2023 - State of the Recruiting Class

[Huntr]

Can see over the OL.

Do not want.

 

[NDFAN2008]

Can see over the OL.

Do not want.

Kid is dual threat would be a nice get

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

So we are back to the only pursuing one QB recruit at a time strategy?

Worked well so far... why change.

Yep, at this point if someone that has skill and is interested we need sign em up.

 

[Mavericknyc1980]

Can see over the OL.

Do not want.

What are we waiting for?

 

[NDdomer2]

So we are back to the only pursuing one QB recruit at a time strategy?

Worked well so far... why change.

its possible we have been reaching out to many with only few reciprocating interested or elgibile.

To assume its one at a time would be foolish imo

 

[Dale]

So we are back to the only pursuing one QB recruit at a time strategy?

Worked well so far... why change.

The only time this entire cycle we’ve recruited only one QB is when they thought they had Moore committed. Not sure what from this Chiles nugget implies there is only one target

 

[NDpendent]

Ryan Roberts said on the podcast yesterday that the staff is considering taking 27 in the class, and take all three of Smith, Barnes and Hillman. All three would be a for sure take if they get a decommitment. He said the 27 would include a QB and probably not an edge unless one of the previous offers shows interest, they aren't expanding the board there.

 

[Southside Sully]

Who's out?!

 

[notredomer23]

Who's out?!

Lyons. “Mutual” parting of ways.

 

[Southside Sully]

Lyons. “Mutual” parting of ways.

No room at the inn?

 

[CanadalovesND]

No room at the inn?

Lyons wants to play out the process, and ND doesn't want to wait on him.

 

[Dale]

 

[notredomer23]

Loy indicating the BC visit list should be pretty good and it will include a ‘23 QB. Also possibly Rico Walker, a 4 star edge who just decommitted from UNC

 

[GATTACA!]

Loy indicating the BC visit list should be pretty good and it will include a ‘23 QB. Also possibly Rico Walker, a 4 star edge who just decommitted from UNC

Gotta be Dante right?

 

[irishff1014]

Loy indicating the BC visit list should be pretty good and it will include a ‘23 QB. Also possibly Rico Walker, a 4 star edge who just decommitted from UNC

Good offer list.

 

[TorontoGold]

Gotta be Dante right?

Malik Henry

 

[NewBrunswickIrish]

Loy indicating the BC visit list should be pretty good and it will include a ‘23 QB. Also possibly Rico Walker, a 4 star edge who just decommitted from UNC

Assuming the QB is committed elsewhere, is it another under the radar type visit or will we actually find out who it is soon?

 

[notredomer23]

Assuming the QB is committed elsewhere, is it another under the radar type visit or will we actually find out who it is soon?

Duncan or Chiles would be my guess. Sounds like later in the week he’ll fill us in

 

[stlnd01]

Rico Walker looks impressive.

 

[calvegas04]

Gotta be Dante right?

Hope not, kid is a clown

 

[Mavericknyc1980]

Gotta hope we come out strong against BC

 

[jprue24]

Add Minchey and don't lose Bowen = Best recruiting class since Holtz?

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

01. QB Kenny Minchey
02. RB Jayden Limar
03. RB Dylan Edwards
04. RB Jeremiyah Love
05. WR Braylon James
06. WR Rico Flores
07. WR Jaden Greathouse
08. WR Kaleb Smith
09. TE Cooper Flanagan
10. OL Sam Pendleton
11. OL Sullivan Absher
12. OL Joe Otting
13. OL Charles Jagusah
14. OL Christopher Terek
15. DT Devan Houstan
16. DE Brenan Vernon
17. DE Boubacar Traore
18. DE Armel Mukam
19. LB Drayk Bowen
20. LB Preston Zinter
21. LB Jaiden Ausberry
22. CB Micah Bell
23. CB Christian Gray
24. DB Khalil Barnes
25. S Adon Shuler
26. S Peyton Bowen
27. S Ben Minich
28. S Brandyn Hillman

*Minchey sounds like it will happen. Carr stays in the 2024 class and will likely be the lead scholastic recruiter there.

*My assumption is the Lyons ship set sail. All in on Smith at WR for the fourth man in this class. Onto 2024 and get four more there.

*Wisconsin is 3-2 since Chryst was fired and are 5-5 overall. Keep working Terek and convince him he can be all he can be under HH.

*Take Barnes and Hillman both. It isn't even a question.

*The Rico Walker situation is rather interesting. Would they make room for an additional spot or does it mean they can only take Barnes or Hillman and not both?

 

[Irishdrunk]

I wonder if they add Minchey and Keeley if the numbers = #1 class? Perhaps not, but it would certainly be a Top 3 of all time (Modern era) at ND

 

[Free Manera]

I wonder if they add Minchey and Keeley if the numbers = #1 class? Perhaps not, but it would certainly be a Top 3 of all time (Modern era) at ND

This calculator on 247 is pretty cool if you want to run the scenarios: 2023 Notre Dame Football Class Calculator

But long story short:

1. The class is currently 289.25 points, with a 92.89 average recruit rank.

2. Minchey won't make much difference in class ranking. He is a .91 which puts him in the bottom third of this class and he would only bump the total points up from 289 to 290. Top classes are in the 300s. Bama is currently at 310 and they will add more 4 and 5 stars.

3. The '23 class is already better than any class Brian Kelly ever signed, now it's just a matter of by how much. Kelly's best class was 2013. It was the #5 class with a total of 284.77 and an average of 92.3. Also, this class ranking has a huge asterisk - it was bolstered by Eddie Vanderdoes (a 5 star) who never even enrolled in ND.

4. In the post-Holtz era, the only class that comes close is Weis's 2008 class (Floyd, Rudolph, Crist). However that was before 247 did these composite rankings so it's hard to do an apples to apples comparison.

Anyway, the big takeaway is this will be the best class at least since Weis, and '24 will probably be even better.

 

[IRISHMAN]

i'd rather move micah bell to wr than bring in kaleb smith, then try to land another CB. ND needs bell's speed on offense.

 

[Luckylucci]

i'd rather move micah bell to wr than bring in kaleb smith, then try to land another CB. ND needs bell's speed on offense.

This is how you end up with guys like Braden Lenzy playing WR.

Bell is a DB. And, we'll be just fine with the speed Smith, Edwards, Love, etc provide this offense.

 

[Dale]

i'd rather move micah bell to wr than bring in kaleb smith, then try to land another CB. ND needs bell's speed on offense.

ND needs to increase the overall speed and athleticism in the secondary just as much as on the offense

Gray and Bell : Love and Edwards

Not to mention Bowen, Minich, James and Smith if added

 

[luckofirish8]

i'd rather move micah bell to wr than bring in kaleb smith, then try to land another CB.

Elite level CB is a close second to QB play. The Irish definitely need WR depth, but Bell and Gray at CB is by far the best combo ND has been able to recruit in who knows how long. Speed seems to be Kaleb Smith's best asset as far as I can tell. There is a bit of Will Fuller in there I think.

 

[notredomer23]

That 2008 class was good, but 2023 is definitely better as things stand now.

2023 QB < 2008 QB
2023 RBs > 2008 RBs
2023 WRs =/> 2008 WRs (tough one because Floyd was so good, but I think 2023 is overall better)
2023 TE < 2008 TE
2023 OL > 2008 OL
2023 DL =/> 2008 DL
2023 LBs < 2008 LBs
2023 DBs >> 2008 DBs

The only major edge that the 2008 class has in sheer rankings is 5 star talents at the skill positions.