Welcome back to our tri-monthly scholarships and roster update for Notre Dame football. This is the first post on the topic since the beginning of the football season but more importantly it’s the first since a 2-5 record has been posted and serious thoughts are considering the future of the current coaching staff.
Believe it or not we’re just 15 weeks away from National Signing Day. It’s coming in a hurry!
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, CB Devin Butler*
During our last update we had to remove WR Corey Robinson from this list as he opted for retirement prior to his senior season. Now, safety Max Redfield has been removed as he was booted off the football team back in August and recently dismissed from the University, as well.
On the recent news front, Devin Butler has accepted a plea deal for his shenanigans outside the Linebacker bar in August and has stated he’ll be re-instated to the football team. With 5 games left to play in 2016, and a foot injury still lingering, you would think the more appropriate route would be to sit Butler out for the remainder of the season to preserve his eligibility. In that case, I’ll also place him down below in the graduate section just in case.
2017-18 Academic Classes
18 Verbal Commits
23 Sophomores
21 Juniors
19 Seniors
10 Grad Students
91 Total Scholarships
Including the possibility of Butler returning along with 2017 commits of Donovan Jeter , Michael Young, and last night’s Elijah Hicks we have a few more bodies to consider for the future. Also, per Notre Dame Law the rising senior class needed to get down below 20 bodies and that came in the form of Grant Blankenship’s transfer before the season.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW FULL SCHOLARSHIP CHART
Update: Jeter just decommitted in the middle of this writing, the numbers have been updated. Aaaand the Irish picked up Elijah Hicks late last night, as well.
The Irish added a pair of 2018 linebacker commits (Bauer & Oghoufo) since our last update but of course we’re not considering their numbers yet for next fall’s scholarship count.
List of Eligible 2017 Grad Students
Tier 1
OL Mike McGlinchey
WR Torii Hunter
OL Colin McGovern
RB Tarean Folston
OL Hunter Bivin
TE Durham Smythe
Tier 2
QB Malik Zaire
CB Devin Butler
Tier 3
TE Jacob Matuska
OT John Montelus
This is an unusual year in that these graduate players rarely shuffle around between tiers during the middle of a season. Since the end of summer we’ve seen some drastic changes led by the (Stanford game notwithstanding) clear backup role taken by Malik Zaire who now drops down to Tier 2 here. There’s still a chance Kizer leaves for the NFL and Zaire comes back to win the job but all indications to this date are that he will transfer for his final year of eligibility. A third straight quarterback competition–paired with his 2016 production–probably isn’t something Zaire wants to deal with anymore.
McGlinchey has stated he’ll return for 2017 and while that’s awesome news it exacerbates a numbers crunch on the line. If McGovern and Bivin also return Notre Dame will carry 15 O-linemen and that’s without any further additions to the current recruiting class. However, the return of either McGovern or Bivin could be fascinating. McGovern has been injured quite a bit throughout his career and due to that has conceded considerable snaps at right guard to Bivin. The informal rule here is that if you’re getting starter snaps you’re automatically coming back. Still, I have a feeling one of the two won’t be on the roster next year.
We always expect 5th-year running back candidates to bolt for the pros and I guess things haven’t really changed much for Folston. The return of Smythe is likely, although one could make the case his snaps will be cut significantly next year with the return of Alize Jones and a change of scenery would be beneficial for a career that’s weirdly been stuck in neutral for a starter.
Using a number of 6 returning grad students that leaves the Irish 2 over the 85-man limit within the current scholarship framework presented here. Since the program has had some problems closing with big numbers I wouldn’t expect more than 21 commits when this class signs in February.
***
^2018 commits are included below, for reference. All eligibility displayed is for the current 2016 season.
QUARTERBACK
Roster (4): Kizer r-SO, Zaire, r-JR, Wimbush r-FR, Book FR
Commits (1): Davis
The NFL love-fest for Kizer has quieted down a little bit over the last month but we’re a long way away from learning his decision. A lot can happen between now and then. It’s kind of interesting to think we’d be a small injury to Wimbush away from a 5-11 white kid in Ian Book leading a bunch of returning starters next year.
RUNNING BACK
Roster (5): Adams SO, Folston r-JR, Williams SO, Brent r-SO, Jones FR
Commits (2): Holmes [2017], Stepp [2018]
We’ve moved McIntosh out of the backfield since he’s been practicing with the receivers this year and is probably too small to ever make an impact at tailback. Justin Brent feels like the oldest third-year player in Notre Dame history, at this point. I was ready to claim he could transfer after graduating but he’s still only an academic junior!
WIDE RECEIVER
Roster (9): Hunter r-JR, St. Brown SO, Holmes r-SO, Sanders SO, Boykin r-FR, Stepherson FR, McKinley FR, Claypool FR, McIntosh FR
Commits (2): Pouncey [2017], Young [2017]
You have to like the potential and depth here moving forward. Everyone should be back next year, too.
TIGHT END
Roster (5): Smythe r-JR, Jones r-SO, Weishar r-SO, Luatua JR, Matuksa r-JR
Commits (2): Wright [2017], Kmet [2017]
Skip a recruiting cycle and still end up with 6 tight ends the next year!
OFFENSIVE TACKLES
Roster (6): McGlinchey r-JR, Bars SO, Bivin r-JR, Montelus r-JR, Kraemer FR, Eichenberg FR
Commits (1): Lugg [2017]
The Glinch returning really stabilizes this position where only Montelus (a journeyman 3rd-stringer now) is unlikely to return. It’ll be tough to get on the field early for some highly touted recruits.
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]
Harrell is the only one losing eligibility so unless Quenton Nelson leaves early for the NFL there will be a full three-deep of interior players in 2017.
STRONG-SIDE DEFENSIVE END
Roster (5): Rochell SR, Bonner r-SO, J. Hayes r-SO, Kareem FR, Ogundeji FR
Commits (1): MacCollister [2017]
I should note that Jay Hayes is technically not at this position but with the loss of Rochell and a new defensive coordinator coming in I see no where else for him to play.
WEAK-SIDE DEFENSIVE END
Roster (3): Trumbetti JR, D. Hayes FR, Okwara FR
Commits (0)
The Daelin Hayes freshman campaign hasn’t yielded many results. Now, Trumbetti is entering that territory where no one expects him to turn it on as a senior. This position group just isn’t working. Has a major college team ever gone an entire season without getting a sack from it’s weak-side rush position?
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]
Last year only Day and Tillery played. This year it’s only been Tillery. There was some positive vibes around Dew-Treadway prior to his foot injury but the two 2017 commits have to be licking their chops at available playing time next fall.
NOSE GUARD
Roster (3): Jones r-SR, Cage JR, Mokwuah r-SO
Commits (0)
If you’re debating whether adopting more 3-4 looks in the future is a good idea (I’m open to the suggestion, myself) the outlook for the big dogs inside for next fall isn’t great. A couple guys will have to bulk up this off-season, no doubt.
STRONG-SIDE LINEBACKER
Roster (2): Onwualu SR, Jam. Jones FR
Commits (1): Werner [2017], Oghoufo [2018]
If you’re wondering I haven’t put a ton of thought into where the linebacker recruits will be playing. They are dished out mostly to keep the roster looking balanced. Replacing coach-favorite Onwualu could be really interesting during the off-season and lead to a new era at the position, particularly with a new coordinator.
MIDDLE LINEBACKER
Roster (4): Morgan JR, Martini JR, Barajas r-FR, Jon. Jones FR
Commits (2): Adams [2017], Ju. Ademilola [2018]
Johnathan Jones was pushing Barajas in fall camp a couple months ago, so keep an eye out on that especially if Martini moves full-time somewhere else.
WEAK-SIDE LINEBACKER
Roster (2): Coney SO, Bilal r-FR
Commits (2): White [2017], Bauer [2018]
Some depth here will be welcomed next year. However, Coney and Bilal have started a 80/20 playing time system that seems to be working well and getting both a lot of much-needed experience.
CORNERBACK
Roster (9): Luke SR, Butler r-JR, Watkins r-JR, Coleman SO, Crawford r-FR, White r-FR, Pride FR, Love FR, Vaughn FR
Commits (2): Adebo [2017], Hicks [2017]
You can see why Butler might want to play elsewhere next year. With all three freshmen getting experience he might not anything more than the 6th corner.
SAFETY
Roster (7): Sebastian r-SR, Tranquill r-SO, Fertitta SO, Studstill FR, Perry FR, Elliott FR, Morgan FR
Commits (1): Roberston [2017]
This continues to be the weakest position on the entire team.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Roster (4): Daly r-SR, Newsome r-SO, Yoon SO, Shannon FR
Commits (0)
No special teams players are currently being targeted this cycle.
***
Remaining Focus for 2017
A funny thing is that with the turmoil surrounding the program not too much has spilled over into recruiting although I have to chuckle that Jeter left the class yesterday just as I’m putting this together. By the way, two thumbs up to the people out there claiming there will be more decommits coming in the future. Way to be bold and put it out there right now!
Safety, weak-side defensive end, and nose guard are the only positions I feel need more work to close this class. From a perspective of depth the entire offense is in might fine shape, though. For a new defensive coordinator there will be a window of opportunity for 7 or 8 weeks to finish with a few targeted prospects. That assumes Notre Dame won’t drag its feet on a hiring well into the New Year which we can’t rule out just yet.
As mentally switching player positions is one of my favorite things to do (thank you NCAA video games), my pick is Martini. And here is my bold suggestions. A move to… WDE! He is already 240, pack 10 pounds on him and let him loose off the edge.
If we’re throwing around position switches, I vote Butler to Safety. He’s probably buried at CB now, but I doubt he could be worse than what we’ve seen at safety this year (not to mention the lack of experienced depth). And his CB prospects for the NFL are likely nonexistent now. I think it would be easy to convince him that a switch to safety would be best for both him and the team.
That was my hope like 2 years ago, whenever we were supposed to have Riggs/Luke/KVR, but then we didn’t have KVR and needed Butler. Then it was my hope last year, when we were supposed to have KVR/Luke/Watkins/Crawford, but then we didn’t have Crawford. Then it was my hope last spring, but we didn’t have any bodies, and then this fall he has been injured.
It seems like a much easier path to the field for him, but with at most one off season training there, who knows how effective he would be (although won’t be much less than the others back there).
Assuming no major attrition in the recruiting class, it seems like *this might be the year* that we finally have the numbers such that we get to engage in a little bit of SEC-style “well, maybe you should transfer elsewhere” depth chart management. Hooray!*
*I know, I know, we’ve thought that would be the case before and it never happens.
I remain skeptical about this year’s recruiting clas remaining intact. If we continue to find progressively creative ways to lose, I would expect recruits confidence in the program to be shaken. I know if I was gifted enough to have schools begging me to attend them (Why would I want to experience a 2-5 season, and how would grinding through a 2-5 season help my development as a player vs playing on a 7-0 team?) I would start to consider looking around elsewhere.
I hope I’m wrong. I think Kelly keeping this class together, should be a huge consideration in keeping BK on as headcoach.
Over/under on the total kids who will leave?
Also, keeping a class together is a bad reason to keep a coach. It’s pretty far down the list of priorities.
If you told me the over/under was 2.5 including Jeter, I think I’d take the over.
Yeah, I overstated it a bit. I think it is a factor though, and especially for ND, it is a very compelling factor. I think BK has recruited better than any other coach after Holtz. It’s definitely easier to win with great players than it is with average players. Clearly, this year alone shows us that a good roster doesn’t guarantee success, but it has to help.