Notre Dame’s coaching staff begins their 2016 recruiting efforts this weekend with its first on-campus Junior Day. While the reshuffled staff had an opportunity to hit the road in February, the Irish coaches will host their first major recruiting event of the spring this weekend.
At last count, nearly two dozen prospects are invited to campus to see what Notre Dame has to offer. With the weather looking like it’ll cooperate, expect a close look at the Irish practice, as the duo of Mike Elston and Dave Peloquin coordinate the efforts to back up the Irish’s surprising 2015 class with another excellent group.
Notre Dame’s lone commitment, Cincinnati offensive lineman Tommy Kraemer, will be on campus. Here’s a list of some others, with early recruiting rankings supplied by Rivals and Blue & Gold Illustrated.
All hands on deck. Full staff meeting. Preparing for Jr. Day pic.twitter.com/RyzHZWeocq
— Brian Kelly (@CoachBrianKelly) March 19, 2015
Junior Day Visitor List
March 21, 2015
Cameron Brown, OLB
Potomac, Maryland
Noah Burks, ILB
Carmel, Indiana
Donnie Corley, WR*
Detroit, Michigan
Damar Hamlin, CB**
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Dwayne Haskins Jr., QB*
Potomac, Maryland
Elijah Holyfield, RB**
Atlanta, Georgia
Naquan Jones, DT
Evanston, Illinois
Tony Jones Jr., RB
Brandenton, Florida
Michael Jordan, OT**
Canton, Michigan
Khalid Kareem, DE**
Farmington Hills, Michigan
Tommy Kraemer, OT*
Cincinnati, Ohio
Julian Love, CB
Westchester, Illinois
Kenny Lyke, S
Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Austin Mack, WR**
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Tylin Oden, QB**
Columbia, Tennessee
Brandon Peters, QB**
Avon, Indiana
Martell Pettaway, RB
Detroit, Michigan
Auston Robertson, DE**
Fort Wayne, Indiana
John Shannon, LS
Wilmette, Illinois
AJ Epenesa, DE (2017)
Edwardsville, Illinois
Brock Wright, TE (2017)
Cypress, Texas
Corey Malone Hatcher, DE (2017
St. Joseph, Michigan
*Signifies Rivals100 ranking.
**Signifies Rivals250 ranking.
At this point, take any grading evaluation from the recruiting websites with a very large grain of salt. With the summer circuit of camps and combines still around the corner, all sorts of moving and shaking is still to come on the virtual big boards.
That said, it’s worth looking at the guys who already hold offers that’ll be on campus. Per Irish 247, that includes Haskins, reportedly ND’s top QB on their board and Corley, another prospect the Irish staff covets.
Cornerback Damar Haskins looks like another battle with Penn State, though Notre Dame’s staff has to feel good about their ability to out-duel James Franklin’s group after last recruiting cycle’s poaching of Brandon Wimbush and Josh Barajas.
Fort Wayne prospects Austin Mack and Auston Robertson both have offers from the Irish as well, with Notre Dame looking to make up ground. So does defensive end Khalid Kareem. You’ve got to expect an edge rusher to remain a priority for the Irish staff, especially after adding just Bo Wallace to that group in the last recruiting cycle.
There’s also a ton of interest in adding a running back this cycle even after adding two in the 2015 class. Both Holyfield and Jones are guys with Notre Dame offers as they step foot on campus. Adding the former heavyweight champion of the world to the parents section would be a nice replacement for David Robinson as his days watching Corey run down.
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Expect more offers to go out and the recruiting class to grow sooner than later. The past few recruiting cycles, the Irish staff did some damage in March, April and May, building its base as the team went into summer.
The 2013 recruiting class had huge spring months, hitting a dozen commitments before May. Last year’s class had nine commitments by June, though sat at four more than a year before signing day.
While it’s still early to project the size of the 2016 class, any worries about a late start shouldn’t be considered until the summer months. Kelly acknowledged that rebuilding his staff and pushing back the start of spring practice was a necessity, and with the work he did one that he found well worth it.
More news to come this weekend after the first reports from visitors come through.