Tag: recruiting class

Marcus Freeman: ‘I better be the lead recruiter’

This should be music to Notre Dame fan’s ears…

Marcus Freeman met the media as he was officially introduced as Notre Dame’s head football coach on Monday.  One of Freeman’s greatest strengths is in his ability to communicate and connect with players and the recruiting benefits that come along with having those skills.

So not that he is the head coach and he’ll have to be dragged in countless directions and tend to things he never had to tend to as an assistant, will his emphasis on being such an important recruiter remain as high?

Try higher.

That’s music to the ears of Notre Dame fans as the Irish continue to try and close the talent gap between themselves and the truly elites of college football.

We’ll have a ton of content in regards to what Freeman had to say at his introductory press conference Monday so keep it right here at Fighting Irish Wire as he breakdown everything that was discussed by Freeman and certainly plenty that wasn’t brought up.

Related:

Marcus Freeman discusses wild week that was with Dan Patrick

Notre Dame OC Tommy Rees talks all things Fiesta Bowl

Watch Marcus Freeman’s entire introductory press conference 

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Notre Dame lands commitment from elite linebacker

HUGE get for the Irish, lets go!

Notre Dame has landed a big-time commitment for the 2023 recruiting class as linebacker Drayk Bowen of Merrillville, Indiana announced Wednesday night that he’ll be staying close to home for college.  Bowen chose the Irish over other finalists Auburn and Clemson.

Bowen is listed at 6-2, 215 pounds, and is ranked as the second best linebacker in the entire 2023 recruiting class by 247Sports Composite.

This is another huge get for the Irish who have struggled at times to bring truly elite talent to campus.  Bowen becomes the sixth commitment in Notre Dame’s 2023 recruiting class and already their second five-star, joining defensive end Brenan Vernon of Ohio.

Find out more about Bowen by reading the scout’s view of his commitment here.

Related:

Notre Dame’s 2023 Recruiting Class Commitments

Notre Dame’s top ranked recruits since 2000

Four-star DL Jaray Bledsoe commits to Longhorns over Texas A&M

The Longhorns added another four-star defensive lineman to their 2022 recruiting class on Monday.

Texas defensive line coach Bo Davis has found some momentum on the recruiting trail.

The Longhorns added another four-star defensive lineman to their 2022 recruiting class on Monday. Jaray Bledsoe, the No. 23 prospect in the state of Texas, announced his commitment via Twitter.

Bledsoe only took two official visits in June. Texas and Texas A&M each hosted the Marlin High School product. The 6-foot-4, 270-pound lineman played at Bremond prior to his senior season and was a first-team all-district selection at both running back and defensive line as a junior.

Bledsoe becomes Texas’ fifth defensive lineman to commit for the 2022 cycle. Steve Sarkisian’s first full recruiting class in Austin is currently rated the top class in the Big 12 and within the top 10 nationally.

Here’s what 247Sports recruiting analyst Gabe Brooks had to say about Texas’ latest commit.

“Physical player with general suddenness and violence to his game. Extensive experience on both sides of the ball with outstanding production during junior season (100-plus tackles, 1,000-plus rushing yards). A natural talent with functional athleticism well beyond his size. Likely fits multiple roles and schemes. Projects to the high-major level with the potential to become an impact starter who possesses a ceiling beyond college.”

Top 20 rated Texas football offensive recruits of all time

Texas has had plentiful top-level prospects come through Austin. Here are the top 20 offensive commitments in the history of UT football.

When it comes to recruiting in the state of Texas, none have been better than the Longhorns. Over the past 22 cycles, Texas has finished either first or second in the Big 12 all but once.

Since the 247Sports composite began in 2000, 35 five-star prospects have landed in Austin. Most notably, 1.000 rated quarterback Vince Young in the 2003 class. He ended up as the most famous Longhorn of all time, winning the national championship in 2005.

Texas’ 2000 wide receiver class was one of the best on paper, signing three five-stars. B.J. Johnson headlined the group, with Roy Williams closely behind him.

Here are the top 20 offensive commitments in the history of the Texas football program.

Texas A&M jumps Texas in latest 2022 recruiting class rankings

Due to a four-star wide receiver committing to Texas A&M on Tuesday, the Aggies jumped over the Longhorns in the 2022 class rankings.

Due to four-star wide receiver Isaiah Sategna committing to Texas A&M on Tuesday, the Aggies now have the No. 4 recruiting class in the nation for the 2022 cycle. Continue reading “Texas A&M jumps Texas in latest 2022 recruiting class rankings”

Where ESPN ranks the Texas Longhorns 2022 recruiting class

Does ESPN agree with 247Sports composite of where Texas’ 2022 class is ranked in the nation?

The hype surrounding Steve Sarkisian’s early recruiting success at Texas is no secret. Continue reading “Where ESPN ranks the Texas Longhorns 2022 recruiting class”

Four potential commitments that Texas could land soon

Keep an eye on these four players from the 2022 recruiting class that could potentially commit to Texas soon.

Texas is continuing to build momentum on the 2022 recruiting trail. Continue reading “Four potential commitments that Texas could land soon”

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Notre Dame football: Irish offer local ’21 prospect

Could Notre Dame have just extended a scholarship offer to their next commitment to the 2021 recruiting class?

Notre Dame has been riding a heater in the recruiting game of late, gaining four commitments over the last week as their 2021 class has climbed into the top ten nationally.

Now might Brian Kelly and the Irish be about to add 22nd commitment to that list?

That isn’t certain by any means but Notre Dame did extend another offer to a 2021 prospect on Sunday, extending an offer to JoJo Johnson of Merrillville, Indiana.

Johnson is listed as a wide receiver on 247Sports but Notre Dame would be looking for him to be a defensive back.

Johnson is listed at 5-11, 180 pounds and is graded as a three-star prospect.

Johnson has 16 offers, largely from MAC schools like Northern Illinois, Ball State, Central Michigan, Miami (OH), Toledo and Western Michigan.

Big Ten schools Iowa, Michigan State and Purdue have all offered as well Cincinnati, Washington State, and a handful of others.

Related:  Meet Notre Dame’s 2021 Recruiting Class Commitments

Notre Dame’s 2021 recruiting class currently has four defensive backs committed in Philip Riley, Ryan Barnes, Chance Tucker and Justin Walters.

Notre Dame football: red hot run continues as Caleb Johnson commits

Notre Dame football wins again during their bye week, this time flipping an Auburn football commitment to the Irish. Hello, Caleb Johnson!

One of the questions asked by some after Notre Dame upset Clemson less than two weeks ago wasn’t about what it meant for the Fighting Irish program on the field in 2020, but what it meant down the road, specifically in recruiting.

Just 13 days since the 47-40, two overtime classic that saw Notre Dame knock off No. 1 for the first time in 27 years, the returns are already massive.

Notre Dame has started turning that win and the successes of 2020 on the field onto victories in the recruiting world as Philip Riley, Jr. switched his commitment from USC to the Irish earlier this week and then the likes of kicker Josh Bryan and outside linebacker Kahanu Kia announced commitments as well.

Then on Thursday night Notre Dame saw another big-time prospect flip from a football powerhouse and commit to the Irish instead as offensive tackle Caleb Johnson became commitment number 23 in the 2021 recruiting class.

Johnson had committed to Auburn back in May but had a change of heart that will see him be another massive piece on what is an absolute haul of a recruiting class on the offensive line.

Johnson is listed at 6-7, 295 pounds, and comes from Trinity Catholic High School in Ocala, Florida.  He has a three-star grade according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

Related: Meet Notre Dame’s 2021 Recruiting Class

As well as Auburn, Johnson held offers from more than 35 programs including big-time programs like Alabama, LSU, Miami, Penn State and plenty of others.

Johnson joins an offensive line class that already includes five-star tackle Blake Fisher, four-star guard Rocco Splinder as well as Minneapolis tackle Joe Alt and Chicago guard Pat Coogan.

ESPN lists Texas as one of five college football programs struggling with recruiting

ESPN lists Texas as one of the top college football programs struggling on the recruiting trail.

If Tom Herman is not the head coach at Texas next season, you can bet that his struggles on the recruiting trail were a primary reason for his departure. Continue reading “ESPN lists Texas as one of five college football programs struggling with recruiting”