Notre Dame Football: Early signing day instant impact players

Notre Dame football should be signing most of their recruits today, also recognized as early signing day. We’ve seen two stars emerge instantly as freshmen over the last couple of years; some could join them from the class of 2023.

The wide receiver group Notre Dame football landed this year is one of the best I’ve personally seen in quite some time. While their rankings have inexplicably dropped since signing with the program (shocker), they’re all players that can impact the team early on. The player with the highest chance of doing that in year one looks like Jaden Greathouse.

Greathouse was highly productive in Texas as a high school football player and should contribute to the team early. With a college-ready frame, Jaden is poised to see action in his freshman season. With no current wide receivers on the roster standing out above the rest, the roles seem wide-open moving into next season. Tobias Merriweather should also see an increased part for what it’s worth.

On the opposite side of the ball, Christian Gray is another college-ready athlete and product out of high school. Just like with Benjamin Morrison, if you can play early on defense, coach Freeman won’t stop you. At 6 foot 175 pounds, there is room to add more mass. Though, with his length and speed, Gray should figure into the conversation right away at cornerback should injuries or struggles factor in.

Christian Gray is the highest-rated Notre Dame football cornerback in the last 10 years outside of Houston Griffith, who moved to safety

Another defensive standout heading into next year is local Indiana star and product Drayk Bowen. Bowen has absolutely cleaned up on awards this year, most notably winning The Butkus Award for being the best high school linebacker in the nation. He joins current Notre Dame football linebacker Prince Kollie as the two most recent recipients of the award to join the Irish.

Bowen, an avid weightlifter, will join the program as arguably one of the most college-ready high schoolers in the nation. At 6’2″ and 225 pounds, Drayk will be physically ready to step on the field from the jump. While there will undoubtedly be an adjustment from high school to college, the most significant adjustment for Drayk will be the mental aspect of the game. Not to say he’s not ready mentally, but coverage, schemes, and formations will all be a learning process.

Given how Joe Alt and Benjamin Morrison practically came out of nowhere to be instant impact players, the production could come from anyone. One thing is sure; the class of 2023 is as bright as any for this Notre Dame football program.