Notre Dame is adding an elite group of offensive recruits to their roster today highlighted by one of the nation’s elite quarterbacks, some versatile wide receivers, arguably the nation’s top tight end and center, and they are looking to add to their haul throughout the day while waiting on the decisions of running back Dexter Williams and wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown.
While we wait on the decisions of the remaining offensive recruits the Irish are pursuing, here is a run down of all of the other offensive recruits scheduled to fax in their letter of intent this morning.
Josh Adams – RB
Summary: Adams tore his ACL as a junior in high school, but came back strong in as senior showing hardly any lingering effects from the injury. ACL injuries to high school running backs can be scary – especially if you remember James Aldridge. Aldrdige was a 5-star back before his ACL injury and was just never the same. Adams looks like he has fully recovered though and what’s important here is that the Notre Dame coaching staff offered over the summer at the Irish Invasion after watching him play following the injury. Adams is one of our hidden gems in the 2015 class. The fact that ESPN has him ranked as the #87 running back is crazy.
Immediate Role: Because of the depth issues in the Notre Dame backfield, Adams could play a complimentary role in 2015 depending on if the Irish also sign Dexter Williams later today and then which of the two end up being more ready for playing time as frosh.
Long-Term Role: Even if he does not play a prominent role in 2015, Adams has the potential to be a star out of the backfield for Notre Dame. He’s got great size for the position and runs with authority. Most athletes say they are not 100% recovered from an ACL injury until a full year after it happens which means the Adams that we saw this year as a senior is just scratching the surface of his talent.
Measureables:
- Height: 6-3
- Weight: 210 lbs
- Hometown/School: Warrington, PA / Central Bucks HS
- Speed: 4.5
Competition: Boston College, Penn State, Rutgers, Pitt
Ratings/Rankings:
- Composite (247): 4-star / #25 RB / #303 Overall
- 247 Sports: 4-star / #17 RB / #195 Overall
- ESPN: 3-star / #87 RB
- Rivals: 3-Star / #47 RB
- Scout: 4-star / #27 RB / #199 Overall
Miles Boykin – WR
Summary: Notre Dame was pretty much always in the driver’s seat for the local product. Some Have felt like Boykin could outgrow the wide receiver position and into a tight end, but much like current Irish wide receiver Corey Robinson, we see Boykin’s future sticking at wide receiver. Boykin, like Robinson, could be a red-zone threat for the Irish given his size and ability to fight off defensive backs. He comes to Notre Dame a bit more polished than Robinson though since he’s played football a bit longer. Boykin was a Semper Fi All-American but was unable to participate due to injury. He should not be limited upon reporting to Notre Dame though.
Immediate Role: Given the depth Notre Dame has built up at wide receiver, it is tough to envision a very prominent role for Boykin in 2015 even with his talent. One role that could be in the cards would be as a red-zone target if Notre Dame struggles in that area again this year. If Corey Robinson continues to develop, however, and becomes Notre Dame’s go-to target in the red-zone a red-shirt season could be in the cards for Boykin.
Long-Term Role: Robinson will be a junior in 2015 and long-term it wouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone to see Boykin step in and fill that role in the Irish offense down the road. Boykin has a ton of potential in this offense and will be a chain-mover for the Irish.
Measureables:
- Height: 6-3
- Weight: 225 lbs
- Hometown/School: New Lenox, IL / Providence Catholic HS
- Speed: 4.6
Competition: Florida, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Oregon, Wisconsin
Ratings/Rankings
- Composite (247): 4-star / #25 WR / #195 Overall
- 247 Sports: 4-star / #32 WR
- ESPN: 4-star / #36 WR
- Rivals: 4-star / #17 WR / #156 Overall
- Scout: 4-star / #20 WR / #161 Overall
Jalen Guyton – WR
Summary: Notre Dame was one of the first big programs to heavily recruit Guyton and it paid off for them with an early commitment. Guyton played with one of the elite quarterbacks in the country – Kyler Murray – which may have impacted his recruiting stock some. ESPN and Scout list him as a 4-star recruit, but 247 and Rivals have him at 3-stars. Don’t let his rankings fool you though, Guyton has got big play potential in this offense and is an all-around player. In some ways, he reminds me of Will Fuller with slightly slower top end speed. Fuller didn’t have that many accolades coming into Notre Dame, but he has turned into one of the premier wide receivers in the country after just two seasons. Guyton has that kind of potential as well.
Immediate Role: Like with Boykin, it’s tough to see a big role for Guyton in 2015 given the depth Notre Dame will have at WR next year with Fuller, Robinson, Chris Brown, CJ Prosise, Justin Brent, Amir Carlisle (assuming he’s back for a 5th), and Corey Holmes. Guyton can play on special teams as well though and we all know all too well how the Irish have struggled in the return games for years.
Long-Term Role: Guyton can do a little bit of everything as a receiver and it would not surprise me at all if Guyton was able to turn into an every-down, starting wide receiver in the Irish offense in a couple of years even though none of the recruiting services have him listed as a top 50 wide receiver in this class. Four years from now Guyton is one of those recruits that we will look back on and wonder how he was rated so low.
Measureables:
- Height:6-1
- Weight: 185 lbs
- Hometown/School: Allen, Texas / Allen HS
- Speed: 4.5
Competition: Arizona St, Clemson, Baylor, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Stanford
Ratings/Rankings:
- Composite (247): 3-star / #62 WR / #529 Overall
- 247 Sports: 3-star / #87 WR
- ESPN: 4-star / #55 WR
- Rivals: 3-star / #56 WR
- Scout: 4-star / #53 WR
Tristen Hoge – C
Summary: Hoge was one of the first commitments in the class of 2015 along with Jerry Tillery and former commitment Blake Barnett. At the US Army All-American game, Hoge was selected as one of the captains for the West squad – a role that he could very easily play at Notre Dame before his career is over as well. Notre Dame got an elite offensive lineman with Hoge and his rankings back it up – ESPN, 247, and Rivals all rank him as the #1 center in the entire country. All of the major services also have Hoge as one of the top 150 overall prospects regardless of position. Hoge enrolled early at Notre Dame in January and will participate in Spring football.
Immediate Role: It is almost never a good thing for a true freshman to play a prominent role along the offensive line unless they are a truly special prospect. Lineman are best served adjusting to speed of the game and size of their opponents as freshmen. Hoge is certainly considered an elite prospect, but even with his early enrollment, a red-shirt season could be in the cards for Hoge.
Long-Term Role: While he might not play a huge role in 2015, Hoge has a very bright future with Notre Dame. He will very likely be a multiple year starter for Notre Dame and it would not be a surprise at all if his career ended with him earning All-American honors along the way enroute to a NFL future. He’s got the talent and potential for it.
Measureables:
- Height 6-4
- Weight: 285 lbs
- Hometown/School: Pocatello, Idaho / Highland HS
- Speed: N/A
Ratings/Rankings
- Composite (247): 4-star / #1 OC / #89 Overall
- 247 Sports: 4-star / #1 OC / #110 Overall
- ESPN: 4-star / #1 OC / #131 Overall
- Rivals: 4-star / #1 OC / #150 Overall
- Scout: 4-star / #2 OG / #48 Overall
Alize Jones – TE
Summary: Brian Kelly and his staff did a heck of a job getting Jones to flip from his commitment of UCLA to Notre Dame in January. Jones had been a long time Bruin commitment, but Kelly and staffed kept on him and ended up landing arguably the nation’s top prep tight end. He brings a dynamic skill-set as a receiver to the Notre Dame roster – a skillset that is a bit lacking among the current crop of tight ends despite a rather deep collection of talent at the position. Jones hails from the same high school, Bishop Gorman, as Notre Dame senior Ronnie Stanley and fellow incoming freshman Nicco Fertitta.
Immediate Role: There is playing time to be had for Jones in 2015 as the tight end that Notre Dame flexes out in the passing game. He might not have the size to be much of an inline blocker as a freshman, but he possess a matchup nightmare to any linebacker trying to cover him and will almost definitely see the field as a true freshman in some capacity.
Long-Term Role: Long term, Jones has all of the talent and potential to continues the “Tight End U” tradition at Notre Dame. He’ll need some time in the weight room to bulk up enough to be an every down player in order to handle the blocking duties of a tight end, but the sky is the limit for him over his career. Notre Dame hasn’t landed a tight end this highly regarded since Kyle Rudolph.
Measureables:
- Height 6’5
- Weight: 220 lbs
- Hometown/School: Las Vegas, NC / Bishop Gorman HS
- Speed: 4.6
Competition: UCLA (previous commitment), Arizona State, Aubrun, Georgia, USC
Ratings/Rankings:
- Composite (247): 4-star / #1 TE / #62 Overall
- 247 Sports: 4-star / #1 TE / #101 Overall
- ESPN: 4-star / #1 TE / #52 Overall
- Rivals: 4-star / #4 TE / #133 Overall
- Scout: 5-star / #2 TE / #32 Overall
Trevor Ruhland – OL
Summary: With Jerry Tillery’s flip to the defensive side of the football, Ruhland is just one of two offensive linemen in this year’s class. Unlike fellow limemate Tristen Hoge, he does not bring in as decorated of a resume although ESPN does rate Ruhland much higher than any other service. The World Wide Leader is the only service to label him as a 4-star recruit. The knock on Ruhland has been his size and level of competition, but some time in the weight room with Paul Longo should be able to bulk him up and have him ready to compete for a starting position in a few years.
Immediate Role: Ruhland is probably the most likely player on the offensive side of the ball to red-shirt this year. He’s got talent and potential but he needs to spend a season or two bulking up before he’s ready to contribute.
Long-Term Role: While a red-shirt season seems almost certain in 2015, Ruhland will be a player who might surprise fans in a few years when he is ready to compete for a starting role.
Measureables:
- Height 6-4
- Weight: 275 lbs
- Hometown/School: Cary, Illinois / Cary Grove HS
- Speed: N/A
Competition: Cal, UConn, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue
Ratings/Rankings:
- Composite (247): 3-star / #34 OG / #501 Overall
- 247 Sports: 3-star / #34 OG
- ESPN: 4-star/ #24 OG / #288 Overall
- Rivals: 3-star / #30 OC
- Scout: 3-star / #32 OG
CJ Sanders – WR
Summary: When Notre Dame started showing a lot of interest in CJ Sanders he was not as highly rated as he is now after seeing his stock rise as a senior. Sanders ended up becoming a consensus 4-star recruit after not being nearly as highly touted at the time of his commitment to Notre Dame. Sanders was named to the Semper Fi All-American Bowl team and was impressive throughout the week of practices.
Immediate Role: Like his fellow wide receivers in this year’s class, reps will be tough to come by simply due to the depth the Irish have amassed at the position. Sanders could, however, make a mark as a freshman as a return man. He will at the very get a chance on special teams as a frosh and could end up seeing the field at the slot position if Carlisle does not return. Most likely though Carlisle will return and with him, CJ Prosise, and Torii Hunter Jr ahead of him it’ll be tough to crack the rotation.
Long-Term Role: While a prominent role might not be in the cards for Sanders in 2015, he’s got the ability to be the consistent, big-play slot wide receiver Notre Dame has been missing. Last year both Amir Carlisle and CJ Prosise had their moments and Hunter came back after his gruesome broken leg injury, but none were consistent enough to really take control of the position. Sanders has the ability a huge playmaker for the Irish out of the slot and should be firmly entrenched in the starting lineup in a few seasons, if not sooner.
Measureables:
- Height 5-10
- Weight: 185 lbs
- Hometown/School: Sherman Oaks, California / Notre Dame HS
- Speed: 4.45
Competition: Cal, Stanford, USC, UCLA, Gerogia
Ratings/Rankings:
- Composite (247): 4-star / #33 WR / #283
- 247 Sports: 4-star / #24 WR / #222 Overall
- ESPN: 4-star / #53 WR
- Rivals: 4-star / #37 WR
- Scout: 4-star / #39 WR / #268 Overall
Brandon Wimbush – WB
Summary: After Notre Dame lost Blake Barnett to a decommitment, the Irish were left in scramble mode and for a while it looked as though they might strike out at the position in this recruiting cycle. Brian Kelly and staff, however, were able to get Wimbush to switch his commitment from Penn State to Notre Dame and in the process they landed themselves the highest rated quarterback they have ever landed during their tenure at Notre Dame. Wimbush is labeled a dual threat quarterback because he can run well, but he is not a run first QB – he sticks in the pocket and keeps his eyes downfield before taking off. He also has an absolute CANON of an arm already. In fact, he might have the strongest arm of any Notre Dame quarterback on the roster in 2015 as soon as he steps onto campus.
Immediate Role: Notre Dame will have a full depth chart of quarterbacks in 2015 that does not have to feature a single true freshman assuming Everett Golson returns and does not transfer as rumors have suggested he may if he is not the #1 QB coming out of spring football. That could mean a season with the scout team for Wimbush. That said, Wimbush has enough talent and is advanced enough as a passer that he could challenge Deshone Kizer for the #3 role.
Long-Term Role: Wimbush might have the highest ceiling of any of the quarterbacks on the Notre Dame roster. He’s got all of the skills you look for in a quarterback and has the size to be an elite quarterback. It is going to be very interesting watching the quarterback position at Notre Dame over the next few years with Wimbush in the fold because he might not have to wait for his turn – he might ascend up the depth chart quickly.
Measureables:
- Height 6-1
- Weight: 212 lbs
- Hometown/School: Jersey City, NJ / St. Peter’s Prep
- Speed: 4.7
Competition: Penn State (previous commitment), Alabama, LSU, Ohio State
Ratings/Rankings:
- Composite (247): 4-star / #3 Dual-Threat QB / #45 Overall
- 247 Sports: 4-star / #3 Dual-Threat QB / #45 Overall
- ESPN: 4-star / #4 Dual Threat QB / #45 Overall
- Rivals: 4-star / #4 Dual-Threat QB / #60 Overall
- Scout: 4-star / #6 QB / #71 Overall
Justin Yoon – K/P
Summary: Notre Dame needed to add a kicker to this year’s class and they could not have done a better job at landing one. Yoon is ranked as either the #1 or 2 kicker by almost every service and his talent was on full display at the Under Armour All-American Bowl where he had a record setting performance.
Immediate Role: With Kyle Brindza out of eligibility and no one on the roster who has ever attempted a field goal or punt on the collegiate level, Yoon is going to step in an immediately challenge for a role – most likely as the place kicker. Sophomore to be Tyler Newsome most likely will land the punting and kick-off duties.
Long-Term Role: Yoon has the potential to be a multiple year starter for the Irish just as Brindza was. Yoon brings in elite talent and if he lives up to his potential, he could challenge some of Brindza’s records since he very well could be the top place kicker from his freshman year on.
Measureables:
- Height: 5-11
- Weight: 185 lbs
- Hometown/School: Milton, Massachusetts / Milton Military Academy
- Speed: N/A
Competition:
Ratings/Rankings:
- Composite (247): 3-star / #2 K
- 247 Sports: 3-star / #1 K
- ESPN: 3-star / #2 K
- Rivals: 3-star / #1 K
- Scout: No Rankings
