It’s been an unprecedented month for the whole world including for college football whose spring practices came to a sudden halt in March. For Notre Dame, they will head into the uncertainty of summer with just one practice from spring and virtually nothing achieved for player development. Obviously, it’s thrown everything for the program into flux as it remains to be seen when the 2020 season will begin, or if it will even be played.

Given this situation, a scholarship update seems unneeded but our last update was before the Camping World Bowl win over Iowa State and prior to some personnel decisions on turning pro.

Out of Eligibility Following 2020

QB Ian Book
RB Mick Assaf
WR Javon McKinley
WR Bennett Skowronek
TE Brock Wright
OL Tommy Kraemer
OL Liam Eichenberg
OL Robert Hainsey
DE Daelin Hayes
DE Ade Ogundeji
DT Kurt Hinish
LB Jordan Genmark Heath
CB Shaun Crawford
PK Jonathan Doerer

This is a sizable list of players as Book, Eichenberg, Kraemer, Ogundeji, Hayes, Crawford, and McKinley returned to the program for graduate seasons. Also included in the 5th-year group is former walk-on Mick Assaf who will presumably remain on scholarship for 2020.

Those who did not return for a 5th season included Alohi Gilman, Tony Jones, Johnathan Jones, and Ryan Shannon. Additionally, Cole Kmet decided to forego his senior season and is anticipating a high placement in the NFL Draft this week.

As things currently stand, Notre Dame is carrying 88 scholarships which includes the aforementioned Assaf as well as redshirt junior former walk-on offensive lineman Colin Grunhard.

At this point, who knows how much upheaval the COVID-19 pandemic will have on the roster. Players could be away from campus for several months struggling with online learning, staying on top of their strength program goals, or getting restless thinking often about their situation when there was no spring football to assess their place.

List of Eligible 2021 Grad Students

Tier I

OL Aaron Banks
OL Josh Lugg
LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
LB Drew White
DT Myron Tagavailoa-Amosa
S Isaiah Pryor
RB Jafar Armstrong

Tier II

RB Avery Davis
OL Dillan Gibbons
OL Colin Grunhard

Tier III

WR Isaiah Robertson
DE Kofi Wardlow

Tier I includes 4 projected starters (Banks, JOK, White, MTA) who would be slam dunks to return if they don’t have an eye for the NFL. From that group, Owusu-Koramoah seems by far the most likely to leave with a year remaining after 2020.

Lugg may not be a starter but with 3 linemen moving on he’s a high priority for 2021. I chose to include Armstrong and Pryor in the first tier because both are expected to play significant roles in the fall. Pryor made the decision to transfer to Notre Dame knowing he has two years remaining so unless his stock blows up I’m sure he’s planning on coming back. Armstrong could be more of a wildcard.

From the remaining 5 players in tier II and III I’d predict Grunhard returns but no one else. In my opinion, no spring football particularly hurts players in these tiers.

2021-22 Academic Classes

8 Verbal Commits
17 Sophomores
22 Juniors
23 Seniors
12 Graduates
82 Total Scholarships

Since our last update there is only one additional scholarship on the books for the 2021-22 academic year. A couple of players have left the 2021 class in offensive lineman Greg Crippen and wide receiver Deion Colzie. Plus, corner Landon Bartleson didn’t enroll from 2020 and quarterback Phil Jurkovec transferred to Boston College.

On the plus side, the Irish added safety Justin Walters, defensive end David Abiara, and offensive lineman Pat Coogan. The staff will be looking to regain momentum on the recruiting trail that currently exists as these are the 3 lowest rated members of the class.

***SCHOLARSHIP CHART CLICK HERE***

2021 Positional Needs

Done

Quarterback
Tight End

After gnashing of so many teeth all across the country Irish quarterback commit Tyler Buchner finally became a 5-star in the Composite. His score currently sits at 0.9834 which lands him 30th overall in the country. It’s pretty absurd that there are 5 other quarterbacks still ranked ahead of Buchner, including: Caleb Williams (Washington DC, Oklahoma commit, #5 overall), Sam Huard (Burien WA, Washington commit, #11 overall), Brock Vandagriff (Bogart GA, Georgia commit, #12 overall), J.J. McCarthy (Nazareth IL, Michigan commit, #14 overall), and Kyle McCord (Philadelphia PA, Ohio State commit, #22 overall).

Need Numbers

Running Back
Defensive Tackle
Wide Receiver
Offensive Tackle

If it happens that Will Shipley (#20 overall) commits to Notre Dame you could surely convince me that he’s the only running back needed following up Chris Tyree last year. However, just to be safe–and with lots of uncertainty at this position in general–I’m leaning heavily towards two backs for 2021.

You always want a lot of defensive linemen, although there’s probably room for only one more on the interior to join Gabriel Rubio.

The loss of Colzie stings badly although Lorenzo Styles remains a cornerstone for the skill-position players in this class. My guess is after 2020 there’s going to be quite a shakeup at receiver (as many as 5 could be gone if there’s early graduation options available) and at least 2 more bodies should join Styles.

Offensive tackle seems fine, honestly. Eventually, a couple guys who are projected to tackle will move inside but for now there are 5 tackles for the 2019-21 cycles. Adding another one for 2021 isn’t a big deal either way.

Need Talent

Offensive Guard
Defensive End
Linebacker
Corner
Safety

Even with the recent verbal of Pat Coogan the interior offensive linemen depth chart doesn’t look great. There were no players added from last year and just 2 the prior year. This spring would’ve been a big one for a few players to see if they are potential starters down the road but now we don’t know.

At least one more defensive end is needed, hopefully of the pass-rushing variety.

As of this writing it has been 519 days since Notre Dame received a verbal commitment from a linebacker. It’s difficult to criticize the job Clark Lea has done in any facet since taking over but he still has so much work to do adding talent and depth to his linebacker corps.

In that one spring practice, true freshman Ramon Henderson was with the corners which means there are no safeties from the 2020 class. At least a couple corners for 2021 is a good idea while I’d focus on 2 more safeties to join Walters. The defensive backfield as a whole feels really shaky and whenever that’s reality it’s a good idea to throw numbers at it.