Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1491978
36 MARCH 2023 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2023 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY BGI STAFF N otre Dame's 2023 football re- cruiting class is complete, barring any late additions this spring. According to the 2023 On3 Consensus Football Team Recruit- ing Rankings, the Fighting Irish's haul ranks No. 9 nationally. Notre Dame typically attracts rela- tively elite athletes, but there is a con- stant narrative about "closing the gap" with the very top of college football. Is this incoming class a step in that direc- tion? We asked a trio of experts for their takes on the class. BGI: What are your general impres- sions on Notre Dame's recruiting class? How does it stack up against the other elites in the country? On3 director of scouting and rankings Charles Power: "It's a good first full class for Marcus Freeman. They continued to recruit to Notre Dame's standard, if not a little above what they've done in the past. That would've been amplified if they kept a guy like [five-star safety] Peyton Bowen, for instance. But overall, it's a good class. When you look at the strengths of the class, Notre Dame improved at a posi- tion that they're already really good at, which is offensive line. It's one of the best O-line classes in the nation. "There was an emphasis on skill play- ers. It's a good receiver class, and Kenny Minchey is the best quarterback signee Notre Dame has had in several cycles. Jeremiyah Love is one of the best high school running back prospects they've signed as well. They have the founda- tion with the offensive line and back that up with skill players, which takes it to a different level. The class defensively is pretty good, too. We're very high on Brandyn Hillman and Christian Gray." Blue & Gold Illustrated recruit- ing reporter Mike Singer: "It doesn't have the star power at the top of the class that some other elite programs boast. But what Notre Dame does have CLOSING THE GAP Recruiting experts break down Notre Dame's 2023 class