(UHND.com) – Notre Dame picked up its 20th commitment of the year Sunday when five star wide receiver Michael Floyd picked the Irish over Florida, USC, Ohio State, and in state Minnesota. While any commitment from a five star commitment is huge, Floyd’s pledge might just rank up there as one of the biggest under Charlie Weis and the current coaching staff for a number of reasons.
The first being Notre Dame hasn’t been able to attract five star wide receivers as easily as one would think after the success of Maurice Stovall, Jeff Samardzija, and Rhema McKnight in this offense over the past couple of seasons. Notre Dame has recruited some very fine wide receivers such as Robby Parris, Duval Kamara, and Golden Tate, but the Irish have not been able to land a receiver who can make an immediate impact like Floyd under the current regime.
One of the biggest missing components to the Irish offense not just this year, but even the last few years, has been gamebreakers who can take over a game. Floyd fits that mold and has the talent to be able to step in and contribute right away.
Aside from giving the Irish a big time talent at a position of need, this commitment is extra special because it comes at a time when Notre Dame is struggling mightily on the field. With the Irish sitting at 1-7 with an offense that has been stuck in park most of the season, getting a receiver with Floyd’s abilities speaks volumes for the recruiting abilities of this staff.
Throw into the mix the transfer of Matt Carufel, who attend the same high school as Floyd, and USC’s recent rout of Notre Dame during his official visit and the timing of this commitment comes as an even bigger surprise.
On Saturday night, Charlie Weis spoke tough when asked if the Irish have reached rock bottom. “Let me just say people better enjoy it now, have their fun now,” he told the media in his post game comments. Getting commitments like that of Floyd despite the recent struggles suggest that Weis might not just be talking tough either.
When the Irish struggled in 2003 after Tyrone Willingham’s successful inaugural campaign in 2002, the previous staff could not continue the recruiting momentum they had gained the previous season. After the 2002 season which saw the Irish go 10-3, Willingham was able to land future NFLers Brady Quinn, Ryan Harris, Victor Abiamiri, and Chinedum N’Dukwe as well as 5th year seniors John Sullivan and Tom Zbikowski among others in a consensus top 10 class.
A year later when the Irish struggled, Willingham and staff were not able to continue that success and the Notre Dame recruiting class was ranked outside of the top 25.
Contrast that with this year’s current recruiting success and there is definitely some reason for hope and optimism amongst Notre Dame fans. The Irish currently have a consensus top 3 class and that was before the addition of Floyd.
