Welcome to the first edition of the Notre Dame football scholarship update on 18 Stripes. I’m excited to take another deep dive into the Fighting Irish roster.

We have a new and updated scholarship form that anyone can view on the internet.

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CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SCHOLARSHIP CHART. 

Please note, we have walk-ons who have been awarded one-year scholarships in the past highlighted in gray within our form but do NOT count them for the future beyond this season. For the 2016 campaign the Irish currently sit at 82 scholarships of the four-year variety so at least 3 walk-ons will receive aid if no graduate transfers arrive.

Out of Eligibility Following the 2016 Season:

OL Mark Harrell, DT Jarron Jones, S Avery Sebastian, LS Scott Daly, DE Isaac Rochell, LB James Onwualu, CB Cole Luke, CB Devin Butler, S Max Redfield

The players definitely finishing up their careers after this fall is fairly small for Notre Dame and it got even smaller following the retirement of Corey Robinson back on June 15th. We’ll get to the players who could leave with eligibility remaining but this list of only 5 (likely) starters will be pretty easy to move on from in 2017.

2017-18 Academic Classes

16 Verbal Commits
23 Sophomores
21 Juniors
20 Seniors
9 Grad Students
89 Total Scholarships

After a 13-week absence from the program following indications that he’d be transferring to BYU we welcome tight end Tyler Luatua back to Notre Dame! The rising junior never actually left his classwork on campus but he did not participate in spring practice.

For now, rising junior defensive end Grant Blankenship remains on scholarship. The Texas native was suspended for violating team rules back in April and was rumored to be transferring. As of mid-June head coach Brian Kelly did comment that Blankenship was still on campus but had some work to do before being reinstated to the team.

Since our last update a copious amount of 2017 kids have given their verbal, including: safety Isaiah Robertson, corner Paulson Adebo, receiver Jordan Pouncey, defensive end Jonathon MacCollister, running back C.J. Holmes, offensive guard Robert Hainsey, and defensive tackle Darnell Ewell.

List of Eligible 2017 Grad Students

Tier 1

QB Malik Zaire

OL Mike McGlinchey

WR Torii Hunter

RB Tarean Folston

OL Hunter Bivin

TE Durham Smythe

Tier 2

OL Colin McGovern

Tier 3

TE Jacob Matuska

DT John Montelus

The big winner from spring among the possible graduate seniors is Hunter Bivin. The heralded recruit has played sparingly throughout his career, never started a game, but spent the second half of spring ball as the starting right guard. Yes, he’s labeled as a tackle but under Heistand such labels rarely mean much–the best five get to line up together on Saturday.

As such, we’ve moved Bivin up to the tier 1 group. At worse, Bivin probably has locked up “first guy off the bench” and possibly at either guard or tackle. McGovern’s situation is a little more interesting. He began spring as the starter at right guard, dealt with a concussion, and then saw Tristen Hoge and then Bivin take over his spot. He’s likely to be high enough on the depth chart to want to return in 2017, but who knows. Both Matuska and Montelus seem like good candidates to transfer to a smaller school for a grad year should they choose to do so.

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*2018 commits are included below, as well.

QUARTERBACK

Roster (4): Kizer r-SO, Zaire, r-JR, Wimbush SO, Book FR

Commits (1): Davis

[2017], Jurkovec [2018]

This roster is becoming incredibly deep at this position. Technically, 5 of these players could all be on the roster for the 2018 season. However, it’s pretty unlikely. With a good season Kizer could rise as far as the 4th best QB prospect (Watson, Kaaya, and Kelly currently lock up the top three) in the spring Draft. In the event of a redshirt sophomore leaving early of course Zaire could stay and start again. If Kizer stays perhaps Zaire leaves.

Notre Dame was intent on giving Wimbush a redshirt, then during spring practice they weren’t, and now once again the plan is back on to retain a year of eligibility for the New Jersey native.

RUNNING BACK

Roster (6): Adams SO, Folston r-JR, Williams SO, Brent r-SO, Jones FR, McIntosh FR

Commits (2): Holmes [2017], Stepp [2018]

Tailbacks are always a threat to leave with eligibility on the table so while the pipeline is fully stocked that could change very quickly. Certainly, some of the younger backs shouldn’t rest on their laurels. Most expect Folston to declare after this season–graduate seasons from running backs are super rare just about everywhere–and things are trending for Josh Adams to leave following the 2017 season, too.

WIDE RECEIVER

Roster (8): Hunter r-JR, St. Brown SO, Holmes r-SO, Sanders SO, Boykin r-FR, Stepherson FR, McKinley FR, Claypool FR

Commits (1): Pouncey [2017]

The youth movement is in full swing. Corey Robinson will still be with the team in a leadership role but you can only do so much on the sidelines. Many of these players will be getting their feet wet in 2016 and it’s expected that everyone will be back in 2017. Lots and lots of room to add receivers in the future, too.

TIGHT END

Roster (4): Smythe r-JR, Jones SO, Weishar r-SO, Luatua JR, Matuksa r-JR

Commits (2): Wright [2017], Kmet [2017]

Last week we looked at the blue-chip rate at Notre Dame since 2010. The only tight end not to meet the blue-chip requirement was Jacob Matuka, recently converted from defensive end. Otherwise, it’s been full speed ahead for the Irish even if they skipped on this position last cycle. With Luatua’s return everything is gravy.

OFFENSIVE TACKLES

Roster (5): McGlinchey r-JR, Bars SO, Bivin r-JR, Kraemer FR, Eichenberg FR

Commits (1): Lugg [2017]

The odds are very good that McGlinchey will be leaving for the NFL after this season. Additionally, we could see Bivin playing at guard for the next two seasons. As such, the Irish will definitely be on the hunt for an extra tackle in 2017 and realistically could take three if things fall the right way.

INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

Roster (8): Nelson SO, Mustipher r-SO, McGovern r-JR, Hoge r-FR, Harrell r-SR, Byrne r-SO, Ruhland r-FR, Boudreaux FR

Commits (2): Gibbons [2017], Hainsey [2017]

Even with 3 positions here the breathing room is quite limited, especially if Bivin shifts here long-term. Harrell will be moving on after 2016, McGovern could settle in as a back-up tackle, and Nelson is sure to get some hype in the NFL Draft. Still, the Irish look like they will go through the next 2 seasons with 8 interior linemen which is the max limit under Heistand.

STRONG-SIDE DEFENSIVE END

Roster (5): Rochell SR, Bonner r-SO, Hayes r-SO, Kareem FR, Ogundeji FR

Commits (1): MacCollister [2017]

I’m sure Notre Dame would like to add another strong-side end but the overall scholarship numbers may not allow it for 2017. As things stand for today the Irish appear done at this position, although it’s possible someone on the roster eventually grows into a strong-side end soon.

WEAK-SIDE DEFENSIVE END

Roster (4): Trumbetti JR, Blankenship JR, Hayes FR, Okwara FR

Commits (0)

Now we’ve found the current focus of the 2017 cycle! At least 2 bodies are needed for this year and if it so happens that Blankenship moves on things could get a little dicey at the weak-side. It should help matters if Daelin Hayes is an impact freshman and if someone like Jamir Jones grows into his body and ends up here.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

Roster (4): Tillery SO, Taylor r-FR, Dew-Treadway r-FR, Tiassum r-FR

Commits (3): Hinish [2017], Ewell [2017], Ja. Ademilola [2018]

If you’re like me you think Hinish is one of the most underrated 3-stars in the country. Being able to add Ewell to the mix next year in combination with Hinish is straight gravy.

NOSE GUARD

Roster (4): Jones r-SR, Cage JR, Montelus r-JR, Mokwuah r-SO

Commits (0)

We’re at the point where the next top young nose guard needs to be groomed. Under the current 4-3 system this position (or more specifically the size factor) isn’t as pronounced so we’ll see if any tackles bulk up and move here long-term.

STRONG-SIDE LINEBACKER

Roster (3): Onwualu SR, Martini JR, Jam. Jones FR

Commits (1): Werner [2017]

Jamir Jones isn’t as tall as his older brother and likely isn’t on the same growth path but he’s still likely to outgrow the linebacker position. The latest statement from anyone coaching at Notre Dame was that Jones would start out here but we’ll see how long that lasts.

MIDDLE LINEBACKER

Roster (3): Morgan JR, Barajas r-FR, Jon. Jones FR

Commits (2): Adams [2017], Ju. Ademilola [2018]

Diaco, Diaco you were so beautiful but you didn’t want to recruit numbers like this.

WEAK-SIDE LINEBACKER

Roster (2): Coney SO, Bilal r-FR

Commits (1): White [2017]

We are still waiting on the aftermath of this upcoming August camp and who grabs this starting spot. Once that happens we should have a much better idea how the overall linebacker division is going to settle for the future.

CORNERBACK

Roster (8): Luke SR, Butler SR, Watkins JR, Coleman SO, Crawford r-FR, White r-FR, Pride FR, Love Fr

Commits (1): Adebo [2017]

If you’re like me you can’t wait to see how the freshmen defensive backs get dispersed throughout the roster this August. Several of these guys could play at either position. Take the incoming Donte Vaughn, for example. We have him listed as a corner on our Google chart but in this post he’s at safety. We have all of our bases covered.

SAFETY

Roster (9): Sebastian r-SR, Redfield SR, Tranquill r-SO, Fertitta SO, Studstill FR, Perry FR, Elliott FR, Vaughn FR, Morgan FR

Commits (1): Roberston [2017]

A total of five freshmen safeties? Let’s be honest, as much as the roster requires balance this amount of competition among the younger ranks is desperately needed. We also know (or should I say believe) that Spencer Perry isn’t long for the back-end with his height and frame.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Roster (4): Daly r-SR, Newsome r-SO, Yoon SO, Shannon FR

Commits (0)

It appears no special teams players will be targeted for 2017.

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Remaining Scholarship Priorities for 2017

High Need

Wide Receiver

Weak-Side Defensive End

Medium Need

Cornerback

Offensive Tackle

Nose Guard

Safety

Strong-Side Defensive End

Running Back

Weak-Side Linebacker

Low Need

Middle Linebacker

Running Back

Interior Offensive Linemen

Strong-Side Linebacker

Defensive Tackle

Quarterback

Tight End

With around 7-8 spots left in the 2017 class we should see half those openings going to receiver and weak-side defensive end. The odds are very high that another offensive tackle and defensive back are added, as well. From there the program will be getting into a position where they will want to take major impact players even if they are at positions of low need.