It’s been 4 months since our last scholarship update as the summer recruiting world for Notre Dame slowed down tremendously once July arrived. As such, not a ton has changed for the Irish and their scholarship numbers although there is always plenty to talk about as we are a couple months away from the early Signing Day period.

Let’s begin.

Out of Eligibility Following 2019

WR Chris Finke
WR Chase Claypool
OL Trevor Ruhland
DE Julian Okwara
DE Khalid Kareem
DE Jamir Jones
DE Daelin Hayes
LB Asmar Bilal
CB Donte Vaughn
CB Troy Pride
S Jalen Elliott

The big news here is the shoulder injury to senior Daelin Hayes who has already announced he will return for a fifth year in 2020. The program was attempting to get a 4-game maximum redshirt out of Jamir Jones but that plan has been scrapped with the Hayes injury, especially with Jones picking up 3 sacks so far this season.

2020-21 Academic Classes

17 Verbal Commits
22 Sophomores
24 Juniors
17 Seniors
10 Graduates
90 Total Scholarships

Something I will keep doing is comparing these numbers to the previous year. This time last October we ran an update where the projected scholarships were sitting at 92 overall with the 2019 verbals including 19 players. Notre Dame would go on to sign 22 players in last year’s class, so is there room for a handful more bodies in the 2020 class?

Maybe! Keep reading below for a thorough answer.

Since the early summer only two players have been removed from the roster, including 2018 safety Derrik Allen who transferred to Georgia Tech and 2017 defensive tackle Darnell Ewell who medically retired. Four new commits from 2020 have since been brought into the fold prior to the football season beginning:

WR Xavier Watts
WR Jay Brunelle
CB Caleb Offord
CB Landon Bartleson

After a hot start, it hasn’t been a great finish to date as all four recruits are 3-stars and 4 out of the lowest 7 rated players in the 2020 class.

List of Eligible 2020 Grad Students

Tier I

QB Ian Book
S Alohi Gilman
OL Liam Eichenberg
OL Tommy Kraemer
DE Ade Ogundeji
RB Tony Jones
DE Daelin Hayes

Tier II

CB Shawn Crawford
WR Javon McKinley
LS John Shannon

Tier III

LB Jonathan Jones

For reference, last year we had 8 eligible grad students and only 4 of them (Finke, Ruhland, Bilal, Crawford) came back.

Until we hear otherwise we will believe the scuttlebutt on campus that both Ian Book and Alohi Gilman are highly interested in testing the NFL waters, come what may of those wishes. If that happens, you can see a situation develop where only 5 out of the the 10 above (Shaun Crawford has already stated he will not return for a 6th season for which he is eligible) return to South Bend.

***CLICK HERE FOR THE CURRENT DEPTH CHART***

A few games ago, Tony Jones looked like he was clearly a tier II candidate but now I don’t see a way he moves on. We’ve seen Javon McKinley go from completely off the radar to a backup seeing the field a little bit–is that enough for him to stick around with new blood coming in next year? Additionally, Notre Dame is carrying 2 long-snappers for 2019 will they do that again for 2020?

All signs point to Jonathan Jones–relegated to the back end of a deep middle linebacker depth chart as the second oldest player at the position–moving on after this season. The only other person who could leave the roster it seems is junior tight end Cole Kmet if there’s enough NFL interest. Right now, he’s probably a 4th round pick at best and with his baseball career he’s likely to return for his senior season.

So, how much room for 2020?

It may not matter, really! Odds are heavily in favor of Notre Dame adding Ohio State transfer Isaiah Pryor who entered The Portal™ recently and visited for the USC game. He has two years of eligibility remaining–and if Gilman does not return–would be a much-needed 5th safety on the roster for 2020.

If the program lands Pryor that softens the blow a bit of no safeties committed for the current cycle. Only 3 out of the top 33 safeties in the ’20 class are uncommitted at the moment so unless there’s a flip late in the game Notre Dame is likely looking at taking a flyer on a developmental prospect or two or standing pat with the crew they have right now.

2020 ROSTER

POSITION – PLAYERS – TOTAL ELIGIBILITY 

QUARTERBACK – 4 – 12
+ Tyler Buchner 2021
RUNNING BACK – 7 – 19
WIDE RECEIVER – 12 – 35
+ Deion Colzie & Lorenzo Styles 2021
TIGHT END – 6 – 16
+Cane Berrong 2021
OFFENSIVE TACKLE – 8 – 23
+ Blake Fisher 2021
CENTER – 2 – 7
OFFENSIVE GUARD – 5 – 12
+Greg Crippen 2021*

DEFENSIVE END – 9 – 26
DEFENSIVE TACKLE – 9 – 27
+Gabriel Rubio 2021
MIKE LINEBACKER – 6 – 17
BUCK LINEBACKER – 3 – 8
ROVER – 3 – 8
CORNERBACK – 7 – 26
SAFETY – 5 – 13

KICKER – 1 – 1
PUNTER – 1 – 3
LONG SNAPPER – 2 – 5

***CLICK HERE FOR THE CURRENT SCHOLARSHIP CHART***

The first thing that jumps out is the projected 2020 depth on offense is really good…a little too good in fact. Right now for 2019, the Irish have 38 scholarships on offense and this is projecting 6 more bodies a year from now. Obviously, that number is likely to go down. Here are some thoughts:

*Book doesn’t return at quarterback, already mentioned above.

*Seven players at running back isn’t tenable, especially if you’re betting on incoming freshman Chris Tyree being in the rotation from day one. At minimum, you’d have to move Avery Davis back to corner or at least to slot receiver.

*Receiver is probably fine as Notre Dame is losing two starters (Claypool/Finke), McKinley might not return, and even if you move Davis to a slot role there’s always a chance of further roster attrition. For example, the situation with Kevin Austin cannot be described as firm. There’s also a couple other players who are not close to playing and becoming upperclassmen–a graduating in 3 years situation could apply.

*Six tight ends is probably too many, although as mentioned Kmet may leave early and even if he doesn’t you’re losing both him and Wright after 2020 anyway. I would imagine George Takacs will have some soul-searching to do after this season because he may be 5th or 6th on the depth chart as a redshirt sophomore.

*Notre Dame traditionally will stick with 13 players on the offensive line. It’s 14 right not but all indications were that the program was ready to deal with a medical retirement issue with 5th-year Trevor Ruhland. Going into 2020, having 15 players on the offensive line is a bit high. However, this position traditionally doesn’t see many transfers and they will be losing 3 starters (Eichenberg, Kraemer, Hainsey) after 2020 so they may want to carry extra scholarship or two for development.

Things look really well put together in the defensive front seven. The only issue there is sorting out a little further who is really a Mike vs. Buck linebacker and balancing things out there more.

Corner is worrisome as Troy Pride, Shaun Crawford, and Donte Vaughn are all walking out the door soon. Yet, there are enough bodies for 2020 it’s just mostly everyone is young and unproven. Maybe you want to take a fourth corner for 2020 because one of those players is likely forcing their way on to the field next fall.

Safety is just as worrisome, although the presence of Kyle Hamilton soothes a variety of concerns. The team could really, really use Gilman coming back to allow someone like Houston Griffith the time to develop into a starter instead of the pressure of having to be The Guy next to Hamilton for 2020.

Literally no one cared about this as few as 2 months ago but having Jonathan Doerer for only one more season after 2019 feels wrong. I had to go back and double check that he was a part-time kickoff specialist for 2017 and now we’d really like to get that year back. Of course, preferred walk-on Harrison Leonard is in the pipeline and will have 3 years after Doerer leaves. Still, the scouting for a new scholarship kicker is likely going to happen sooner rather than later.