National Signing Day Schedule For Notre Dame Targets
Following Old Tappan (N.J.) High three-star safety Jordan Fuller’s commitment to Ohio State on Monday, the Irish have just five targets left on the board in advance of National Signing Day on Wednesday. With 22 commitments already in the class, Notre Dame — theoretically — could take all five prospects, but that likely won’t happen given the respective situations with each recruit.
Blue & Gold Illustrated has a rundown of who is expected to announce when.
10 a.m. ET (ESPNU, WatchESPN)
Skinny: The Gordo (Ala.) High five-star linebacker is a heavy favorite to ink with Alabama given the fact that his father is the Crimson Tide’s leading tackler, but he continues to state that he doesn’t have a leader ($), which has the Irish in the thick of things along with Auburn and Georgia. Davis (Rivals.com’s No. 1 inside linebacker and No. 5 overall prospect) hosted Brian Kelly and four assistant coaches for an in-home visit last week and says that he’s drawn to the total package in South Bend. Will that be enough to lure the legacy away from Nick Saban? Time will tell.
10:30 a.m. ET
Skinny: Out of the five targets left on the board, it’s Jones (Rivals.com’s No. 19 inside linebacker) that is the best bet of the bunch to be in South Bend next season. The Orlando (Fla.) Oak Ridge three-star linebacker is down to just Notre Dame and Michigan, but he hasn’t been afraid to admit over the course of the past few weeks that his father likes the Irish ($). That relationship will likely spell good news for a Notre Dame coaching staff that is in search of its seventh commitment from the state of Florida this cycle.
11 a.m. ET (ESPNU, WatchESPN)
Skinny: If Jones is the favorite to be in the class, it’s McCulloch that’s the long shot heading into Wednesday. The Houston Aldine Davis four-star linebacker at one time had the Irish near the top of his list and looked to be favoring the Midwest program, but then he took a pair of visits to Texas and Texas A&M. Notre Dame remains optimistic when it comes to McCulloch (Rivals.com’s No. 6 outside linebacker and No. 169 overall prospect) but many in the recruiting industry feel that if he’s headed out of state, Stanford will be the pick.
8:30 p.m. ET
Skinny: Notre Dame’s struggles in Fresno have been well documented over the years, but if there’s one prospect the Irish might be able to pull out of the area it’s Kelly. The Clovis West five-star linebacker is down to Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Oregon with the Irish and Sooners at the top of his list. Kelly (Rivals.com’s No. 3 outside linebacker and No. 14 overall recruit) hasn’t tipped his hat to many about where he’s leaning, but Oklahoma has long been the favorite. Still, Notre Dame picked up some momentum late last month ($), which has some calling Kelly’s recruitment a “coin flip” decision.
TBD
Skinny: Robertson is the biggest question mark on the board. The Savannah (Ga.) Christian School five-star athlete isn’t expected to sign any paper work on Wednesday, because the plan is to visit Georgia this upcoming weekend, but Blue & Gold Illustrated has been told by sources that the Irish are looking to get him to ink a letter of intent. If Robertson (Rivals.com’s No. 1 athlete and No. 8 overall prospect) elects to wait, that could swing some momentum in Georgia’s favor ($), but right now the Irish appear to be at the top of his list.