That's a really solid base, and you just need probably 2 transfers, for depth.
Agree it's "solid" but not on the level Auburn is currently amassing. Plus a vision needs to be created for a recruit--and pulling the #1 WR in last year's class coupled with their outpacing us in this class creates that for him.
We can't just roll out "Hey, we got this walk-on lacrosse player and this other guy that caught 50% of his TDs against Navy you could play with in a few years."
The pitch needs to be much more impactful and much more recent.
Unlike most--you seem to be pretty discerning about ND's talent/recruiting in relation to the power programs, so not sure why you're not picking up on this obvious phenomenon going on with Knight more.
Were ND coaches to have delivered the goods and lived up to their promises, the doors wouldn't be open for schools like Auburn to enter.
To pin it all on Knight merely taking upfront money is lazy and childish and once again ingrained "Freeman can do no wrong" "Its just that pesky NIL" "His uncle is making him do it" "Haha, Auburn hasn't even won a NC since 2013" barfing stream of consciousness copes that has been going on around here since the beginning of August.
Not sure why everyone can't just take a major recruiting loss without feeling the need to whine about the recruit. Instead focus the blame on the coaching staff who's at ultimate fault for the failure.
Also, while Carr is certainly a nice, polished, player--his physical upside is somewhat limited from here. He would be superb distributing the ball to OSU or Texas type WR rooms. But given ND's WR rooms will always be mostly physically challenged compared to the elite programs (especially based upon the early returns on Brown) ND would otherwise need a supremely physically gifted QB like Knight to fill that void were they to go up against an elite defense. Think Vince Young against USC.
Carr will be sufficient to great against 99% of opponents but will never be able to bridge that gap.
To put it succinctly--giving consideration to NDs typical mid to above average WRs--ND has the potential to win a national championship with Knight. But ND cannot win a national championship with Carr.
You know this to be true as well.