Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/753492
44 NOV. 28, 2016 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED FOOTBALL RECRUITING BY COREY BODDEN AND DAVID MCKINNEY T he finish line is in sight for the class of 2017 with less than three months remaining until National Signing Day Feb. 1. Through Nov. 18, Notre Dame had 18 commitments and a consensus top-seven class among the four major recruiting services — Rivals (No. 6), 247Sports (No. 6), Scout (No. 5) and ESPN (No. 7). Even though Notre Dame has room to take seven more commit- ments to reach the 25-man limit, the Irish are already over their 85-schol- arship limit heading into next year when factoring in all 10 seniors who are eligible to return for a fifth year (including suspended cornerback Devin Butler) and the incoming 18 commitments. However, it is highly unlikely that all the seniors will be back. Some may graduate and transfer to an- other school, some may not be in- vited back and some may decide to give up football. Left tackle Mike McGlinchey and tight end Durham Smythe have in- dicated they plan to return for their fifth year, leaving eight players with the option to return or move on with their careers elsewhere. Also, Notre Dame could have at least one junior leave for the NFL Draft. If all 10 seniors that could return for a fifth year (including Butler) come back, Notre Dame would be at 73 total scholarships assuming all un- derclassmen return (i.e., junior quar- terback DeShone Kizer and junior left guard Quenton Nelson). When adding the current 18-member 2017 class, the number grows to 91. The total signees will likely be in the 20-25 range, depending on how the staff is able to meet all of its re- maining needs while deciphering the scholarship situation. Notre Dame is looking to fill its remaining five needs: offensive line, defensive end, cornerback, safety and wide receiver. A commitment in each of these five areas would push the class total to 23, but when looking at the target board — unless new offers go out — it is unlikely all those wants are met. Here is a look at what targets are left at each position and where the Irish stand with each player. WIDE RECEIVER The Irish have two committed wide receiver prospects in Rivals three-stars Michael Young of Destre- han (La.) High and Jordan Pouncey of Winter Park (Fla.) High. For now, Iowa City (Iowa) West three-star Oliver Martin, the No. 70 wide receiver in the country, appears to be likeliest candidate to end up a member of the class, but it is far from a guarantee. Iowa, Michigan and Michigan State are all players for Martin, and Notre Dame — the last of the group to offer— has been playing catch-up. He took an unof- ficial for the Duke game Sept. 24 and could return for an official visit. Other targets include Los Angeles Cathedral four-star Jamire Calvin, the No. 36 wide receiver and No. 243 overall player in the class, Trussville (Ala.) Hewitt-Trussville three-star Noah Igbinoghene and Covington (Ga.) Newton three-star Jeremiah Holloman, the No. 41 athlete in the country. Both Igbinoghene (Oct. 29) and Holloman (Sept. 17) have taken offi- cial visits to Notre Dame, and Calvin has been working on doing so, but until that visit happens he won't be a member of the class. If Calvin visits, the Irish could be the team to beat. Holloman appears destined to wind up at in-state Georgia, while Igbinoghene had Notre Dame in his top two heading into his official. But a recent offer from Auburn puts the Tigers as the perceived team to beat now. OFFENSIVE LINE Notre Dame has three commits at this position: four-star Robert Hain- sey of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Acad- emy, the No. 11 tackle and No. 72 overall player in the nation; four- star Joshua Lugg of Wexford (Pa.) North Allegheny, the No. 31 tackle in the country; and Dillan Gibbons of Clearwater (Fla.) Central Catholic, the No. 55 tackle in the land. The staff would like to add another lineman to the mix. Even though they are not the perceived leader for any of their top targets on the board, Notre Dame remains a threat for three of the nation's best: Gra- ham (Wash.) Kapowsin five-star Fos- ter Sarell, the No. 1 tackle and No. 3 overall player in the nation; Jackson (Tenn.) University School four-star Trey Smith, the No. 14 tackle and No. 91 overall player in the country; Irish Hope To Finish 2017 Class With A Flourish Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) High four-star cornerback Thomas Graham may be the likeliest target to become a member of Notre Dame's 2017 class. PHOTO COURTESY ESPN