With hundreds of prospects holding offers or interest from Notre Dame, Blue & Gold Illustrated has narrowed down a much less inclusive list of names, aiming to streamline the constantly changing recruiting picture a bit.
Consider it an Irish recruiting progress report card, of sorts.
Each week we will add, subtract and shift names based on the latest information received. The reasons for any changes will be noted in the accompanying paragraphs.
Quarterbacks (0-1):
Commitment Watch: N/A
Priorities: Dwayne Haskins Jr.
Other Targets: Matt Fink, Tylin Oden.
No updates here from last week.
Running backs (2):
Committed: Tony Jones Jr.
Commitment Watch: N/A
Priorities: Elijah Holyfield.
Other Targets: Abdul Adams, A.J. Taylor, Martell Pettaway.
Holyfield (5-10, 195 pounds, College Park [Ga.] Woodward Academy,) said he will release his top five after spring practice (link). Holyfield has previously stated Tennessee, Auburn and Florida will all definitely make his top five, with Notre Dame and a couple of other schools fighting for the last two spots.
Wide Receivers (2):
Commitment Watch: N/A
Priorities: Austin Mack, Donnie Corley, Ahmir Mitchell, Javon McKinley, Brad Hawkins Jr., Tre Nixon.
Other Targets: Jordan Fuller, Jack Jones, Deon McIntosh.
Several notes here this week. Hawkins Jr. (6-2, 195 pounds, Camden [N.J.] High,) only mentioned ND when prompted in a exclusive video from the Rivals New Jersey camp (link). Corley (6-3, 185 pounds, Detroit Martin Luther King,) took another visit to Ohio State, this time with his family for their April 18 spring game. In better news, Mitchell (6-2, 197 pounds, Egg Harbor City [N.J.] Cedar Creek,) lists Notre Dame in a top six in another Rivals video from the NJ camp (link). Mckinley (6-2, 196 pounds, Corona [Calif.] Centennial,) is expected to visit with his seven on seven team over the upcoming April 25 weekend.
Tight Ends (0-1):
Commitment Watch: N/A
Priorities: Cary Angeline, Devin Asiasi.
Other Targets: N/A
Angeline (6-7, 234 pounds, Exton [Penn.] Downingtown East,) visited Notre Dame for their spring game on April 18, his second unofficial visit to see the Irish - and this time he brought his mother. Irish have to feel pretty good here.
Offensive line (3-4):
Committed: Tommy Kraemer, Liam Eichenberg.
Commitment Watch: N/A
Priorities: Ben Bredeson, Parker Boudreaux, Michael Jordan.
Other Targets: Willie Allen.
Another position group with a ton of action this week. It was written in our very first Progress Report on March 16 that Eichenberg (6-5, 284 pounds, Cleveland St. Ignatius,) would make a decision between Notre Dame-Ohio State in mid-late April, and on April 19 he committed to the Irish. Nathan Smith (6-7, 276 pounds, Murietta [Calif.] Mesa,) was removed after adding an offer from Southern Cal on April 8 and committing on April 15.
Defensive line (3):
Committed: Julian Okwara.
Commitment Watch: N/A.
Priorities: Josh King, Auston Robertson, Khalid Kareem, Ron Johnson, Justin Madubuike, Rashan Gary, Kyree Campbell.
Other Targets: Jordan Smith, Naquan Jones, Brian Burns.
Okwara (6-4, 220 pounds, Charlotte [N.C.] Ardrey Kell,) committed on April 14, a bit earlier than scheduled but as expected (link). King (6-6, 230 pounds, Darien [Ill.] Hinsdale South,) told Rivals analyst Josh Helmholdt that he'd put Notre Dame "more in the top 10 range than in the top five right now." Robertson (6-5, 250 pounds, Ft. Wayne [Ind.] Wayne,) visited Michigan State on April 18, which is noteworthy as they're considered among Notre Dame's top competition to land the in-state end.
Linebackers (2):
Commitment Watch: N/A
Priorities: Ben Davis, Cameron Brown.
Other Targets: Jamir Jones.
Davis (6-3, 234 pounds, Gordo [Ala.] Gordo,) visited Alabama, where his father, Wayne Davis, is the all-time leading tackle. He has noted that Notre Dame is among the schools recruiting him the hardest.
Defensive backs (5):
Committed: Julian Love.
Commitment Watch: N/A
Priorities: JoeJuan Williams, Damar Hamlin, Ikenna Okeke.
Other Targets: Craig Watts, D.J. Morgan, Kenney Lyke, Eric Cuffee, Roderick Campbell Jr., Davonte Robinson, Devin Studstill.
Morgan (6-3, 200 pounds, Bellflower [Calif.] St. John Bosco,) is visiting Notre Dame with his seven on seven team over the upcoming April 25 weekend. If he lands an offer, he'll get bumped up a category. He is distantly related to former Notre Dame women's basketball star Skylar Diggins. Okeke (6-2, 195 pounds, Smyrna [Tenn.] High,) told Blue & Gold Illustrated that Notre Dame remains one of his top schools, and he still plans to visit this summer.
Previous Progress Reports:
• April 7-April 13 (link).
• March 31-April 6 (link).
• March 24-30 (link).
• March 17-23 (link).
• March 9-16 (link).
Consider it an Irish recruiting progress report card, of sorts.
Each week we will add, subtract and shift names based on the latest information received. The reasons for any changes will be noted in the accompanying paragraphs.
Quarterbacks (0-1):
Commitment Watch: N/A
Priorities: Dwayne Haskins Jr.
Other Targets: Matt Fink, Tylin Oden.
No updates here from last week.
Running backs (2):
Committed: Tony Jones Jr.
Commitment Watch: N/A
Priorities: Elijah Holyfield.
Other Targets: Abdul Adams, A.J. Taylor, Martell Pettaway.
Holyfield (5-10, 195 pounds, College Park [Ga.] Woodward Academy,) said he will release his top five after spring practice (link). Holyfield has previously stated Tennessee, Auburn and Florida will all definitely make his top five, with Notre Dame and a couple of other schools fighting for the last two spots.
Wide Receivers (2):
Commitment Watch: N/A
Priorities: Austin Mack, Donnie Corley, Ahmir Mitchell, Javon McKinley, Brad Hawkins Jr., Tre Nixon.
Other Targets: Jordan Fuller, Jack Jones, Deon McIntosh.
Several notes here this week. Hawkins Jr. (6-2, 195 pounds, Camden [N.J.] High,) only mentioned ND when prompted in a exclusive video from the Rivals New Jersey camp (link). Corley (6-3, 185 pounds, Detroit Martin Luther King,) took another visit to Ohio State, this time with his family for their April 18 spring game. In better news, Mitchell (6-2, 197 pounds, Egg Harbor City [N.J.] Cedar Creek,) lists Notre Dame in a top six in another Rivals video from the NJ camp (link). Mckinley (6-2, 196 pounds, Corona [Calif.] Centennial,) is expected to visit with his seven on seven team over the upcoming April 25 weekend.
Tight Ends (0-1):
Commitment Watch: N/A
Priorities: Cary Angeline, Devin Asiasi.
Other Targets: N/A
Angeline (6-7, 234 pounds, Exton [Penn.] Downingtown East,) visited Notre Dame for their spring game on April 18, his second unofficial visit to see the Irish - and this time he brought his mother. Irish have to feel pretty good here.
Offensive line (3-4):
Committed: Tommy Kraemer, Liam Eichenberg.
Commitment Watch: N/A
Priorities: Ben Bredeson, Parker Boudreaux, Michael Jordan.
Other Targets: Willie Allen.
Another position group with a ton of action this week. It was written in our very first Progress Report on March 16 that Eichenberg (6-5, 284 pounds, Cleveland St. Ignatius,) would make a decision between Notre Dame-Ohio State in mid-late April, and on April 19 he committed to the Irish. Nathan Smith (6-7, 276 pounds, Murietta [Calif.] Mesa,) was removed after adding an offer from Southern Cal on April 8 and committing on April 15.
Defensive line (3):
Committed: Julian Okwara.
Commitment Watch: N/A.
Priorities: Josh King, Auston Robertson, Khalid Kareem, Ron Johnson, Justin Madubuike, Rashan Gary, Kyree Campbell.
Other Targets: Jordan Smith, Naquan Jones, Brian Burns.
Okwara (6-4, 220 pounds, Charlotte [N.C.] Ardrey Kell,) committed on April 14, a bit earlier than scheduled but as expected (link). King (6-6, 230 pounds, Darien [Ill.] Hinsdale South,) told Rivals analyst Josh Helmholdt that he'd put Notre Dame "more in the top 10 range than in the top five right now." Robertson (6-5, 250 pounds, Ft. Wayne [Ind.] Wayne,) visited Michigan State on April 18, which is noteworthy as they're considered among Notre Dame's top competition to land the in-state end.
Linebackers (2):
Commitment Watch: N/A
Priorities: Ben Davis, Cameron Brown.
Other Targets: Jamir Jones.
Davis (6-3, 234 pounds, Gordo [Ala.] Gordo,) visited Alabama, where his father, Wayne Davis, is the all-time leading tackle. He has noted that Notre Dame is among the schools recruiting him the hardest.
Defensive backs (5):
Committed: Julian Love.
Commitment Watch: N/A
Priorities: JoeJuan Williams, Damar Hamlin, Ikenna Okeke.
Other Targets: Craig Watts, D.J. Morgan, Kenney Lyke, Eric Cuffee, Roderick Campbell Jr., Davonte Robinson, Devin Studstill.
Morgan (6-3, 200 pounds, Bellflower [Calif.] St. John Bosco,) is visiting Notre Dame with his seven on seven team over the upcoming April 25 weekend. If he lands an offer, he'll get bumped up a category. He is distantly related to former Notre Dame women's basketball star Skylar Diggins. Okeke (6-2, 195 pounds, Smyrna [Tenn.] High,) told Blue & Gold Illustrated that Notre Dame remains one of his top schools, and he still plans to visit this summer.
Previous Progress Reports:
• April 7-April 13 (link).
• March 31-April 6 (link).
• March 24-30 (link).
• March 17-23 (link).
• March 9-16 (link).
