Who's Next? - 2026 Edition

[IrishWayDomer]

I have no idea at this point, nothing would surprise me. Arch Manning?

 

[arndtjc]

Shopping down a different aisle Marcus Freeman edition

 

[Rocketman84]

I have no idea at this point, nothing would surprise me. Arch Manning?

Will never get that lucky, but nice to imagine.

 

[NDFAN2008]

What gets me excited is who do we flip down the stretch once we have our class wrapped up. I'm guessing we finish with Finley, Fitz, Robinson, Reddish, and then Golden. Then let Freeman go big game hunting. Maybe they try to get another QB? Maybe another big name WR or DT?

 

[LifelongFan]

Wrap up Golden, Finley, Fitz, and Robinson and then work on flipping the defensive lineman from USC. Keep eyes out for any highly rated guys who might waver, but wow what a recruiting class. This is rated similarly to 2013 but it feels a lot better.

 

[GreenGemsOmally]

What gets me excited is who do we flip down the stretch once we have our class wrapped up. I'm guessing we finish with Finley, Fitz, Robinson, Reddish, and then Golden. Then let Freeman go big game hunting. Maybe they try to get another QB? Maybe another big name WR or DT?

I don't think they'll target another QB for 2026. 4* Noah Grubbs has been in the class since the very beginning and he's a pretty active recruiter on social media and at visits. He's not great, I think they were hoping he'd see more growth (both physically and skills wise) when they first got him, but my guess is they're probably thinking go for a big QB splash in 2027 instead of trying to bump him out of the class. It would look dirty AF if they did that and that's contrary to the image I think Freeman wants to showcase. He wants to walk into a home and tell Mom that "I will be there to take care of your son", not look like the mercenary who will replace you at the drop of a hat.

 

[Katzenboyer]

I don't think they'll target another QB for 2026. 4* Noah Grubbs has been in the class since the very beginning and he's a pretty active recruiter on social media and at visits. He's not great, I think they were hoping he'd see more growth (both physically and skills wise) when they first got him, but my guess is they're probably thinking go for a big QB splash in 2027 instead of trying to bump him out of the class. It would look dirty AF if they did that and that's contrary to the image I think Freeman wants to showcase. He wants to walk into a home and tell Mom that "I will be there to take care of your son", not look like the mercenary who will replace you at the drop of a hat.

They're currently evaluating recruits and I believe have asked a few to camp. There's evidence that they could, in fact, target another QB in this class (and if they do, my belief is it would be their way of processing Grubbs). Grubbs needs to show something this season, or I could see the Irish going in another direction.

As for your last point - ND has done this several times under Freeman, including with Daniel Anderson last year. It's the reality of college football and Freeman knows that.

 

[OrlaNDomer]

Even if Grubbs doesn't turn out to be a super star, ND (and every program) needs a back-up and 3rd string QB. Stating the obvious, but only one guy can start and I think we all hope that guy will be Carr the next 3 years. We really just need to have a couple guys to compete for the backup roll for 2025-2027 that can hopefully be ready to takeover once CJ is gone.

 

[Padomer9]

Do some digging to see who’s still interested in ND or fielding interest in flipping. If not, hit the ground running on ‘27 kids.

 

[NDPhilly]

👀

 

[arrowryan]

Golden?

 

[Cpnd1]

It is Robinson and how he put in a prediction yesterday

 

[FireJeffQuinn]

Even if Grubbs doesn't turn out to be a super star, ND (and every program) needs a back-up and 3rd string QB. Stating the obvious, but only one guy can start and I think we all hope that guy will be Carr the next 3 years. We really just need to have a couple guys to compete for the backup roll for 2025-2027 that can hopefully be ready to takeover once CJ is gone.

Disagree--this was basically BK's QB recruiting philosophy. The problem is that not every highly rated prospect pans out (e.g., Wimbush, Jurkovec, Buchner), and the starting QB can always get injured. Better to have multiple highly rated guys in waiting. Granted, Grubs isn't Drew Pyne.

 

[greyhammer90]

It is crazy to think we could be done with 2026 in July and it's not just wishful thinking. Normally when we say that its April and its all just smoke and hype. I'm looking at the next four weeks of scheduled commitments and thinking "Alright that pretty much does it."

 

[NDFAN2008]

The problem with keeping Grubbs if he struggles is we will be lucky to have Carr for more than 2 years he could turn pro and I doubt Minchey sticks around. So in 2027 you will have Herbert, Grubbs, you will have to go portalling again. Who knows maybe Herbert turns into something.

 

[NDMIA]

If we add

Kaydon Finley (7/4)
Devin Fitzgerald (7/5)
Brayden Robinson (7/6)
Nick Reddish (7/11)
Elijah Golden (TBD)

That’ll get us to 290.59 on 247. That would rank us in previous classes

2025 - #7
2024 - #5
2023 - #4
2022 - #5
2021 - #6
2020 - #6
2019 - #3

The 2013 Notre Dame class was 284.77 and in the last 20 recruiting cycles it would be the second best class on paper to only the 2008 class that was a 295.57 and ranked #2 overall. Pretty amazing stuff from MF.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

If we add

Kaydon Finley (7/4)
Devin Fitzgerald (7/5)
Brayden Robinson (7/6)
Nick Reddish (7/11)
Elijah Golden (TBD)

That’ll get us to 290.59 on 247. That would rank us in previous classes

2025 - #7
2024 - #5
2023 - #4
2022 - #5
2021 - #6
2020 - #6
2019 - #3

The 2013 Notre Dame class was 284.77 and in the last 20 recruiting cycles it would be the second best class on paper to only the 2008 class that was a 295.57 and ranked #2 overall. Pretty amazing stuff from MF.

If the recruiting services bump up the guys they should (they won't) the numbers could get more silly.

 

[AvesEvo]

If we add

Kaydon Finley (7/4)
Devin Fitzgerald (7/5)
Brayden Robinson (7/6)
Nick Reddish (7/11)
Elijah Golden (TBD)

That’ll get us to 290.59 on 247. That would rank us in previous classes

2025 - #7
2024 - #5
2023 - #4
2022 - #5
2021 - #6
2020 - #6
2019 - #3

The 2013 Notre Dame class was 284.77 and in the last 20 recruiting cycles it would be the second best class on paper to only the 2008 class that was a 295.57 and ranked #2 overall. Pretty amazing stuff from MF.

Won't class scores be the highest they have ever been this year with the 105 scholarship limit?

 

[Irish8248]

This feels like the most complete class and the most talented. I don't get how this averages at 5 traditionally. Baffled I tell you!

 

[NDpendent]

Won't class scores be the highest they have ever been this year with the 105 scholarship limit?

Unlikely to have much impact. After around 25 commits the numbers do not change much on 247 and on On3 at all unless its a 5 star add

 

[AvesEvo]

Unlikely to have much impact. After around 25 commits the numbers do not change much on 247 and on On3 at all unless its a 5 star add

I appreciate the info

 

[Irish du Nord]

If we add

Kaydon Finley (7/4)
Devin Fitzgerald (7/5)
Brayden Robinson (7/6)
Nick Reddish (7/11)
Elijah Golden (TBD)

That’ll get us to 290.59 on 247. That would rank us in previous classes

2025 - #7
2024 - #5
2023 - #4
2022 - #5
2021 - #6
2020 - #6
2019 - #3

The 2013 Notre Dame class was 284.77 and in the last 20 recruiting cycles it would be the second best class on paper to only the 2008 class that was a 295.57 and ranked #2 overall. Pretty amazing stuff from MF.

Not to mention some likely risers in the lower half of the class (Fryzel, Chas Smith, McKeogh, Ewetade).

 

[notredomer23]

If we add

Kaydon Finley (7/4)
Devin Fitzgerald (7/5)
Brayden Robinson (7/6)
Nick Reddish (7/11)
Elijah Golden (TBD)

That’ll get us to 290.59 on 247. That would rank us in previous classes

2025 - #7
2024 - #5
2023 - #4
2022 - #5
2021 - #6
2020 - #6
2019 - #3

The 2013 Notre Dame class was 284.77 and in the last 20 recruiting cycles it would be the second best class on paper to only the 2008 class that was a 295.57 and ranked #2 overall. Pretty amazing stuff from MF.

I think ND is going to see a sizable bump actually in our ratings once Rivals goes away July 1st as they have a few outliers preventing our guys from being 5 stars:

Premer is 123 on Rivals (compared to his on3 ranking of 24)
Dunham is 107 on Rivals (compared to his on3 ranking of 7)
O'Brien is 136 on Rivals (compared to his on3 ranking of 99)
Adams is 246 on Rivals (compared to his on3 ranking of 30)

All that to say- ND is going to have 3 consensus 5 stars come July 1st, possibly 4 with O'Brien. They give extra points for 5 stars so I think ND may be around that 295 mark by the time they finish adding their July guys.

 

[OrlaNDomer]

Disagree--this was basically BK's QB recruiting philosophy. The problem is that not every highly rated prospect pans out (e.g., Wimbush, Jurkovec, Buchner), and the starting QB can always get injured. Better to have multiple highly rated guys in waiting. Granted, Grubs isn't Drew Pyne.

The problem with having top guys every year is that they aren't sticking around if they don't win the job. Grubbs is a higher rated prospect than Ian Book was too. I don't think in the current landscape of CFB we need to worry about a starting QB. ND should be able to get a top transfer any year we need one. Having a backup that can be serviceable is more my concern.

 

[OrlaNDomer]

I think ND is going to see a sizable bump actually in our ratings once Rivals goes away July 1st as they have a few outliers preventing our guys from being 5 stars:

Premer is 123 on Rivals (compared to his on3 ranking of 24)
Dunham is 107 on Rivals (compared to his on3 ranking of 7)
O'Brien is 136 on Rivals (compared to his on3 ranking of 99)
Adams is 246 on Rivals (compared to his on3 ranking of 30)

All that to say- ND is going to have 3 consensus 5 stars come July 1st, possibly 4 with O'Brien. They give extra points for 5 stars so I think ND may be around that 295 mark by the time they finish adding their July guys.

I looked yesterday and something like 6 of our top 8 guys have their HIGHEST (worst) rating from Rivals compared to ESPN, On3, and 247. So yeah...top guys definitely should get a bump. Surprisingly though some of the middle/bottom guys in our class actually have their lowest (best) rating on Rivals.

 

[NDpendent]

I looked yesterday and something like 6 of our top 8 guys have their HIGHEST (worst) rating from Rivals compared to ESPN, On3, and 247. So yeah...top guys definitely should get a bump. Surprisingly though some of the middle/bottom guys in our class actually have their lowest (best) rating on Rivals.

We really haven't lost many impact players in a minute. Almost all our losses to the portal have been either depth pieces or guys completely buried in the chart

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Who GAF about final rankings if this is how Freeman & Co are going to recruit? We could be anywhere in the top 10 and we'll all be very happy because this kind of recruiting is bringing in very high level athletes where the average player rating is above 92. That is ELITE. If successive classes stay within this realm, this team will be absolutely loaded.

Not to mention, with Freeman having this kind of success/institutional backing, it's more likely he feels valued and stays with us for many more years. ND isn't making unfulfilled promises, they are delivering in spades. Freeman and ND are elevating together. Waited over two decades for this level of optimism. ****


**** I still have to beat back my fear that something terrible will reset the trajectory. Battered-fan syndrome and all of that.

 

[NDMatt91]

I looked yesterday and something like 6 of our top 8 guys have their HIGHEST (worst) rating from Rivals compared to ESPN, On3, and 247. So yeah...top guys definitely should get a bump. Surprisingly though some of the middle/bottom guys in our class actually have their lowest (best) rating on Rivals.

Based on the 247 composite, when Rivals goes away:

Adams and Pouncey will go way up
Dunham, Premer, O'Brien, Walton, Patrick, and Frazier will get a decent bump
Ewetade, Osborne, Merrill, Davis Jr., Garvin, and Fryzel will see little to no change in one direction or another
Grubbs, McKeough, Clapper, and maybe Faison (high 3* - 5.7 on Rivals) will go down a bit
Nichols, Smith, and Hola will have a big drop
Thom is TBD

 

[Sea Turtle]

The problem with keeping Grubbs if he struggles is we will be lucky to have Carr for more than 2 years he could turn pro and I doubt Minchey sticks around. So in 2027 you will have Herbert, Grubbs, you will have to go portalling again. Who knows maybe Herbert turns into something.

Hebert was a 5 star before a got injured and missed time. Anyone know how he looks so far?

 

[Rocketman84]

It is crazy to think we could be done with 2026 in July and it's not just wishful thinking. Normally when we say that its April and its all just smoke and hype. I'm looking at the next four weeks of scheduled commitments and thinking "Alright that pretty much does it."

Definitely 98% done by July barring any unforseen decommits.