Notre Dame Football Recruiting: Looking Ahead to 2017 Class

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame football officially welcomed a steady if not spectacular Class of 2016 last week, and the wheels are already in motion for the Irish's 2017 class.

Notre Dame’s Class of 2016 ranks 15th nationally and filled needs throughout the roster, especially in the secondary.

What can Irish fans expect in 2017?

Off we go.

The Commits

Credit: 247Sports

The Irish already have five commitments for the 2017 cycle.

Offensive lineman Dillan Gibbons became the class’s first pledge last April. The Clearwater, Florida, product is slotted as the No. 42 offensive tackle and No. 360 prospect overall. Gibbons has visited South Bend three times since his commitment.

Fellow offensive lineman Josh Lugg became the third member of the class in mid-August, as Irish offensive line coach Harry Hiestand and Company continue to land linemen of their choosing at an impressive clip. Lugg is the No. 21 tackle and No. 134 prospect nationally. The Wexford, Pennsylvania, native visited campus twice during the season and again last month for Notre Dame’s junior day.

Tight end Brock Wright gave his verbal commitment to the Irish in late June, joining Gibbons. Wright is currently the top tight end in the country and the No. 26 recruit in the class. Notre Dame didn’t nab a tight end in the class of 2016 and has already lined up a second for the 2017 cycle. Cole Kmet pledged to the Irish in early October. Kmet, who hails from Arlington Heights, Illinois, is the No. 4 player at his position and checks in at No. 194 overall.

Notre Dame’s most recent commitment in the Class of 2017 came in early November, when Georgia defensive end Robert Beal joined the group. Beal is the No. 3 weak-side defensive end in the class and No. 50 overall.

Needs

Credit: 247Sports

While the 2016 class might lack elite talent at the top, Notre Dame addressed a variety of needs to balance the roster moving forward.

Asked where the points of emphasis will be in 2017, Irish head coach Brian Kelly tabbed the offensive line, which already has commitments from Lugg and Gibbons.

“We’re going to have to fill that back up a little bit more,” Kelly said.

The Irish only landed three offensive linemen in the class of 2016, and Hunter Bivin, Mike McGlinchey, Colin McGovern, John Montelus and Steve Elmer will all be entering their fourth years in the program.

Beyond the offensive line, Kelly said Notre Dame has put itself in a position of balance and can focus on rounding out each unit.

Names to Watch

Credit: 247Sports

Irish247’s Tom Loy highlighted a batch of names to know for Notre Dame in the 2017 cycle.

Quarterback Avery Davis, running backs Najee Harris and A.J. Dillon and wide receivers Donovan Peoples-Jones, Osiris St. Brown and Tarik Black headline the offensive weapons. Davis, a dual-threat signal-caller from Texas, visited South Bend in November, a month after receiving his offer. Harris is the top back in the nation and has been committed to Alabama since April, while Dillon grabbed an Irish offer last month.

Peoples-Jones, the No. 1 wideout in the country, is from Detroit and attended Notre Dame’s junior day last month. St. Brown’s older brother, Equanimeous, could be poised for a breakout sophomore season with the Irish, and Osiris garnered an early offer from the school—his third overall—last January. Black collected his offer two weeks ago.

Offensive linemen Trey Smith and Jedrick Wills are targets to join Gibbons and Lugg, while top end Joshua Kaindoh, Corey Malone-Hatcher (from nearby Saint Joseph, Michigan), Haskell Garrett (from Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas), Ohio State pledge Jerron Cage (the younger brother of Irish junior-to-be Daniel Cage) and Dalyn Wade-Perry are on the board along the defensive line.

Pittsburgh linebacker David Adams, linebacker and Baylor commit Baron Browning, Ann Arbor, Michigan, linebacker Antjuan Simmons, Detroit cornerback Ambry Thomas, Detroit safety Jaylen Kelly-Powell, Indiana safety R.J. Potts and athlete Tyrell Ajian are other names to watch.

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.