Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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34 FEBRUARY 2024 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED FOOTBALL RECRUITING BY MIKE SINGER AND KYLE KELLY N otre Dame signed 23 recruits during the early signing period Dec. 20-22 and could poten- tially add more on National Signing Day Feb. 7. Below is a breakdown of each Notre Dame class of 2024 signee, listed in order of their ratings in the On3 Industry Rank- ing, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. 1. CAM WILLIAMS WR • 6-2, 195 GLEN ELLYN, ILL. • GLENBARD SOUTH Williams gives Notre Dame's depleted wide receiver corps a major boost. He is the first five- star wide receiver to join the team since Michael Floyd in the 2008 recruiting cycle. Wil- liams will add a dimension to the Notre Dame offense that has not existed the past few seasons: a deep threat. Williams averaged 24.6 yards per catch (37 receptions for 909 yards) as a senior. He essentially scored a touch- down on one of every three catches for the Glenbard South Raiders in 2023. Williams is a long-stride runner who clocked a 10.86-second mark in the 100-meter dash. That speed displays itself on the football field and will trans- late seamlessly to South Bend. According to the On3 Industry Rank- ing, Williams is the nation's No. 9 wide receiver and No. 29 overall player. That ranking is very much subject to change with the postseason all-star games oc- curring in early in January. — Kelly 2. GUERBY LAMBERT OL • 6-6, 290 BOSTON • CATHOLIC MEMORIAL This is a monstrous signing for the Fighting Irish. The recruitment lasted longer than ex- pected, but he committed to Notre Dame over final- ists Boston College, Harvard and Ohio State early in the fall. He won't enroll until the summer, but if he picks up the offense quickly, he could potentially be a freshman starter at tackle — like Blake Fisher did back in 2021 — to open the season. Lambert is that talented, and he al- ready looks college-ready physically. Lambert, who is the No. 4 offensive tackle and No. 37 overall player in the land, is the prototypical offensive tackle recruit and very well could end up a five-star prospect by the end of the cycle. — Singer 3. CJ CARR QB • 6-2½, 195 SALINE, MICH. • SALINE Carr started his Irish football ca- reer in mid-December, thanks to an NCAA rule that allows some high school play- ers to practice with a college even before sign- ing. While he's unlikely to play much as a true freshman in 2024, Carr already comes to Notre Dame with plenty of polish in his game. He has an advanced knowledge of the game at this stage and is very accurate. The grandson of former Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr comes to South Bend with extremely high expectations, and he has the tools and mental makeup to meet those lofty goals. This is a huge pickup for the Fight- ing Irish. The reviews of him through Four-star quarterback commit CJ Carr joined the Irish early and was able to participate in the team's December practices leading up to the Sun Bowl. PHOTO BY KYLE KELLY RATING THE RECRUITS Blue & Gold Illustrated's insights on Notre Dame's 2024 early signees