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The State of Notre Dame Football Recruiting: Taking a look at the offensive side of the ball

By Nathan Erbach

SAN DIEGO, CA - OCTOBER 27: Kevin Austin #4 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs with the ball in the 1st half against the Navy Midshipmen at SDCCU Stadium on October 27, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kent Horner/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - OCTOBER 27: Kevin Austin #4 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs with the ball in the 1st half against the Navy Midshipmen at SDCCU Stadium on October 27, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kent Horner/Getty Images) /
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WINSTON SALEM, NC – SEPTEMBER 22: Jafar Armstrong #8 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish scores a touchdown against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during their game at BB&T Field on September 22, 2018 in Winston Salem, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Quarterback

Currently on roster: Ian Book (3 star), Phil Jurkovec (4 star), Brendan Clark (3 star).

Current commits: Drew Pyne (2020 4 star),  Tyler Buchner (2021 4 star).

Of all the guys currently on the roster or committed, Jurkovec holds the highest recruiting ranking, finishing at #83 in 2018. Buchner is the only other guy in the top 100, but his ranking will likely fluctuate over the next 2 years. As Ian Book and others before have proven, high school quarterbacks are difficult to judge. Some of the top recruits under Kelly include Brandon Wimbush and Gunner Kiel, while three star quarterbacks Book and Tommy Rees have outperformed them. The quarterback position is set up well for the foreseeable future

Running Back

Currently on roster: Tony Jones Jr. (4 star), Jafar Armstrong (3 star WR), Jahmir Smith (3 star), C’bo Flemister (3 star), Kyren Williams (4 star).

Current Commits: Chris Tyree (4 star).

Tyree is the main guy people want to hear about. Out goes former running back coach Autry Denson and in comes Lance Taylor who made an immediate impact on the recruiting trail. Denson was a terrific developer of talent, but he was never able to land the big fish during his tenure. As disappointing as running back recruiting has been, the staff has always received great production. Land a few high level four stars or five stars and that production should only increase. Hopefully Tyree is just the beginning of that.

Wide Receiver

Currently on roster: Chase Claypool (4 star), Chris Finke (unranked), Javon McKinley (4 star), Michael Young (3 star), Kevin Austin (4 star), Braden Lenzy (4 star), Lawrence Keys III (4 star), Micah Jones (4 star), Joe Wilkins Jr. (3 star), Kendall Abdur-Rahman (3 star), Cam Hart (3 star).

Current commits: Jordan Johnson (5 star).

Notre Dame has a proven track record at wide receiver regardless of star rating under Brian Kelly, and this group has proven just that. The 3 projected starters come with three different billings – Claypool as an explosive 4 star, Finke a former walk-on and Young a 3 star that many in the industry loved. The coaching staff was selective in last year’s class and swung for the fences and missed with a few guys and thus ended up with a few intriguing athletes in Hart and Abdur-Rahman. They are a looking at a slightly bigger class in 2020 and are in good position with several top targets, along with five star Missouri product, Jordan Johnson already in the fold. Wide receiver recruiting is just fine.

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