Over the past week, Notre Dame recruiting has been on fire. The Irish have been extremely active on the trail since Marcus Freeman took over as head coach. Reeling in several elite five-stars, and a host of four-stars, the 2023 and 2024 Notre Dame recruiting classes are ranked No. 1 overall by 247Sports. In just the last week, Notre Dame landed five talents, all four-stars, and some five-stars depending on the ranking site, who add to those classes and have the Irish sitting pretty midway through the summer. They’ve got targets left, but there’s no doubt that Freeman and Co. are feeling good after this recent string of successes. Here’s a look at the latest commits who will wear the blue and gold.
Cam Williams, WR
The first in a series of rapid-fire commitments, Cam Williams became the top-ranked receiver in this class. A four-star, Williams committed on June 29th, less than three weeks after quarterback C.J. Carr did the same. Williams ranks as high as the 11th-best receiver in the ‘24 class, and the 104th-ranked player. He was a major Big 10 target, picking largely between Iowa and the Irish. At 6’2 and 180 pounds, Williams is a great physical prototype at receiver. His speed should play well on the outside, as Williams ran a 4.47 40-yard dash at the Irish Invasion camp.
Notre Dame reeled in just one receiver in the 2022 cycle, so adding speed and talent at the skill positions is high priority. They have four-star recruits now in each of their next classes. And more
Charles Jagusah, OT
Charles Jagusah committed early in the morning after Williams’ commitment. He adds to a strong 2023 offensive line class. The Irish have five commitments on the offensive line, and Jagusah tops them all in the rankings. He’s a consensus top-ten player at the position, and he’s the No. 7 overall player in the class according to On3. Notre Dame also beat out Iowa, a tough school to topple in lineman recruiting, for Jagusah’s services.
The Irish may still pursue Monroe Freeling and put a bow on their offensive recruiting. However, Jagusah provides the Irish with a potential day-1 starter and makes Notre Dame a lot more comfortable at the position. At 6’6 and 300 pounds, Jagusah is an exceptional athlete. That’s evidenced by more his production on the gridiron. In his junior year, Jagusah was an unbeaten 41-0 as a wrestler. He’s a dynamic athlete and will continue the strong offensive line tradition in South Bend.
Micah Bell, CB
If the name of the game is speed, the Irish landed a game-changer in Micah Bell. Currently, wide receiver Braden Lenzy and running back Chris Tyree are some of the fastest players on the roster. Bell’s 100-meter dash time is about a quarter-second faster than either of those players ran in high school. The Irish beat out Baylor and Texas in the recruiting battle. Bell ranks as high as the 55th-best player in the class (247 sports) but is generally regarded as a top-15 cornerback. As his technique matures to match his athleticism, Bell’s ceiling is one of the best in the 2023 class.
Notre Dame delved into Texas and stole one of the fastest players in the 2023 class. Cornerback is one of the Irish’s weakest positions right now, and bringing in an elite athlete and player is a testament to how hot Notre Dame recruiting is right now.
Rico Flores, WR
Rico Flores gives Braylon James a dynamic partner in the 2023 recruiting class at receiver. Picking between Ohio State, Georgia and the Irish, Flores opted for the blue and gold, marking another Notre Dame recruiting victory. Flores is a consensus top-300 player, and he provides a lot of versatility. His great ball skills in the air and soft hands make him a great outside option. However, Flores is a strong runner after the catch and can power through contact, making him a good candidate for the slot receiver role.
Flores is probably not a Year 1 starter for the Irish, but he’s a really talented player who could become a major contributor in years to come. As Notre Dame continues to build on their top-ranked recruiting classes, the fact that a top-30 receiver and top-300 player is one of the lower-ranking commitments in recent weeks has to be regarded as a major victory for Marcus Freeman and Co.
Christian Gray, CB
Long considered the biggest defensive priority of the current Notre Dame recruiting class, Christian Gray became the second half of the Irish cornerback duo with Micah Bell. Notre Dame edged out LSU and Ohio State and brought home a player ranked 78th by the On3 Consensus. Gray has great ball skills, is a strong tackler, and he’s flashed proficiency in a variety of coverage schemes. He’s a fantastic addition to the Notre Dame class and gives Notre Dame arguably their biggest win in terms of positional need.
Who’s Next
The Irish turn their attention to a variety of new targets after this recent surge in commitments. Jaden Greathouse remains their top receiving target, as the Irish battle for the Texas product with the Longhorns. Texas recently pulling Arch Manning may affect that commitment in a big way. On the offensive line, Notre Dame still may look to obtain Freeling’s services. However, they do currently trail Clemson in that recruiting battle.
Notre Dame also lacks a quarterback in this 2023 class. Carr’s commitment made Dante Moore less of a priority, but also far less likely to commit. The Irish don’t really have many options right now. Assuming Moore commits elsewhere, the Irish may have to look to flip another quarterback recruit or hope Carr reclassifies.
Defensively, the Irish continue to look strong in this 2023 class. Right now, with Gray committed, the attention turns to linebacker Jaiden Ausberry. The Irish are competing with former head coach Brian Kelly for the Baton Rouge product and seem to be leading. Landing Ausberry gives Notre Dame a pair of talents – including Drayk Bowen – that could contribute early in their collegiate careers.
