Notre Dame Football Recruiting: Ranking the Class of 2021
By Andrew Hall
Notre Dame Football Recruiting: Ranking the Class of 2021
10. Ryan Barnes – Cornerback – Quince Orchard (Gaithersburg, MD)
High: 9 – Low: 13
In today’s game, the back-shoulder throw is common. The only way to negate this threat is a great technique and length. Ryan Barnes definitely has length at 6-foot-2, and he pledged to the Irish on June 6 after mulling offers from 33 football programs including Clemson, Florida State, and Georgia. The commitment was a dream come true for Barnes who dreamed of playing for the Fighting Irish.
9. Jayden Thomas – Wide Receiver – Pace Academy (Atlanta, GA)
High: 7 – Low: 11
Thomas is part of a fantastic trio of Notre Dame signees at the wide receiver position. According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, he ranks as the 308th prospect in the class and held offers from several schools, including powerhouse programs like Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State. He is an explosive athlete who can break the game open at any moment.
8. Philip Riley – Cornerback – Bloomingdale (Valrico, FL)
High: 5 – Low: 10
Riley committed to Notre Dame on May 5th before flipping to USC on Sept. 28, and back to the Irish on Nov. 16. Obviously, the current NCAA rules present challenges for recruits trying to make decisions. Riley ranks as the 313th prospect in the 2021 class, and he is a true cover cornerback who found success in Florida lining up across from some of the best wide receiver prospects in the country. Riley will be prepared to play early and often when he arrives in South Bend.
7. Gabriel Rubio – Defensive Tackle – Lutheran Of St Charles County (Saint Peters, MO)
High: 6 – Low: 8
Rubio joined the Irish class in June 2019, and he ranks as the 116th and eighth defensive tackle in the class. Rubio held offers from 20 programs including Georgia, LSU, and Ohio State, and he already possesses the size necessary to play at the college level, 6’5″ 305 lbs. Current strength and conditioning coach Matt Balis will continue to refine Rubio when he arrives on campus. Rubio could push for playing time next year depending on who departs for the NFL.