When Notre Dame and Michigan meet to kick off the 2018 season, receiver Freddy Canteen will be lined up opposite a uniform he used to wear. The former Wolverine receiver announced a graduate transfer commitment to Notre Dame on Saturday evening. Canteen will have two years of eligibility remaining once he graduates from Michigan this spring.
A former rivals.com four-star recruit, Canteen enrolled early at Michigan in the spring of 2014, furthering his ability to now graduate early. He caught five receptions over six games his freshman year before a shoulder injury early his sophomore season ended his Michigan career. Canteen told Irish Illustrated he could have returned to the field for the Wolverines in 2016, but opted to instead preserve a year of playing eligibility.
Canteen will bolster depth at a position headlined by juniors Equanimeous St. Brown and C.J. Sanders. Though Canteen would not likely project in St. Brown’s place, he could possibly challenge Sanders in the slot or sophomores Kevin Stepherson and Javon McKinley out wide.
He could also, theoretically, flip to defense where Notre Dame needs help at defensive back. At 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, Canteen’s skill set could translate to the position without much lapse.
“Ask anybody about me, I bring speed to the game,” he said.
In his 2014 recruitment, Canteen chose Michigan over offers from Maryland and Tennessee, among others.
After losing rising senior receiver Justin Brent to a transfer in January, Notre Dame added two receiver recruits on National Signing Day, Michael Young and Jafar Armstrong. Later that day, Irish coach Brian Kelly said Notre Dame set aside a scholarship with hopes of bringing in a graduate transfer. Presumably, Kelly was referring to Canteen and Notre Dame now has a full roster of 85 scholarship players.
With two years of eligibility remaining—rather than the typical one of a graduate transfer—Canteen will alter the approach to next year’s recruiting. Notre Dame’s class of 2018 was already likely to be a smaller group than usual.