Recruiting calendars continue to move up and today Rivals released their first Top 100 for the class of 2021. Notre Dame’s hot start – which included two huge commitments over the weekend – was validated with their inaugural list with three of its four commitments listed: quarterback Tyler Buchner, defensive lineman Gabriel Rubio, and and offensive lineman Blake Fisher.
Blake Fisher (OT) #14
Notre Dame picked up a commitment from Fisher over the weekend at the Lineman Challenge. Prior to committing it was known that Fisher has the potential to be an elite player on the next level. Today’s rankings validate some of those early projections.
The Indiana native will be a five star prospect if he is able to maintain this lofty ranking. If he does that, he will be the first 5-star lineman for the Irish since Tommy Kraemer in the class of 2016.
Fellow offensive line commitment Greg Crippen was not in the top 100 that Rivals released today but he figures to be a 4-star recruit when their full rankings are eventually released. Next year’s offensive line class overall is reportedly LOADED with talent and Notre Dame could be in store for another monster class similar to the one they signed a few months ago.
Tyler Buchner (QB) #52
Buchner was at the top of Notre Dame’s board when he committed to the Irish a few months ago. Now he checks in at #52 overall. If the ranking holds, he would give Notre Dame back to back top 100 overall quarterbacks – according to Rivals anyway. Class of 2020 commitment Drew Pyne is currently #82 overall in the country in the Rivals rankings.
Top 100 quarterbacks have been a bit hit or miss under Brian Kelly at Notre Dame. Gunner Kiel, Brandon Wimbush, and Phil Jurkovec were all top 100 quarterbacks according to Rivals during the Kelly era. Kiel never took a snap for Notre Dame, Wimbush transferred earlier this year after losing his starting job in September, and Jurkovec enters his sophomore season after a shaky spring.
Gabriel Rubio (DT) #81
Mike Elston continued his streak of hot recruiting over the weekend with the addition of Rubio as the first defensive line commitment for 2021. He checks in at #81 overall in these rankings. For as good as Notre Dame’s defensive line recruiting has been, they had not have a Rivals100 defensive lineman in the class of 2019 or a commitment from one in the class of 2020 at this point.
It is still obviously very early, but with three top 100 commitments already for 2021, Notre Dame currently sits at #1 in the team rankings on Rivals right now.
