayk Bowen.

Although the recruiting cycle has moved over to the 2022 class, that hasn’t stopped Notre Dame from looking a class ahead. With just 20 offers out to the 2023 class, the number just grew by one today as instate linebacker Drayk Bowen announced the good news.

Bowen becomes the first Indiana prospect in the ‘23 class to hold a Notre Dame offer. He is also the first linebacker in the class to get an offer as well. At six-foot-two-inches and 215-pounds, Bowen fits the mold of a big time prospect.

Not only is Bowen a great football player, he excels on the diamond as well. I’m a huge fan of multiple sport athletes, many of the skills used to perform on one stage translate over to the others.

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This offer has new defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman’s hands all over it. When Freeman was still with Cincinnati, they were the first school to offer Bowen in July of last year. Freeman was one of the coaches Bowen tagged in his offer tweet as well.

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Bowen has a lot of time before his class is set to sign, so this offer is obviously one that most likely won’t see a decision for a while. The offer to the best player in the state is letting Bowen know that he’s a priority recruit for Notre Dame in the 2023 class.

Eyes on Texas as Notre Dame offers another ‘22 defensive standout

Notre Dame sends out yet another Texas offer, this time to outside linebacker Martell Harris.

In the last few days, Notre Dame has certainly been hitting Texas hard, especially on the defensive side. Yesterday, another outside linebacker was offered, Martell Harris Jr.

It has been increasingly obvious with the recent offers that Marcus Freeman wants to see a talent upgrade at the outside linebacker spot and the six-foot-two-inch and 205-pound Harris Jr. fits the mold he’s looking for.

At this early point in Harris Jr.’s recruitment, he’s got a very good offer list which includes Texas, Oklahoma, Baylor and Arizona State. Due to transfer rules in Texas, Harris Jr. was only allowed to play on the junior varsity level last year, but that didn’t stop him from improving his game during that time. The work has obviously paid off.

The JV season was so impressive, Harris Jr. received an offer from Texas A&M almost a year ago. With Freeman taking over the defense, we have seen an uptick in offers to players who fit more of his scheme. Hopefully the Irish have made an impression on Harris Jr. as his recruitment moves forward.

Scouts Eye: Notre Dame’s newest commit, WR Jayden Thomas

The Irish added a 3rd wide receiver prospect in their 2021 recruiting class. Find out what to expect out the newest Notre Dame commit.

The Irish have added a pair of Georgia  wide receivers to their 2021 recruiting class just this week. On Monday, it was Deion Colzie, deciding that Notre Dame really was the place he wanted to be after decommitting in March. Today it was Jayden Thomas pulling the trigger for the Irish. Here’s what to expect from the newest Irish commit Thomas.

Check out Thomas’ junior highlight reel here.

A game-breaker who can make plays multiple ways. Thomas is able to take direct snaps sometimes completing a pass, splitting out wide or in the slot, change the field with a punt return or even return kickoffs. He runs good, crisp routes and uses his body well to shield off defenders. Thomas does a good job using his hands to catch the ball, rarely using his body to catch. He’s a willing blocker who will get better at it as he gets stronger. Thomas plays both ways, showing that he can flip his hips well enough to adjust to balls that aren’t the most accurate throws. I love that he’s a two-sport athlete as well. Thomas could be an addition to Link Jarrett’s baseball team as well.

The Irish are getting a fantastic prospect as Rivals rates him as the 195th overall player and 36th wide receiver. At 247Sports, they have Thomas as the  260th player and 45th wide receiver nationally. ESPN has him ranked as the 218th overall player.

With Thomas’ commitment, the Notre Dame class now stands at 19 players, good for 9th best overall class in the country according to the 247Sports composite (although it has yet to be updated, I used their class calculator to add Thomas). It’s a great collection of prospects that Kelly and company have assembled.

Current commit joins Rees in pursuit of ‘23 star WR Tate

There is a current commit that has been in the ear of elite wide receiver Carnell Tate. His efforts seem to be working.

Once again, I had the pleasure of speaking with 2023 wide receiver Carnell Tate, this time in person at Prep RedZone’s Showcase in suburban Chicago. A quick chat with Tate brought out an interesting tidbit regarding his recruitment with Notre Dame.

When I asked about who was recruiting him the hardest right now, Tate’s answer should be getting Irish Nation pretty excited. Tate said, “I definitely say Notre Dame because Pat Coogan has been recruiting me. Talking to me a lot. Like whenever I wear another school, he’s on me about it.”

It seem’s like what Coogan is preaching to Tate is working. The six-foot-two-and-a-half-inch pass catcher arrived in a Fighting Irish long-sleeve shirt.

Although it’s kind of hard to see, you can take my word for it. Tate was wearing a Notre Dame shirt.

What’s next for Tate in his recruitment is getting back to the coaches that have offered him; which also include Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa and others. He is the only offer out to an offensive player in the class for the Irish.

Don’t be surprised when other schools step up and offer Tate, it’s just a matter of time. What we hope is that it’s just a matter of time when Tate commits to the Irish.

Midweek Recruiting Update: Johnson offer, latest on Colzie, and more

A look at the latest recruiting news for Notre Dame Football.

It’s safe to say that it’s been fairly quiet on the recruiting trail for the Irish. The coaching staff changed that last night, as they offered Northwestern commit Theran Johnson.

The instate cornerback has been committed to the ‘Cats since May 3 of this year, Johnson is a very solid prospect. He stands six-feet tall and weights 170-pounds. The offer should catch Johnsons attention as aside from Northwestern, every other one of his offers are from non-Power Five schools.

I love this offer, Johnson is a player that might take some time to develop, but getting some of the better talent in Indiana to play for the Irish is a positive development. Almost all of the top 25 players in the state are heading off to a Power Five team, the Irish only have a commit from Blake Fisher. Yes, he’s a big one, literally and figuratively, the top overall player in the state.

Looking ahead at what’s to come for the Irish, the potential for Georgia wide receiver Deion Colzie to rejoin the class is looking better and better as we inch towards his commitment date on the 28th of this month.

Tom Loy, of Irish Illustrated, changed his crystal ball pick to the Irish. That gives me a ton of confidence that as of right now, Colzie is trending to rejoining Lorenzo Styles Jr. as the wide receivers in the 2021 class.

Right now the class consists of nine players on offense: quarterback Tyler Buchner, running back Logan Diggs, Styles Jr., Fisher, offensive tackle Joe Alt, guard Rocco Spindler, center Pat Coogan and tight end’s Mitchell Evans and Cane Berrong.

The defensive commits are a group of nine as well: defensive tackle Gabriel Rubio, defensive ends David Abiara and Jason Onye, linebackers Prince Collie and Will Schweitzer, and defensive backs Philip Riley, Ryan Barnes, Chance Tucker and Justin Walters.

The group of 18 players ranks 12th at ESPN, 13th at 247Sports and 11th at Rivals. Brian Kelly has a solid group of three players committed in the 2022 class: offensive tackle Joey Tanona, tight end Jack Nickel and safety Nolan Ziegler.

It has been a bit slow, but with Colzie’s timeline to recommit set and spatula being brought out to flip Johnson, there could be some positive movement for the Irish. Stay tuned to Fighting Irish Wire for the latest in Notre Dame Football recruiting.

Former Irish commit Colzie sets commitment date, possible recommitment?

One-time Notre Dame commit Deion Colzie has set a date to make his second commitment. Could lightening strike twice for the Irish?

Last October, Brian Kelly scored a huge win when Georgia wide receiver Deion Colzie committed to the Irish. Notre Dame held on to Colzie’s commitment until March 20, when he reopened his recruitment. Colzie now has set a date to commit for the second time.

Taking a look at where some of the experts think Colzie is headed is not very encouraging. At 247Sports, there have been 6 “crystal ball” picks, each one of them favoring instate Georgia. The other pick was made for the Irish, but it was made the day Colzie previously committed to the Irish. It’s noteable that Irish Illustrated insider Tom Loy has picked Georgia.

Rivals sees it the same way, but with an asterisk. Their Notre Dame insider Mike Singer picked the Irish in their FutureCast, after another one of their insiders picked Colzie to recommit as well. So you’re saying there’s a chance?

Right now it tough to tell what Colzie’s intentions are. No doubt, Kelly and wide receivers coach Del Alexander would love for Colzie to rejoin the Irish 2021 recruiting class. Right now, Lorenzo Styles Jr. is the lone commit at the position. We will continue to monitor the situation, as the countdown to September 28 has begun.

Rucci sets commitment date, is Notre Dame an option?

Nolan Rucci, the 5-Star Pennsylvania offensive tackle, has set his announcement date for early next week. Are the Irish a viable option?

Late last January the Irish offered Pennsylvania offensive tackle Nolan Rucci, and the through was Notre Dame would be a player in his recruitment until the end. That is the case, as Rucci, the 14th overall player and nationally the 5th ranked tackle by the 247Sports composite has announced he will commit on Tuesday, televised by CBS Sports HQ.

Rucci will go live with his announcement at 6pm EST, but don’t expect to see Irish head coach Brian Kelly on Twitter with his #WeAreND reaction. Notre Dame has been included in his final 5, but they are on the outside looking in. At 247Sports there are 5 crystal balls, none of them favoring the Irish. The same at Rivals with their FutureCasts favoring Wisconsin, the overwhelming favorite to land the offensive tackle.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise, Rucci’s older brother Hayden plays for the Badgers, while his father Todd is Penn State alumnus. Those are really the two schools that have the best chance at the younger Rucci’s commitment.

Kelly would have loved to add Rucci to the ‘21 class, as they currently have two tackles committed in Blake Fisher and Joe Alt. Fisher is a 5-Star like Rucci and Alt is considered more of a project due to his lack of experience playing tackle. When you add in the commits of guard Rocco Spindler and center Pat Coogan, it is a fantastic group even after missing out on Rucci.