Notre Dame Football Recruiting: Predicting All the Recruits Who Will Sign on NSD
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — National signing day is right around the corner, and Notre Dame football is putting the finishing touches on its class of 2015.
The Irish currently have a 22-member class, including the four early enrollees already taking classes and participating in workouts in South Bend.
The expectation is for those 18 players to sign their national letters of intent with the Irish on Wednesday. Between them and other potential pledges, let’s predict the entire group of players who could sign with Notre Dame.
Quarterback
1 of 9
In the aftermath of quarterback Blake Barnett’s decommitment from Notre Dame in June, it appeared the Irish might not land a signal-caller in the class of 2015.
That changed in October, when 4-star prospect Brandon Wimbush flipped from Penn State to the Irish.
Wimbush is tabbed as the No. 3 dual-threat quarterback and the No. 45 overall player in the nation. According to 247Sports’ director of scouting, Barton Simmons, Wimbush has the “biggest arm” in the class. Simmons said Wimbush “is the one quarterback in this 2015 class that consistently turns heads with his arm strength.”
Running Back
2 of 9
Notre Dame didn’t add a running back in last year’s recruiting class, and the Irish have been on the prowl for a two-back class this time around.
Pennsylvania native and 4-star prospect Josh Adams committed to Notre Dame in June. The 6’2”, 208-pounder is slotted as the No. 25 back and No. 303 player in the country.
Additionally, as discussed last week, all signs point toward 4-star running back Dexter Williams signing with the Irish on Wednesday. The No. 11 back in his class, Williams would be an important addition for Notre Dame, which only returns two scholarship running backs (Tarean Folston and Greg Bryant) in 2015.
Wide Receiver
3 of 9
Miles Boykin, C.J. Sanders and Jalen Guyton all committed to Notre Dame between March and July, giving the Irish a solid foundation of skill-position players on which to build its offensive class.
As mentioned last week, the expectation is for Equanimeous St. Brown to sign with Notre Dame, as well. St. Brown, a 4-star prospect from Anaheim, California, would be the highest-ranked Irish wide receiver commitment at No. 160. The 6’5” wideout is scheduled to announce his decision on Wednesday afternoon, according to Irish247’s Tom Loy.
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Tight End
4 of 9
The so-called “Tight End U” stocked up again recently with the commitment of Aliz’e Jones roughly two weeks ago.
The Las Vegas product had been a longtime UCLA commit before joining Notre Dame’s class. The Irish are adding an elite talent in Jones, who checks in as the No. 1 tight end and No. 62 prospect overall.
As a senior at Bishop Gorman High School, Jones hauled in 41 receptions for 930 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Offensive Line
5 of 9
With offensive lineman Tristen Hoge already enrolled for the current spring semester and Jerry Tillery, another early enrollee, profiling on the defensive side of the ball to start his career in South Bend, 3-star commitment Trevor Ruhland is expected to be the only signee Wednesday.
The Cary, Illinois, native offered his verbal pledge to Notre Dame in April, and he ranks as the No. 502 player in the class.
Defensive Line
6 of 9
Two of Notre Dame’s early enrollees, Tillery and Micah Dew-Treadway, immediately provide the Irish with some additional depth on the defensive line.
Defensive tackle Elijah Taylor, a 4-star prospect and No. 317 overall player, has been committed to Notre Dame since June. Fellow defensive tackle Brandon Tiassum, a 3-star pledge from Indianapolis, gave his verbal to the Irish five days before Taylor in June.
New Orleans native Bo Wallace is listed as a weak-side defensive end or outside linebacker and committed to the Irish in October.
Linebacker
7 of 9
The Irish should ink one of the nation’s stronger linebacking corps when Asmar Bilal and Josh Barajas sign Wednesday, joining early enrollee Tevon Coney. All three players are 4-star prospects.
Barajas is the highest-ranked of the bunch, checking in as the No. 9 outside linebacker and No. 137 overall player. Barajas flipped from Penn State to Notre Dame in May.
Bilal, an Indianapolis product, committed in October and slides into the rankings as the No. 6 inside linebacker.
The No. 310 prospect, Coney gave his verbal to the Irish a week after Bilal pulled the trigger.
Defensive Back
8 of 9
At least at this point, defensive back appears to be the only spot still up in the air for Notre Dame.
It’s no secret the Irish have been trying to land another safety to go along with current defensive back commits Shaun Crawford, Mykelti Williams, Ashton White, Nick Coleman and Nicco Fertitta.
Notre Dame hosted safety Arrington Farrar this weekend for an official visit, continuing a slew of last-ditch efforts to sign a safety. Other recent defensive backs to stop by South Bend on official visits include Justin Reid and Nathan Meadors.
"Down to 3⃣ with 48 hours to go. #Cardinal #Tigers #Irish
— Justin Reid ✨ (@justinreid_1) February 2, 2015"
"Tune in on my commitment this Wednesday at 1pm 👀 #NotreDame #UCLA #BoiseState #Cal pic.twitter.com/eE7T7st9bN
— ち⚡NateMeadors⚡ち (@nates_amazing_5) February 2, 2015"
The Irish currently have just two healthy returning scholarship safeties in Max Redfield and Elijah Shumate. Nicky Barrati has battled injuries throughout his Notre Dame career, and Drue Tranquill is coming back from a torn ACL.
According to 247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong, Farrar is the “best bet” among the remaining secondary targets for the Irish. Per Wiltfong, the Atlanta native will announce his decision Wednesday and Notre Dame and Wisconsin “are considered the finalists.”
Kicker
9 of 9
Kyle Brindza ended his Notre Dame career on a high note, drilling the game-winning field goal to top LSU in the Music City Bowl.
The Irish will now add kicker commitment Justin Yoon, who pledged to the Irish in June. The Milton, Massachusetts, native is the No. 2 kicker in the country and was an Under Armour All-American.
According to Loy’s film analysis of Yoon, the incoming freshman has “outstanding” leg strength, and the “ball explodes off of his foot.”
Unless otherwise noted, all recruiting stats and information courtesy of 247Sports.com and all quotes obtained firsthand. Star ratings reflect 247Sports composite rankings.
Mike Monaco is a lead Notre Dame writer for Bleacher Report. Follow @MikeMonaco_ on Twitter.
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