I’ve felt for awhile that we need to expand the scholarship numbers for DB’s until we build depth. That plus the amount of Nickel/Dime we play. If we’re to a 5 DB system then that’s 10 over 2 classes. Bringing in 6 in ‘23 is only 9 over the last 2. So, the numbers make sense.
Shuler, Rhett, Bowen, Christian Gray, and Yaites gets you to 5. With a spot for Downs, Muhammad, or Caleb Presley.
So I agree with this assessment. Couple things I'd note.
2023 DB's Scholarships (17)
6th 3* DJ Brown
RS SR 4* KJ Wallace
RS JR 4* Xavier Watts
RS JR 3* Cam Hart
RS JR 3* Caleb Offord
RS JR 3* Ramon Henderson
RS JR 3* Clarence Lewis
RS SO 4* Philip Riley
RS SO 3* Justin Walters
RS SO 3* Chance Tucker
RS SO 3* Ryan Barnes
RS SO 3* Jojo Johnson
RS FR 4* Jaden Mickey
RS FR 4* Benjamin Morrison
RS FR 3* Jayden Bellamy
FR 4* Justyn Rhett
FR 4* Adon Shuler
Between now and then they'll be quite a bit of attrition because ND brought in some stuffed classes like the RS JR and RS SO groups in this stack above. Guys will transfer and leave between now and September of 2023. However, there will be a limit to how many scholarships and resources ND should be giving to DB's. Obviously you want this group to be deep and talented but stuffing the roster with 20+ DB's would be a mistake because it'll take away from the depth of other positions at ND. However, that probably won't be an issue. The way I hope they go is making sure they are always overrecruiting the DB room and never turning down good 4-5* talent if they have a lot in #'s. If you look at the RS JR and RS SO classes it is pretty wild to see 10 DB's and 8 of them are 3*'s with one of the 4* guys being a converted WR. If there are 5-6 4*+ DB's who want to sign in 2023 then by all means take em all cause the numbers will work themselves out. For the 2023 recruiting I really hope ND pushes hard for an incredible DB class.
.9924 5* Caleb Downs - GA - FAR - 6/21/21, 10/30/21
.9909 5* AJ Harris - AL - FAR - 6/15/21
.9787 4* Malik Muhammad - TX - FAR - 7/27/21
.9740 4* Peyton Bowen - TX - FAR - 6/10/21, 10/30/21
.9544 4* Justyn Rhett - NV - FAR - COMMITTED
.9456 4* Ryan Yaites - TX - FAR - 6/10/21, 10/23/21
.9380 4* Christian Gray - MO - 5h30m - 6/6/21, 7/27/21, 11/20/21, 12/11/21
.9367 4* Adon Shuler - NJ - FAR - COMMITTED
.9335 4* Micah Tease - OK - FAR - 6/6/21, 7/27/21, 10/23/21
I really hope ND closes the game with Bowen and Gray. Singer, Loy, Sinclair and Wiltfong all think both end up at ND. I hope before the dead period ends that they're both in the class. After that point things get really interesting. Not sure if they shift Tease to an offensive recruit because he has some SERIOUS interest in ND and I believe if they push hard he'd be in the class. Kid is a super RKG but just don't know where he fits especially defensively where he could be like the 6th or 7th DB in the class lol. For the top end guys I am super excited about the top 3 dudes (Downs, Harris and Muhammad). Tim Brown on the Zorich Podcast said "this kid [Malik Muhammad] loves Notre Dame." He certainly seems to have a good gauge on the kid cause I think he lives next door lol. Also, Harris loved his visit to ND and Downs making it to ND twice is super telling of his interest although it'll be a super uphill battle with crazy competition for his signature. The best thing that could happen for ND would be Gray and Bowen being committed by 1/1/22 and then the staff goes all out on the rest of the board for 1-2 more guys max! Either way very exciting stuff!
