How Many Scholarships Are Left for ’11?
A wild week of news has Notre Dame’s scholarship picture a little unclear. NFL departures, transfers, and new recruits have all affected the total number of available scholarships for the Irish. Here’s a quick update.
First off, let’s take a look at all of the scholarship players coming back outside of any 5th year seniors.
- Seniors (21) – Dayne Crist (QB), Nate Montana (QB), Jonas Gray (RB), John Goodman (WR), Deion Walker (WR), Lane Clelland (OT), Braxston Cave (OC), Mike Golic Jr (OG/OC), Trevor Robinson (OG), Ethan Johnson (DE), Kapron Lewis-Moore (DE), Hafis Williams (DE), Brandon Newman (NT), Sean Cwynar (DE), Darius Fleming (OLB), David Posluszny (ILB), Anthony McDonald (ILB), Steve Filer (OLB), Dan McCarthy (S), Jamoris Slaughter (S), Robert Blanton (CB).
- Juniors (15) – Cierre Wood (RB), Theo Riddick (WR), Roby Toma (WR), Tyler Eifert (TE), Jake Golic (TE), Zach Martin (OT), Chris Watt (OG), Tyler Stockton (DT), Manti Te’o (ILB), Carlo Calabrese (ILB), Dan Fox (OLB), Zeke Motta (S), Nick Tausch (K), Ben Turk (P), Jordan Cowart (LS)
- Sophomores (19) – Tommy Rees (QB), Andrew Hendrix (QB, Luke Massa (QB), Cameron Roberson (RB), Bennett Jackson (WR), Austin Collinsworth (WR), Daniel Smith (WR), TJ Jones (WR), Alex Welch (TE), Christian Lombard (OT), Tate Nichols (OT), Kona Schwenke (DE), Louis Nix (DT), Bruce Heggie (DE), Danny Spond (ILB), Prince Shembo (OLB), Justin Utupo (OLB), Kendall Moore (ILB), Lo Wood (CB)
These lists include the departure of Kyle Rudolph to the NFL, the transfer of Alex Bullard, and the loss of EJ Banks who is no longer enrolled at Notre Dame.
Ok, so if we add up all of that, Notre Dame sits at 55 scholarships. With would leave a total of 30 open spots for incoming recruits, 5th year seniors, and Michael Floyd if he decides to come back for his senior season. We’ll know for sure by next Saturday if he is returning or not, but for now let’s assume he returns and Notre Dame has 29 scholarships to work with.
Notre Dame currently sits at 19 verbal commitments which would bring us down to 10 available spots for more recruits and 5th year seniors so let’s take a look at who could potentially come back.
- Potential 5th Years (8) – Andrew Nuss (OG), Taylor Dever (OT), Mike Ragone (TE), Emeka Nwankwo (DE), Steve Paskorz (ILB), Gary Gray (CB), Harrison Smith (S), David Ruffer (K)
Of those eight, Nuss, Dever, Romine, Gray, Smith, and Ruffer seem like locks to come back for one more season in South Bend. Dever, Gray, Smith, and Ruffer are returning starters and Nuss and Romine will be needed to provide some valuable depth long the offensive line. Mike Ragone could be invited back now that Rudolph is headed to the NFL as well.
Additionally, Dan Wenger is applying for a 6th year of eligibility after missing the 2010 season due to concussion issues.
For arguments sake, let’s say Notre Dame only takes the six 5th year seniors back I mentioned as locks since that most likely represents the minimum number of seniors coming back.
Assuming all of that (major assumptions I know), Notre Dame could be down to just four spots in this class. If Floyd leaves for the NFL that number would increase to five.
We should get a clear idea of how those spots will be used in the next week. The deadline for declaring for the NFL Draft for juniors is January 15th so we’ll know a week from today if that additional spot will be open or if Michael Floyd decides to come back.
Amir Carlisle is announcing his college decision on the 15th and is picking between Notre Dame, USC, and Stanford. Aaron Lynch is reportedly visiting Notre Dame next weekend and deciding shortly after if he plans on enrolling early at Notre Dame or Florida State. Ishaq Williams, meanwhile, could make his college decision this week as well. He had originally planned on making his decision today at the US Army All American Bowl, but decided he needed more time.
On top of those recruits, Notre Dame is still in on the likes of Chase Hounshell, Jake Fisher, Savon Huggins, Brennan Scarlett, and Troy Niklas so the numbers are likely going to get pretty tight.
Should be an interesting few weeks until Signing Day for Notre Dame.
Frank Vitovitch has been Co-Owner and Editor in Chief of UHND.com since joining forces with Kyle Flavin in 1999. Since that time, he has written over 2,000 articles covering Notre Dame football, recruiting, and basketball. He also works with all staff and external writers on all articles published on UHND.com. Frank's love for Notre Dame football started at a young age watching Rocket Ismail give opposing coaches ulcers in the late 1980's. By day Frank works in marketing and holds a degree in Digital Media from Drexel University. Frank's work has been cited by online/print editions of NBC Sports, ESPN, and Sports Illustrated and has been quoted on air by ESPN's Collin Cowherd. He's conducted interviews with Notre Dame legends Rocket Ismail, Randy Kinder, Lee Becton, Reggie Brooks, Michael Stonebreaker, and Ned Bolcar among others over his 20+ years of covering Notre Dame football. He's also been published in the print edition of USA Today Sports Weekly and the USA Today College Football Preview multiple times. Other Published Works/Citations for Frank Three Reasons Notre Dame Will Beat Alabama - USA Today Notre Dame Suspends WR Kevin Stepherson, RB C.J. Holmes Indefinitely - Bleacher Report Notre Dame / Ohio State Fiesta Bowl Preview - Eleven Warriors Brace Yourself: The Fighting Irish are Relevant Again - Sports on Earth Interviews with the Enemy: A Q&A with Frank Vitovitch of UHND - Yahoo! Sports Five Good Minutes: Notre Dame Football Preview With UHND.com - BC Interruption Vicious Electronic Questioning with UHND - MGO Blog
If we maintain our current roster of recruits, and add a few of those you mentioned, it’s going to be tigh. But man, what a class we would have!.
I guess my only question is why does Nate Montana have a scholarship to begin with? I fell bad for him, the pressure of being Joe Montana’s son must be intense. But let’s be honest, he just isn’t his dad. Keep him on the team, but with the talent we have at QB, including the recruits; the scholarship can be better used elsewhere. Just my opinion
Call me ignorant – bit if Montana is not a fifth year can you jsut take the scholarship away? Not a good precedent to let guys know that in their last year if they are not a key player they can be dumped. If there is not an issue there I agree take the scholarship and give it to someone who may be a factor – embarassing because of the name but I do n ot think anyone can really argue with it – some of the players listed may not have been even given an offer – according to the recruiting sites. It is going to get tight and hopefully ND will get the key guys
I didn’t realize Montana was awarded a scholarship…I thought he was still a walk-on…sure got a lot of QB’s on schollie.
Frank, always enjoy your insight. You’re one of the better ones. Don’t think Montana will get a scholie so that still leaves 5 if Floyd returns. If we hit a grand slam and get em all, I think we could give up one of either Romine or Nuss. Regardless, it seems as if we have all we need by taking the 6 you suggested and adding Carlisle, Lynch and 2 or 3 of the others. Should be fine. Norm
I was against giving Ruffer a scholarship at first, but now that Bullard is gone I am for it. I also don’t think that Montana is going to be given a scholarship for 2011. Also the early enrollees who we won’t know for sure until Jan 18th will not count against the 2011 scholarships right? I know that B Koyack is eligible to enroll early, as is Ishaq Williams if he comes to ND.
The early enrollees count towards the 2011 over scholarship limit of 85 but not the individual limit of 25 for this year’s class. No matter when a recruit enrolls, you can’t ever go over 85 total scholarships. With early enrollees you can count them towards your previous year’s class so you can sign more than 25 players in one class.
Thanks for the update Frank. That looks like it took a lot of work but really gives a great look at whats coming up on the horizon