Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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42 NOV. 30, 2024 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY MIKE SINGER C ollege football recruiting rules seem to change every year, and 2024 in- cluded a major adjustment to National Signing Day. For the longest time, recruits would not sign until the first Wednesday in February. In 2017, a mid-December three-day period was added for them to sign early. And for the first time this year, that early signing period has been moved up to the first week of December. On Dec. 4, the Notre Dame football program will welcome around 25 pros- pects to the fold. Through Nov. 22, head coach Marcus Freeman and Co. had 23 commitments with several more targets and possibilities left on the board. Notre Dame overhauled its running back recruiting for the 2025 class. The Irish had longtime commitments from three-stars Justin Thurman of Tampa (Fla.) Jesuit and Daniel Anderson of Bryant (Ark.) High. However, the Irish essentially parted ways with both pros- pects this fall. It's yet to be determined where Anderson will end up, while Thurman committed to Kansas Nov. 18. On Nov. 11, the Irish added Wayne (N.J.) DePaul Catholic's Nolan James Jr. — On3's No. 34 running back in America — to their class, flipping him from Bos- ton College. In an ideal world, Notre Dame would like to persuade another running back prospect to sign with them in this cycle. Notre Dame could potentially add two more receivers to its 2025 class that al- ready has three pledges. Las Vegas Bishop Gorman's Derek Meadows, On3's No. 35 pass catcher and No. 259 overall player in the land, has been a target for the Irish for a year and a half. He's currently commit- ted to LSU, but the staff hosted him for the Florida State game in early November and is in a tight battle with Brian Kelly's Tigers to land his signature. Coconut Creek (Fla.) Monarch three- star receiver Antwaun Parham is com- mitted to Tulane but added an offer from the Irish Nov. 1. North Carolina State is now in the mix for the big-bod- ied pass catcher as well. If all checks out with him, it's likely he flips to Notre Dame, but it's not a lock. The Irish hosted Center Valley (Pa.) Southern Lehigh's Andrew Olesh, On3's No. 2 tight end and No. 43 overall player in the country for an official visit early November, but the feeling is that Notre Dame is unlikely to sign him. Olesh is committed to Michigan but is also con- sidering Penn State and Oregon. It's possible Notre Dame still signs a second tight end in the class to go along with four-star legacy James Flanigan from Green Bay (Wis.) Notre Dame de la Baie. Mukilteo (Wash.) Kamiak three- star T'Andre Waverly is an option, but Notre Dame may just skip taking an- other high school tight end and try to land one in the transfer portal. Notre Dame would love to flip Tal- lahassee (Fla.) James Rickards' Jalen Wiggins, On3's No. 14 defensive line- man and No. 156 overall recruit in the land, away from Florida. With the Ga- tors vowing to keep head coach Billy Napier, Wiggins seems to be leaning towards sticking with his pledge. How- ever, Notre Dame is still in the hunt. He is the only defensive line prospect the Irish appear to be targeting. Notre Dame had been recruiting Bra- denton (Fla.) IMG Academy's Nathan- iel Owusu-Boateng, a three-star player and the No. 39 linebacker nationally, for nearly three years. He visited for the Florida State game, but following that trip Notre Dame dropped out of the race to land the younger brother of Jer- emiah Owusu-Koramoah. Colorado and Michigan are the two schools to watch for Owusu-Boateng. The linebacker recruit who the Irish look to be in the lead for is San Juan Capistrano (Calif.) JSerra Catholic's Madden Faraimo. The Irish badly want Faraimo, who is On3's No. 15 linebacker and No. 136 overall prospect nationally, to join their class but have to fend off USC, Texas and Washington for him. It looks to be a battle between the Trojans and Fighting Irish, and he is expected to watch the two teams battle in person at the end of November. It is always possible that Notre Dame goes after new prospects. Freeman's staff is known for taking big swings and not settling for the status quo. ✦ Notre Dame Aiming To Finish 2025 Recruiting Class Strong Las Vegas Bishop Gorman's Derek Meadows, On3's No. 35 wide receiver and No. 259 overall player in the land, is a key target for Notre Dame down the stretch. The Irish are trying to flip him from LSU. PHOTO BY KYLE KELLY F O O T B A L L RECRUITING