Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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4 NOV. 22, 2025 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED T he first recruiting assignment that Marcus Freeman faced when he was named the next Notre Dame head coach on Dec. 3, 2021, wasn't one of class construction, it was one of class preservation. Based solely on non-binding ver- bal commitments, former head coach Brian Kelly had assembled what was expected to be a top-10 recruiting class. But with Kelly's sudden and unexpected departure to LSU in November 2021, and with barely three weeks remaining before recruits had to put pen to paper and make their verbal commitments of- ficial, the 2022 recruiting class could've collapsed, big time. Instead, Freeman's initial class held together and ended up a loyal 22-man haul that rated as the No. 6 class in the country, according to the Rivals Indus- try Ranking. About the only noteworthy player Freeman and Co. wasn't able to keep was four-star cornerback Devin Moore, who decommitted from Notre Dame and enrolled at Florida to play closer to home. Many members of Freeman's first recruiting class will take the field at Notre Dame Stadium for the final time against Syracuse on Senior Day Nov. 22. This group will never be mistaken as the most impactful recruiting class ever as- sembled at Notre Dame. It's a group, though, that will for- ever be remembered as one that stuck together, believed in a first-time head coach, and will remain the roots of Notre Dame's program ascension under Freeman. "It was definitely a huge punch in the gut. That's a huge deal, the head coach is leaving," redshirt junior defensive lineman Joshua Burnham told reporters following Kelly's covert exodus. "We all just came together [as recruits], stuck together through it to see what hap- pened. Obviously we wanted Coach Freeman, so it was a huge relief." Members of Freeman's first recruit- ing class collectively did their part to hold things together, as did the Irish coaches and staff. Freeman himself hopped a private jet just minutes after his introductory press conference to visit recruits and their families, calm nerves, emphasize player interest and program direction, and to hold his first class together. "I better be the lead recruiter in every kid that we recruit," Freeman said before he left for the airport, "and I plan on doing that." Offensive lineman Billy Schrauth in Fond Du Lac, Wis., was first on Free- man's visit list. The coveted four-star recruit had narrowed his choices to Notre Dame and home state Wisconsin. And in this era when players flip like flapjacks, es- pecially during uncertain times, there was no time to waste during the coach- ing chaos. Wise beyond his years, Schrauth never wavered and chose Notre Dame. "Coaches come and go," said Schr- auth, a three-year starter and one of the most productive members of the 2022 recruiting class. "But culture, and the stuff that is really important, is in- stilled in programs. The tradition, that never leaves." Highlighted by wide receiver Tobias Merriweather, cornerback Jaden Mickey and quarterback Steve Angeli, 12 mem- bers of this senior class departed Notre Dame at some point. But 10 still remain. Burnham, Schrauth, tight end Eli Raridon, center Ashton Craig, line- backer Jaylen Sneed, offensive tackle Aamil Wagner and defensive lineman Donovan Hinish have all made numer- ous starts from this class. While run- ning backs Jadarian Price and G'Bran Payne, and defensive lineman Junior Tuihalamaka, have become valuable backups. Some those 10 redshirted at some point and still have eligibility remaining after this season. Raridon highlights a short list of players from this class who will not return in 2026. An Irish legacy after his father Scott Raridon played at Notre Dame from 2002-06, Eli said he was surprised by the news of Kelly's departure, but in no way swayed by it. "I definitely thought Notre Dame was one of the most stable coaching staffs [through recruiting]. So, that was really unexpected to see Coach Kelly leave like that," Eli said. "But I always knew that Notre Dame was the best decision for me." The timing of Kelly's departure re- mains equal parts cruel and selfish, and put Freeman in a difficult situation to get his head coaching career off to a mo- mentous start. But instead of complaining, Freeman got to work to preserve and enhance what will be celebrated this weekend as his first graduating senior class. "The thought of leaving Notre Dame never crossed my mind," Hinish said of sticking around when Coach Kelly didn't. "The university is world re- nowned. Wherever you go, when you tell people you go to Notre Dame, their eyes will light up. It's just somewhere special." ✦ Only 10 members of the 22-man and No. 6-ranked 2022 recruiting class remain at Notre Dame, and a few of them — including tight end Eli Raridon — will play their last home game against Syracuse Nov. 22. PHOTO BY MICHAEL MILLER Todd D. Burlage has been a writer for Blue & Gold Illustrated since July 2005. He can be reached at tburlage@blueandgold.com. UPON FURTHER REVIEW TODD D. BURLAGE Senior Day Celebrates The Class That Started It All