Welcome back to the latest scholarship update from 18 Stripes. We’re now just over 2 weeks away from National Signing Day and since our last update the Notre Dame coaching staff has gone through a shocking transformation. Their objective right now is clear: Recruit your tail off through Wednesday, February 1st.

SCHOLARSHIP CHART CLICK HERE

Please note, we have walk-ons who have been awarded one-year scholarships in the past highlighted in gray within our Google form but do NOT count them for year-to-year scholarships.

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

Both Jones and Rochell have picked up NFL Combine invitations so that’s good news for their professional football careers. They will combine (get it?) with Onwualu and Luke in hopes of hearing their names called during the NFL Draft but it could be a long, sweat-filled couple of days for all of these players.

2017-18 Academic Classes

15 Verbal Commits
23 Sophomores
21 Juniors
17 Seniors
5 Grad Students
81 Total Scholarships

With the recent attrition it feels like the scholarship number should be down to 75 right now but things aren’t quite that bad at the moment. We were projecting DeShone Kizer to leave for the NFL in our last update and he made it official in between so now the senior class is down to 17 bodies.

In the loss category, receiver Jordan Pouncey (.854), corner Paulson Adebo (.920), and corner Elijah Hicks (.890) have all left the Irish class recently with the latter recruit immediately giving his verbal to coach-less California. Say hello to Demetris Robertson for us!

In the addition ledger, Notre Dame added offensive lineman Aaron Banks (.926) after our last update which keeps the current verbal number from going under 15 bodies.

List of Eligible 2017 Grad Students

Tier 1
OL Mike McGlinchey
TE Durham Smythe

Tier 2
OL Colin McGovern
OL Hunter Bivin

Tier 3
TE Jacob Matuska

Curiously, there hasn’t been any word on the future of running back Tarean Folston although we continue to project him not to play football for the Irish in 2017.

As things stand today, if the Tier 2 and Tier 3 players want in there is likely to be room for them which is often the case every year. For these grad players it’s usually a matter of health, access to playing time, real job opportunities, or quality transfer options than it is strictly about scholarship room.

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The Roster

^2018 commits are included below, for reference. All eligibility displayed is for the upcoming 2017 season.

QUARTERBACK

Roster (2): Wimbush r-SO, Book r-FR
Commits (1): Davis

[2017], Jurkovec [2018]

The Irish head into 2017 with a 3-star one snap away from being the starter. The last time that happened it was done by a player who is rumored to be a new assistant coach at Notre Dame. This is a good place to drop the good news that Reviewing the Redshirts begins soon with Ian Book!

This feels like a good year to bring in a grad transfer but of course most quarterbacks don’t want to transfer only to be a backup. The keys are being given to Wimbush. Then the backup set of keys, as well.

RUNNING BACK
Roster (4): Adams JR, Williams JR, Brent r-JR, Jones r-FR
Commits (2): Holmes [2017], Stepp [2018]

We have the ascendancy of Dexter Williams whose carries should go up 200% or more plus Justin Brent coming off a season-long injury and trying to get his career back on track. Tony Jones could’ve played last year but wasn’t needed so we’ll see if he’s in the mix, too. Don’t forget Holmes is already on campus, as well.

WIDE RECEIVER
Roster (7): St. Brown JR, Sanders JR, Boykin r-SO, Stepherson SO, McKinley SO, Claypool SO, McIntosh r-FR
Commits (1): Young [2017]

This is good depth…for a team in 1972. But, when you add in Chris Finke, the snaps that Alize Jones will eat up, and that any true freshman is unlikely to make a big impact I’m not too worried. Out of all the positions, the Irish are positioned best to add recruits at receiver as we close out the cycle.

TIGHT END
Roster (5): Smythe r-SR, Jones r-SO, Weishar r-JR, Luatua SR, Matuksa r-SR
Commits (2): Wright [2017], Kmet [2017]

Alize Jones recently tweeted that he’s academically eligible again so we should expect him for spring ball.

OFFENSIVE TACKLES
Roster (5): McGlinchey r-SR, Bars JR, Bivin r-SR, Kraemer r-FR, Eichenberg r-FR
Commits (2): Lugg [2017], Banks [2017]

As expected, lots of chatter that Alex Bars will be moving to right guard following the Steve Elmer plan. In other news, Mike McGlinchey officially made his intentions clear to come back for his final year of school.

INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Roster (7): Nelson r-JR, Mustipher r-JR, McGovern r-SR, Hoge r-SO, Byrne r-JR, Ruhland r-SO, Boudreaux r-FR
Commits (2): Gibbons [2017], Hainsey [2017]

If we see Bars move to guard that’s bad news for the interior linemen looking to grab a starting spot. Depth is good for Notre Dame but sometimes bad for certain players. Also, Quenton Nelson has also officially announced he’s coming back for 2017.

STRONG-SIDE DEFENSIVE END
Roster (4): Bonner r-JR, J. Hayes r-JR, Kareem SO, Ogundeji r-FR
Commits (1): MacCollister [2017]

There’s expected to be 5 bodies to work with here but that could change rather quickly in a new scheme plus the two youngest aren’t expected to contribute yet.

WEAK-SIDE DEFENSIVE END
Roster (3): Trumbetti SR, D. Hayes SO, Okwara SO
Commits (0)

We’ll see how Elko and Elston deal with this position. We could see some hybrid situations—which could add smaller players to the mix—or possibly bulk some of these players up into different roles. The lack of commits here continues to be the biggest weakness of this class.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Roster (3): Tillery JR, Taylor r-SO, Dew-Treadway r-SO
Commits (3): Hinish [2017], Ewell [2017], Ja. Ademilola [2018]

For the sake of our sanity is there any way this group can become a strength of the defensive line? I remain high on the freshmen so there will be plenty of options. We might also see a couple others bulk up and added to the interior, as well.

NOSE GUARD
Roster (3): Cage SR, Mokwuah r-JR, Tiassum r-SO
Commits (0)

Whether it’s a 4-3 or 3-4 you’re typically using a nose guard in some capacity. Although, we may see both interiors starters coming from the tackle position.

STRONG-SIDE LINEBACKER
Roster (2): Martini, SR, Jam. Jones SO
Commits (1): Oghoufo [2018]

The responsibilities of this position are bound to change quite a bit with the new defense so there may be some reshuffling of bodies soon.

MIDDLE LINEBACKER
Roster (3): Morgan SR, Barajas r-SO, Jon. Jones r-FR
Commits (2): Adams [2017], Ju. Ademilola [2018]

Morgan and Barajas seem like locks to remain in the middle. Depending on his speed and development Jonathan Jones might be someone to move elsewhere under Elko.

WEAK-SIDE LINEBACKER
Roster (2): Coney JR, Bilal r-SO
Commits (2): White [2017], Bauer [2018]

Bilal is destined to move to the Rover position which using the traditional verbiage would be the strong-side position. That might be good news for Coney unless Martini moves and offers an off-season worth of competition.

CORNERBACK
Roster (7): Watkins r-JR, Coleman JR, Crawford r-SO, White r-SO, Pride SO, Love SO, Vaughn SO
Commits (0)

Losing your only two corner commits a month before Signing Day is not ideal. The large amount of sophomores makes things a little more manageable but the Irish can’t afford a scholarship gap anywhere in the secondary as that could have disastrous consequences.

SAFETY
Roster (6): Tranquill r-JR, Fertitta JR, Studstill SO, Elliott SO, Perry r-FR, Morgan r-FR
Commits (1): Roberston [2017]

It’s doubtful that all three move but Tranquill, Perry, and Morgan are ideal candidates to move to linebacker in Elko’s scheme. We’ve been saying this even under VanGorder, as well. In either case we may see moving around among the players in the secondary.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Roster (3): Newsome r-JR, Yoon JR, Shannon r-FR
Commits (0)

We’re no longer carrying two long-snappers on scholarship, so that’s nice.

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Remaining Focus for 2017

During the last update I figured 4 more players would be added to the class for 21 bodies overall. With the recent changes to the class there’s now room for at least 6 more recruits–and word out of South Bend is that would ideally like to take push that number closer to 10 which seems unlikely.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what needs to be done for the finish of the 2017 cycle and it’s focused on three positions: receiver, defensive end, and corner. To a lesser extent (and entirely welcome to come aboard!) defensive tackle and safety.

It’s going to be an absolute mad dash to the finish line, that’s for sure. Offers are going out left and right as the new Irish coaches hit the trail. The biggest issue is that even with a frenzied finish Notre Dame may not bring in more than 1 additional 4-star.

Which way do you look at that? Following a disastrous 4-8 season and an early off-season full of numerous coaching changes just be happy the Irish bring in 20 players? Or, is it an embarrassing chase for bodies that’s going to hurt the program in the long run? Something in between?