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Notre Dame football surges ahead in recruiting race with two standout targets

By Oliver Vandervoort

Oct 8, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman gestures to fans as he leaves the field after Notre Dame defeated the BYU Cougars 28-20 at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman gestures to fans as he leaves the field after Notre Dame defeated the BYU Cougars 28-20 at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Notre Dame football team had itself a heck of a win on Saturday and it looks like they’re getting some recruiting wins as well.

It stands to reason when you beat the 10th-ranked team in the country by four touchdowns, that you’re going to raise some eyebrows from the kids you’re recruiting. It appears that happened on Saturday when the Notre Dame football team had a field-stormingly strong win over the USC Trojans.

In the aftermath of that victory, recruit fallout has been coming in fast and furiously. And among that feedback, the Irish have two new Crystal Balls for a pair of recruits.

Notre Dame football surges into the lead for Cree Thomas

The first of the two Fighting Irish targets that appear to be headed to South Bend for their college days is none other than Cree Thomas. 247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong and Notre Dame football correspondent Tom Loy are both predicting Thomas will pick the Golden Domers.

Cree Thomas is a 3-star defensive back prospect from the 2025 class, with plenty of Power 5 programs coming after him.

Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Wisconsin are all interested in landing the defensive back. However, it appears those other programs are going to be pulling up the rear, at least for now.

Damien Shanklin a future Fighting Irish star?

In addition to Thomas, the Notre Dame football team is also trending for 2025 rush end Damien Shanklin. Once again “just” a 3-star prospect, he’s got plenty of Power 5 teams pursuing the Indianapolis prospect.

Duke and Indiana are right at the top of the list but Wiltfong believes the Fighting Irish are now the unequivocal front runners for the prospect following Saturday’s win.

All of the predictions for the Notre Dame football program were put in after Marcus Freeman and company blew out USC. It would appear the atmosphere in South Bend during and after the game was enough to convince the kids it’s where they want to be.

For now, Notre Dame football has some waiting to do, but it appears at least they’ll be waiting as the front runners.

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