Blue and Gold Illustrated

Dec 5, 2020

Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football

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6 DEC. 5, 2020 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY LOU SOMOGYI T he Notre Dame football team had a bye on Nov. 21, but the week leading up to that Saturday was hardly a bye on the recruiting trail. Four new verbal commitments were added from Nov. 16-19, with four-star Florida cornerback Philip Riley, California kicker Joshua Bryan, Hawai'i linebacker Kahanu Kia and Florida offensive lineman Caleb Johnson all pledging to the program. In addition, the Irish landed a com- mitment from Indiana cornerback JoJo Johnson Nov. 24. That brings the scholarship count to 23 in the class of 2021 for Notre Dame — and pushes the program beyond the 85 total the NCAA has permitted since 1992. For 2021, it's not relevant because it was declared prior to the season that because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 campaign is a free year — or mulligan — that will not be counted against an individual's eligibility. However, in 2022, it will return to the 85 cap-room space, which will re- sult in many decisions that will have to be made about personnel manage- ment on the roster. Here is the current breakdown of the 2021 roster so far: • Twenty-three incoming freshmen for now, with maybe a couple more additions anticipated by the early signing period in mid-December. • Seventeen sophomores, led by tight end Michael Mayer and run- ning back Chris Tyree. • Twenty-one juniors, led by safety Kyle Hamilton and running back Kyren Williams. This class has stayed relatively intact, with offensive line- man John Olmstead (Lafayette) the lone departure. • Twenty seniors. This group origi- nally had 27, but seven either have transferred (most notably quarter- back Phil Jurkovec to Boston Col- lege), left the game for injury/health reasons or are in the transfer portal. That's 81 players right there on scholarship — and we have yet to in- clude 14 current fourth-year seniors who are eligible for a fifth season in 2021, which would take the number up to 95. Oh, and by the way, there are cur- rently nine fifth- or sixth-year seniors who could apply for yet another sea- son in 2021 if so desired because of the NCAA waiver for the 2020 campaign. That takes you up to 104. Among the nine current fifth- or sixth-year seniors, we would be sur- prised if any of them returned in 2021. Quarterback Ian Book, left tackle Liam Eichenberg, and defensive ends Dae- lin Hayes and Adetokunbo Ogundeji have already accepted invitations to play in the Senior Bowl Jan. 30, and so has senior right tackle Robert Hainsey. There comes a time for most col- lege students after four years to move on with their lives, and its likely even more so after their fifth years. Sixth- year senior safety Shaun Crawford was the outlier. In any case, with all nine fifth- or sixth-year seniors likely moving on, that takes the number back down to 95. Among the 14 fourth-years who will be introduced on Senior Day versus Syracuse Dec. 5, Hainsey and rover Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah are the definite ones to take the next step toward the professional ranks. The other 12 also will have the op- tion to turn pro, return for a fifth year or be a graduate transfer at another school where perhaps more playing time could be in the cards. We believe the next figure who would be most likely to leave for the NFL with a year on the table in the current senior class is left guard Aaron Banks. His size alone could make him an appealing option. Among the current seniors, only kicker Jonathan Doerer has publicly declared he likely will apply to re- turn in 2021. The far tougher decisions for roster management will occur in 2022. Per usual, though, they will find a way of working themselves down to the 85 limit. ✦ UNDER THE DOME ROSTER MANAGEMENT How many fourth- and fifth-year seniors will return in 2021? Fifth-year senior defensive ends Daelin Hayes and Adetokunbo Ogundeji (above) have already accepted invitations to play in the Senior Bowl Jan. 30, and are unlikely to return to Notre Dame in 2021. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS

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