Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com PRESEASON 2021 17 BY PATRICK ENGEL O nly once in Brian Kelly's 12 re- cruiting cycles at Notre Dame has an Irish signing class matched the 2018 haul's size. That year, Notre Dame signed 27 players in a class the three major re- cruiting sites ranked no lower than 12th. Not until 2021 did the program hit 27 signees again. The Irish are, though, still waiting for the class' impact to reflect its size and ranking. The narrative of the 2018 group isn't rigid; the credits aren't writ- ten. But after three seasons, a class that included four Rivals100 players has delivered a more modest punch than its individual parts initially sug- gested it should. In a year of much transition, Notre Dame needs its se- niors to put their fingerprints on 2021 if it wants to go from good to great, as Kelly challenged this spring. Of those 27 signees, nine have transferred — a percentage in line with prior classes. The 2017 group, for instance, had nine of its 21 mem- bers transfer. Notre Dame's 2015 class saw nine of its 24 signees finish their careers elsewhere. Likewise, producing just one three- and-done NFL Draft pick (tight end Tommy Tremble) is not a disappoint- ment. The Irish have not had a class with two early draft entrants since 2013 (Jaylon Smith and Will Fuller). What is troublesome, though, is the low number of starters by year three and the meager impact from 2018's highest-rated recruits. Those four top- 100 players have combined to start three games in three years, with safety Houston Griffith accounting for all of them. Two have transferred. Even Griffith considered exiting in Janu- ary before pulling his name from the transfer portal a couple weeks later. Right now, 2018 can only count center Jarrett Patterson and Trem- ble as full-time starters by the end of their junior years. Tremble was a starter in designation last year, but trailed Michael Mayer among Notre Dame tight ends in targets and catches. Two junior-year starters is a much lower number than 2016 — which had nine players who were unques- tioned starters by the end of 2018. And 2017, which had seven by the end of 2019. The 2015 class had some junior starters in 2017 who weren't exactly secure, but there were four no-doubters (Jerry Tillery, Te'Von Coney, Equanimeous St. Brown and Josh Adams). Beyond Patterson, Tremble and ex- pected starting defensive tackle Jay- son Ademilola, the 2018 remnants are high-potential players who have yet to prove themselves or useful com- plementary pieces. But several are viewed as likely starters or will earn long looks as possible ones. EYES ON THE RECEIVERS The tantalizing-but-unproven wide receiver group will, in many ways, help decide Notre Dame's 2021 ceil- ing. Kelly and staff spent much of spring persuading senior receivers Kevin Austin Jr., Braden Lenzy, Law- rence Keys III and Joe Wilkins Jr. to do more. They have 49 career catches between them, but Notre Dame has given them the first shot at earning starting spots. "Receiver, to me, it's about more than anything else getting Wilkins, Lenzy and Keys at the next level," Kelly said this spring. "But those three guys are where this is at. They have got to ascend to a championship level. They have been good, don't get me wrong. I need them to move to that great level. They're capable of it, and we're seeing some signs. This is all wrapped up in these three guys taking that next step. "That's assuming we get Kevin Austin back healthy." The 6-2, 215-pound Austin, a for- mer top-100 recruit, feels like the most pivotal senior among the of- fensive players. Despite six career catches, a suspension in 2019 and multiple foot fractures in 2020, he continues to capture fan and media imaginations. His brief moments at 100 percent and former teammates' praise of him at the 2020 NFL Com- bine can't be swatted away. Austin is indeed healthy but began Wide receiver Braden Lenzy impressed in limited duty as a sophomore, battled injuries in 2020 and is competing to start in 2021. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER