Notre Dame Football: Irish's Top Commits, Targets to Watch at the Opening

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame football recruiting is gaining steam, with four commitments in the past two weeks.

The Irish will look to carry that momentum into next week’s The Opening Finals, which run July 7-10. More than 160 top high school players in the class of 2016 will work out for four days at Nike World Headquarters in Oregon.

Who should Notre Dame fans keep their eyes on at the invite-only event? Two Irish commitments and a slew of other targets will be in attendance. In determining the targets to watch listed below, we considered the prospects' national rankings and recent reported interest.

Tony Jones Jr.

Credit: 247Sports

Irish running back commitment Tony Jones Jr. pledged to Notre Dame in March. The Bradenton, Florida, product is the No. 13 running back and No. 287 overall prospect in his class.

A 6’0”, 212-pounder, Jones rushed for 771 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2014 at IMG Academy. Jones is also a top baseball player.

Notre Dame added two running backs—Dexter Williams and Josh Adams—in its class of 2015.

Tommy Kraemer

Credit: 247Sports

Offensive lineman Tommy Kraemer is the other Notre Dame commitment who will participate in The Opening next week, meaning two of the nine Irish class of 2016 pledges will be in Oregon.

The Cincinnati native became Notre Dame’s first commitment in the class when he visited campus and pledged in early October. Kraemer is the No. 7 offensive tackle and No. 41 overall player in the country.

With Kraemer and fellow offensive line commit Liam Eichenberg on board, Irish head coach Brian Kelly and offensive line coach Harry Hiestand have laid a strong base to this year’s haul.

Parker Boudreaux

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Speaking of offensive linemen, one of Notre Dame’s top targets at the position—Parker Boudreaux—will be at The Opening.

But while Boudreaux remains uncommitted right now, the No. 13 guard and No. 335 overall prospect is expected to have pledged somewhere by the time he touches down in Oregon. Boudreaux plans to announce his decision Thursday.

Earlier this month, Boudreaux named his final five schools, a list that included Notre Dame, where he also visited a few weeks ago. Clemson, Oklahoma, Georgia Southern and Florida also made the cut.

“They all have great people, tradition and legit environments,” Boudreaux told 247Sports’ Ryan Bartow. “I’m comfortable at all those schools. They are all really great athletically and academically.”

Class of 2016 offensive line target Ben Bredeson committed to Michigan on June 17, leaving Boudreaux as one of the initial top options to join Kraemer and Eichenberg.

Caleb Kelly

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Outside linebacker Caleb Kelly is the No. 2 player at his position and No. 18 overall in the class of 2016.

The 5-star prospect from Fresno, California, was scheduled to visit Notre Dame for the Irish Invasion two weekends ago, but he was a last-second scratch.

Recently, Irish247’s Tom Loy told Bleacher Report he thinks Oklahoma leads for Kelly but added the Irish are in the mix.

After inking a strong linebacking corps in the class of 2015 with Josh Barajas, Asmar Bilal and Te’von Coney, Notre Dame would love to add the blue-chip Kelly.

Damar Hamlin

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Cornerback Damar Hamlin, a top Notre Dame target, will suit up for Team Fly Rush, along with Jones and Boudreaux, at The Opening.

The 4-star prospect from Pittsburgh is slotted as the No. 12 cornerback and No. 142 player in the country.

Hamlin visited Notre Dame for junior day in mid-March, and the Irish targeted the 6’1” defensive back early with a November offer. Loy recently wrote that Pittsburgh, Penn State and Ohio State are also in contention with Notre Dame for Hamlin’s services.

Javon McKinley

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California wide receiver Javon McKinley will play for Team Hypercool at The Opening.

The No. 19 wide receiver and No. 115 prospect, McKinley hauled in 97 receptions and 25 touchdowns in 2014. The wideout visited campus two weekends ago for the Irish Invasion camp, his second visit to South Bend.

“The balance of academics with athletics,” McKinley told 247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong about Notre Dame. “I think personally they have the best combination of football and education in the nation.”

McKinley is slated to return to campus in October for Notre Dame’s prime-time matchup with USC, and the wide receiver plans to announce his decision at the Army All-American Bowl in January, according to Wiltfong.

Chase Claypool

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Fellow Irish target Chase Claypool will join McKinley on Team Hypercool in Oregon. The fast-rising Claypool snatched an Irish offer at the end of May and impressed at the Irish Invasion camp earlier this month.

Listed as a wide receiver, Claypool checks in at 6’5”, 205 pounds and could play any of several positions in college, according to Irish247.

The Abbotsford, British Columbia, product is the No. 55 wide receiver and No. 330 overall prospect in the class. Claypool visited Michigan, which also offered the pass-catcher in May, toward the beginning of June. Oregon and Washington were the first schools to offer Claypool this spring.

Other Names to Watch

Those seven players—a mix of commitments, elite blue-chippers and realistic targets—are the primary prospects to watch in Oregon. Other participants worth eyeing peripherally, however, include cornerback Eric Cuffee, wide receiver Donnie Corley, outside linebackers Ben Davis and Daelin Hayes and athlete Jordan Fuller, among others.

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