Notre Dame football: 5-star targets and their chances to end up Irish

The Notre Dame football staff is still going after 5-star recruits, even given their unfortunate situation this past recruiting class. They had commitments from Keon Keeley and Peyton Bowen before those two flipped to different programs. That said, we’ll look at which 5-stars the Irish are after this cycle and their chances of ending up on the team.

Notre Dame football: Justin Scott – Edge

It’s rumored that Justin Scott was close to pulling the trigger on a commitment to Notre Dame before receiving an offer from Georgia. However, he still intended to commit even after the offer, and all indications favored the Irish. Tom Loy of Irish Illustrated has mentioned that the staff and Scott have discussed ensuring the process plays out correctly. Essentially, take visits if you still desire to do so, and only commit if you know without a shadow of a doubt that this is the place you want to be.

It shows a real sign of maturity and self-awareness for a young student-athlete who just turned 17. Scott himself said that when he commits, he wants to shut things down and be committed while helping recruit other class members. Whether he ends up with Notre Dame football remains to be seen. Given his relationships with the staff, proximity to the campus, and clear connections with the Irish commits, I’m putting his chances at 75% to be Irish.

Notre Dame football: Ryan Wingo – Wide Receiver

Currently rated by 247Sports as a composite 5-star, Ryan Wingo would be a 5-star for 247Sports when they expand the rankings. A midwest product out of St. Louis University, Wingo has a strong connection with current 2024 Irish commit CJ Carr. Carr, a 5-star prospect possibility himself, is actively recruiting multiple wideouts to join him in the class. Wingo is no exception to that.

While Notre Dame football is in a much better position at the WR position, especially with Cam Williams committed, adding Ryan would only boost the room. His solid connection with Tennessee is undeniable, but Carr is the recruiting ace needed. Wingo and Carr are on the same 7-on-7 team, “California Power.”

I’ll put the chances of Wingo being Irish at 45%. I don’t think they’re the current leader, but they can make it happen if they keep pushing hard. For what it’s worth, I think Cam Williams could be a 5-star; the combo of Williams and Wingo would be dangerous.

Notre Dame football: Elijah Rushing – Edge

By all accounts, one of the more explosive pass rushers in the class of 2024, Elijah Rushing, has some interest in the Irish. However, while he was on campus in late 2021, a lot has changed since then, including the head coach. Marcus Freeman at the helm gives the team a better chance of landing Rushing than if Kelly were still here.

The key in this recruitment is keeping the interest piqued enough to get the young man back on campus now that his class is the main focus. By fall, it’ll have been nearly two years since his visit to South Bend. Should Marcus Freeman and Al Washington be able to get Elijah back to campus, the situation for the Irish would only get more favorable. At 6’6” and 235 pounds, with plenty of explosiveness and speed on the edge, Rushing would be an immediate playmaker on the defensive line.

Elijah has unofficially visited Washington, Tennessee, Ohio State, and Notre Dame, to name a few. But, again, this all comes down to how hard the Irish push to land his commitment. As things currently sit, I’d put his chances of ending up in South Bend at 20%.

While 5-star prospects and recruits aren’t always the guys that end up being the best in the class, it certainly doesn’t hurt. It can be argued they’ll at least have a carved-out floor that’s relatively high compared to most other recruits while some are 5-stars for their high ceiling. Regardless, Notre Dame football would be fortunate to land any of these talented prospects.