Notre Dame Football Recruiting: Previewing the Irish Invasion

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame football will host its premier offseason recruiting event this weekend, when more than 60 high school prospects are expected to visit campus for the Irish Invasion.

On Friday night, a slew of top prospects will work out at the camp inside Notre Dame Stadium. According to Irish247's Tom Loy, there are more than 60 expected visitors, including 2016, 2017 and even a few 2018 prospects.

"It's stronger. That's for sure," Loy said of this year's visitor list. "The names are bigger. The talent is more impressive."

Perhaps relatedly, Notre Dame's 2016 class sits at just six commitments. By this date last year, the Irish had already landed 12 commitments in the 2015 class.

Player	Position
Tommy Kraemer	OL
Liam Eichenberg	OL
Julian Okwara	DE
Tony Jones Jr.	RB
Julian Love	CB
John Shannon	LS

"It's not gonna be a top-five class, and it may not even be a top-10 class when all is said and done," Loy said. "But this staff does not sit around and look at star rankings all day."

Whether a focus or not, a 5-star prospects headlines the list of weekend visitors. 2017 class quarterback Hunter Johnson is expected in town. The No. 1 pro-style quarterback and No. 9 overall player in his class, Johnson visited South Bend in early April.

"It's very clear that Johnson is the guy that they want," Loy said. "He's the top [quarterback] target regardless of class."

Credit: 247Sports

The Brownsburg, Indiana, product holds offers from Florida, Oklahoma, Michigan and Miami, among others. Johnson has visited more than 10 schools in the past few months.

"They've been to Notre Dame, Penn State, Tennessee, NC State," Loy said. "They've been to a lot of schools. They're definitely trying to get the process over with early. I expect him to make a decision later this summer. I expect him to shut down his recruitment at that point."

Meanwhile, Loy said he does still expect Notre Dame to ink a quarterback in the 2016 class.

2016 class outside linebacker Caleb Kelly, the No. 2 outside 'backer and No. 17 overall player in the country, was planning to be on campus but changed his plans Thursday. Loy said he believes Oklahoma leads for the services of the Fresno, California, native but added the Irish are in the mix.

In addition to Johnson, high-end 2017 class targets such as athlete Tyrell Ajian, tight end Brock Wright and defensive ends Robert Beal and Corey Malone-Hatcher are scheduled to visit.

Ajian recently camped at Ohio State, three days after receiving an offer from the Irish. Wright checks in as the No. 1 tight end and No. 57 overall player in the 2017 class. The Cypress, Texas, native visited South Bend in March.

Credit: 247Sports

The No. 11 weak-side defensive end, Beal hails from Norcross, Georgia, and took an unofficial visit to Notre Dame in early April. Malone-Hatcher is the No. 10 weak-side end and has an impressive offer sheet that includes Oklahoma, Alabama, Michigan and Ohio State. Malone-Hatcher is from St. Joseph, Michigan, which is less than an hour from South Bend.

"I know we're in 2016, and next year, a lot of these guys could be at the Irish Invasion," Loy said. "But there's a lot of [2017 class] guys coming on campus this weekend that could very easily end up in Notre Dame's class."

Loy said he will be particularly interested in watching the 2016 class defensive backs work out. Between safeties Ikenna Okeke, Florida commit Spencer Perry, Chacho Ulloa and Devin Studstill, Notre Dame will have the opportunity to make progress at a position of need.

Other 2016 class visitors, per Loy, include wide receivers Javon McKinley, Ahmir Mitchell, Kevin Stepherson and Donnie Corley, cornerback Eric Cuffee and linebacker Chase Pine.

"There are so many guys out there that they are right in the mix for," Loy said. "They just need to start landing a few of them. A couple got away early in the process, and they finished second."

Unless otherwise noted, all recruiting stats and information courtesy of 247Sports, and all quotes obtained firsthand. Star ratings reflect 247Sports' composite rankings. 

Mike Monaco is the lead Notre Dame writer for Bleacher Report. Follow @MikeMonaco_ on Twitter.