Notre Dame signed a class of 24 recruits on Wednesday, December 21 for the class of 2023. The Irish lost a high-profile battle for 5-star safety Peyton Bowen, who had been committed to Notre Dame for nearly a year, but still signed 20 four-star recruits, including a top-300 player at every position group.
The Irish have also added two players from the transfer portal this offseason, including Virginia Tech wide receiver Kaleb Smith on Wednesday. Notre Dame figured to be more active over the next few weeks in the portal as well.
| NAME | RANKING | POSITION | HEIGHT | WEIGHT | SCHOOL | POS RANK | OVERALL RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Jagusah | OL | 6-6 | 300 | Alleman HS | 6 | 49 | |
| Jeremiyah Love | RB | 6-1 | 195 | Christian Brothers HS | 5 | 68 | |
| Drayk Bowen | LB | 6-2 | 232 | Andrean HS | 8 | 96 | |
| Christian Gray | CB | 5-11 | 176 | DeSmet HS | 10 | 100 | |
| Braylon James | WR | 6-2 | 191 | Stony Point HS | 20 | 125 | |
| Jaden Greathouse | WR | 6-2 | 200 | Westlake HS | 22 | 133 | |
| Brenan Vernon | DL | 6-4 | 250 | Mentor HS | 18 | 145 | |
| Jaiden Ausberry | LB | 6-0 | 212 | University Lab | 11 | 156 | |
| Micah Bell | CB | 5-10 | 162 | The Kinkaid School | 18 | 160 | |
| Kenny Minchey | QB | 6-2 | 207 | John Paul Pope II | 13 | 165 | |
| Boubacar Traore | DL | 6-4 | 250 | Catholic Memorial | 22 | 170 | |
| Sullivan Absher | OT | 6-7 | 305 | South Point HS | 17 | 193 | |
| Rico Flores | WR | 6-0 | 177 | Folsom HS | 29 | 221 | |
| Devan Houstan | DL | 6-4 | 275 | St. James School | 34 | 247 | |
| Cooper Flanagan | TE | 6-5 | 239 | De La Salle HS | 15 | 272 | |
| Brandyn Hillman | ATH | 6-1 | 191 | Churchland HS | 12 | 318 | |
| Adon Shuler | S | 5-11 | 197 | Irvington HS | 31 | 337 | |
| Ben Minch | S | 5-11 | 185 | Lakota West | 32 | 340 | |
| Joe Otting | IOL | 6-5 | 271 | Hayden HS | 20 | 364 | |
| Sam Pendelton | IOL | 6-4 | 305 | Reagan HS | 25 | 387 | |
| Chris Terek | IOL | 6-4 | 295 | Glenbard West | 34 | 478 | |
| Preston Zinter | LB | 6-2 | 215 | Central Catholic HS | 43 | 517 | |
| Armel Mukam | DL | 6-4 | 250 | Woodberry Forest School | 58 | 529 | |
| Kaleb Smith (KK) | WR | 5-11 | 170 | Reedy HS | 78 | 553 |
Transfers In
| NAME | RANKING | POSITION | HEIGHT | WEIGHT | SCHOOL | POS RANK | OVERALL RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spencer Shrader | K | 6-2 | 190 | Newsome HS | |||
| Javontae Jean-Baptiste | DE | 6-5 | 255 | Bergen Catholic | 16 | 219 | |
| Riley Leonard | QB | 6-4 | 217 | Fairhope HS | 58 | 682 | |
| Sam Hartman | QB | 6-1 | 210 | Oceanside Collegiate (SC) | 32 | 767 | |
| Thomas Harper | S | 5-11 | 180 | Karns | 114 | 1,429 | |
| Kaleb Smith | WR | 6-2 | 222 | Louisa County HS | 256 | 1,765 |
Decommitments
| NAME | RANKING | POSITION | HEIGHT | WEIGHT | SCHOOL | POS RANK | OVERALL RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keon Keeley | EDGE | 6-6 | 242 | Berkeley Prep | 1 | 10 | |
| Peyton Bowen | S | 6-0 | 185 | Denton HS | 2 | 14 | |
| Dylan Edwards | RB | 5-9 | 165 | Derby HS | 11 | 186 | |
| Elijah Paige | OT | 6-7 | 304 | Pinnacle HS | 21 | 244 | |
| Justyn Rhett | CB | 6-1 | 195 | Bishop Gorman | 30 | 272 | |
| Jayden Limar | RB | 5-11 | 190 | Lake Stevens HS | 17 | 276 | |
| Sedrick Irvin Jr | RB | 5-10 | 190 | Columbus HS | 33 | 482 |
I thought Drew Pyne might become another Joe Montana.
Other great pick ups would’ve been:
Keon Keely, Peyton Bowen, Dante Moore et. al.
I’ll believe it when I see it.
Usually, they ‘follow the money’
Welcome to pay-to play,
what ND won’t play.
If Hartmann comes, he’ll be a rare exception and he’ll be welcome.
College football is in chaotic ruin.
It took awhile, but they finally pulled it off.
Totally corrupt, a complete free for all, and survival of the richest.
Sam Hartman would be a really huge pickup for Notredame next year. Good mobility, very good accuracy on all types of throws, goes through his progressions. Finally Merry Christmas to all of you and your families.
**Presuming Eric Hansen’s Hartman scoop is solid…**.
Leader. A younger group needs a leader even more than an older team. Mature, calm, game-proven. And invaluable mentor to the young QBs.
Instant talent upgrade. The guy makes all the throws, is decisive, and can really sling it.
Big, physically tough. Avoiding injury is obviously important; you don’t get a transfer if you have the game-ready talent already in the room.
Of all the kids who could embrace playing football at ND, it’s a guy who previously played at (no disrespect intended) a second-tier NC basketball school.
Wake is a beautiful campus, and a fine school, but Truist Field seats fewer than 40,000, and gameday tickets are often available.
ND isn’t winning the NC in 2023.
But at least the odds just got better.
Sam Hartman is a huge get. In addition to his passing abilities, he’s also a tough runner who can extend plays.
I’m sure there will be a competition, but he’ll be QB1.
This is an A+ use of the transfer portal by Rees and Freeman
Please Santa……
Tommy Rees has really been a good and true ND boy.
Please put Sam Hartman under ND’s tree.