For the first time ever, we have an early signing day for college football recruiting. It’s a huge day across the country, as coaches and players alike show how committed they really are to each other. There are pros and cons to the phenomenon, of course, but that’s not the point of this post. No, this post will track Notre Dame’s 20 commits during signing day, all of whom are expected to send in their LOIs today. That in turn will allow the staff to focus all their efforts on the handful of kids still on the board.
The Irish come in to today with 20 commits and six early enrollees. As the recruits sign we’ll update this table. One procedural note: While everyone has called it “early signing day,” it’s really an early signing window – recruits can sign from today through Friday, or wait until the regular signing day in February.
Notre Dame 2018 Commits
| Score | Name | State | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| .9673 | Houston Griffith | FL | DB | Signed-EE |
| .9663 | Phil Jurkovec | PA | QB | Signed |
| .9649 | Derrik Allen | GA | S | Signed |
| .9626 | Kevin Austin | FL | WR | Signed |
| .9439 | Jack Lamb | CA | ILB | Signed-EE |
| .9426 | Shayne Simon | NJ | OLB | Signed |
| .9326 | Jayson Ademilola | NJ | DT | Signed |
| .9101 | George Takacs | FL | TE | Signed-EE |
| .9036 | Bo Bauer | PA | ILB | Signed-EE |
| .8919 | Micah Jones | IL | WR | Signed-EE |
| .8843 | Tariq Bracy | CB | CA | Signed |
| .8797 | Tommy Tremble | GA | TE | Signed |
| .8776 | John Dirksen | OH | OT | Signed |
| .8755 | Ovie Oghoufo | MI | OLB | Signed-EE |
| .8742 | Ja’Mion Franklin | MD | DT | Signed |
| .8721 | Jahmir Smith | NC | RB | Signed-EE |
| .8709 | Justin Ademilola | NJ | WDE | Signed |
| .8655 | Cole Mabry | TN | OT | Signed |
| .8636 | Joe Wilkins | FL | CB/WR | Signed |
| .8478 | Paul Moala | IN | S | Signed |
Key Remaining Targets
| Score | Name | State | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| .9933 | Amon-Ra St. Brown | CA | WR |
| .9890 | Nicholas Petit-Frere | FL | OT |
| .9567 | Solomon Tuliaupupu | CA | ILB |
| .9348 | Julius Irvin | CA | DB |
| .9271 | Kyler Gordon | WA | CB |
| .9185 | Braden Lenzy | OR | WR |
| .9078 | Lawrence Keys | LA | WR |
| .8930 | Noah Boykin | DC | CB |
| .8776 | Luke Jones | AR | OT |
| .8622 | Malik Langham | AL | SDE |
Gordon and Lenzy are expected to sign later in the week; the Irish are in excellent position with Lenzy but might have just started to fade with Gordon. Boykin is committed to Maryland but said he won’t sign until February. Jones is committed to Arkansas, but it’s not clear whether he’ll sign now or not. UPDATE: Jones apparently said recently that he’ll sign in February.
OT Frank Fillip was committed to Colorado and considering the Irish and UCLA, but he just signed with Colorado.
The stretch run to February will be very interesting indeed.
Hi Brendan,
Thanks a lot! Very fun way to play hooky from my day jobs and get updated on this first-ever event. Your work much appreciated.
Merci pour les bon mots, mon ami!
Je vous en prie, Cher Monsieur !
Jack Lamb AND Bo Bauer….wow. The middle of our defense might be super scary in a few years
Not sure if Tremble is still planning on having his ceremony, but ND just announced him so he’s official. That makes 20 – all Irish commits have signed today, freeing up the staff to go full bore on the remaining guys on the board. Happy Signing Day, everyone!
Glad there were no surprises, thanks for the board again! Now onto some bonus ones. Any word when ASB is signing?
He’s announcing at the Army All-American game in early January and signing in February. All signs point to USC right now, but the staff will keep working.
Everyone on the Key Remaining Targets list will sign in February, I believe, aside from Lenzy and Gordon, who are both signing on Friday.
Excellent, thanks for the info. Shame some of them seem like trending away, but oh well, maybe we’ll get lucky on Gordon. Even if not, as you’ve mentioned before, the overall talent infusion all over the defense is very, very encouraging, can’t wait to see what Elko can do with them.
I guess this is a new process for everyone but if I were a 4 or 5 star kid (i.e. a “must take” for just about any program that you would give your commitment to) I would wait for February for sure to get a little extra attention and see how the December dominoes fall and all the coaching changes, etc. Glad that at least this time around all the verbals just signed early, which makes sense if you know enough to verbal somewhere might as well sign, I suppose
It’s an interesting discussion. I think it benefits and hurts both sides of the equation, but I’m fine with that because I think it benefits the kids more. The kids get a chance to lock in their spot early, but have to decide whether that’s more important than a potential coaching change or a bigger offer. Some might hold out for a bigger offer and then lose their original spot. Tough decision, but that’s life, and that happened before too.
On the other side, the coaches have to decide whether to take this kid now or risk losing him as they chase bigger fish. I love this part of it, because it forces the coaches to be honest with a kid about where he stands and in turn lets the kid make a more informed decision relative to that school.
It appears to me that the coaches that don’t like the early signing period tend to string kids along a little more. I also see their point about the early signing period interfering with playoff preparation.
Hey, no pressure kid
Fyi guys, Julius Irvin was supposed to sign today (probably for ND) but is going through a legitimate family issue right now and will decide in February instead.
Stepherson and cj Holmes suspended? Man…gonna be even tougher on the passing game now 🙁
Shoplifting sweatpants. C’mon. Those guys get mountains of gear. The scholarship long-snapper left 2 large cardboard boxes of Adidas stuff in the Knott Hall lounge upon graduation. Can’t imagine why KJ needed to steal sweatpants.
This is how far people will go to not have to wear Under Armour.
That was funny.
Geeze, with Stepherson, this might be his last straw. He may be getting expelled for doing this.
Yeah this seems like about strike 3 after his double secret probation at the beginning of this season.
ESB’s dad had quotes on the radio recently that I can’t find but he basically said it’s ESB’s final decision to go pro or not but the father was strongly advising him to do that, thinking his measurables and ability will make him a high pick and that he’s ready for the next level. He did make it clear though it’s the kid’s decision, but when your dad is pushing you towards the pros, I don’t see how you turn around and stay in school.
So that makes 2018 a potential post-apocalyptic zone losing 2 All-American linemen, (likely) a great RB, ESB and possibly Stepherson the 2 best receivers on the team….Yikes. Uhh, Merry Christmas everyone.
Yea he’s definitely gone now that he is also charged with possession of marijuana. Freshmen going to need to produce early and often at WR.
Who is down voting this? Does one of you work for the emperor Xerxes and kill messengers?
No 5 stars in this class but thats fine. I think this staff hit several homeruns with a few players. Houston Griffith, Phil Jurkovec, Derrick Allen, Shayne Simon and Kevin Austin. Those 5 players have the potential to be game changers. I would add Lenzy to the list but he isnt Irish yet but he will be. That kid is electric. A safety combo of Griffith and Allen could be special moving forward. I thought our safety play this year was flat horrible but that changes asap with those two coming on board. I think both play next year. I dont think anyone from the safety position recorded a pick this season.
Looking forward my hope of landing Gordon at corner isnt going to happen. I guess all the negative, dirty, below the belt recruiting that Washington is doing to land him worked because he is staying home. A lot of people prefer Boykin over him. Regardless it would be nice to land another DB that is a stud. St. Brown is a pipe dream but the coaches will keep chopping away as they should but he is USC bound. Wimbush throwing ducks all year certainly didnt help matters with that recruiting. Hearing the staff is desperate to land a OT and they should be. Got my fingers crossed that we get Petit. I dont think anyone really has a clue where he is leaning. He is very very talented. 247 has him as a top 5 overall player in the class and thats a huge reach IMO. Not really a consensus best OL this year so I am sure that plays a part. Not for sure where rivals has him.
And now, Alizé Mack is suspended for the Citrus Bowl.