Previewing Notre Dame’s massive Blue-Gold recruiting weekend

Notre Dame has more than 30 key prospects in the 2024 and 2025 classes on campus for a monstrous recruiting weekend. Who are the recruits due in for Saturday’s Blue-Gold Game, and what do you need to know ahead of it?

Blue & Gold breaks it all down.

THE TOP 2024 TARGETS

— Eight of Notre Dame’s nine commitments in the 2024 class are due in town, including Saline (Mich.) High quarterback CJ Carr. It is key for him to be back on campus to help recruit these other targets. The lone Notre Dame commit not attending is Malvern (Pa.) Prep offensive lineman Peter Jones, who was on campus last week.

— It’s an absolutely huge recruiting weekend for Notre Dame on the safety front, with five offered 2024 targets coming to (or already on) campus. Baltimore Gilman’s Dejaun Lane was a surprise visitor to arrive on Thursday. He’s a longtime target but one who Notre Dame hadn’t been able to get on campus prior to today. Irish sources believe that Notre Dame is in a “great spot” with the four-star player who is listed as a linebacker, but again, the Irish are recruiting him as a safety.

American Fork (Utah) High’s Davis Andrews picked up an offer from Notre Dame in January and has been a key Irish target ever since. This weekend is his long-awaited trip to South Bend. He very well could end up on Notre Dame’s commitment list at some point soon.

Notre Dame sources also feel really good about El Campo (Texas) High’s Oliver Miles, who is also taking his first trip to campus. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Notre Dame take a strong lead in his recruitment after this weekend.

Providence (R.I.) La Salle Academy’s Justin Denson will also be on campus, and while we haven’t confirmed it yet, we’ve heard that Fort Wayne (Ind.) North Side’s Tae Johnson, who the staff is recruiting at both receiver and safety, may also be in town.

When you look at these names plus Chandler (Ariz.) High’s Kennedy Urlacher, who was on campus last weekend, it looks as if Notre Dame is going to go from zero safety commits to having a couple in the near future.

— It’s a huge weekend for Hamilton (Ind.) Southeastern’s Styles Prescod. The On3 four-star offensive line recruit also visited last weekend, and he’s on commit watch. Notre Dame has two offensive linemen committed already, and Prescod is someone who the staff would like to add to the class.

Logan (Iowa) Magnolia’s Grant Brix is also expected on campus, and where exactly he stands on the board is more unknown at this point.

— It’s also a big weekend for Irish receiver recruiting with Warner Robins (Ga.) High’s Isiah Canion and Charlotte (N.C.) Christian’s Micah Gilbert coming on campus. Like Prescod, we believe Notre Dame is trending for Canion, and this weekend’s visit could be huge for the Irish. Gilbert likes Notre Dame a lot and is an X-factor on the 2024 receiver board.

— Between linebackers and pass rushers, it will be a crazy weekend. Two of the top inside linebackers on the board set to arrive this weekend are Roanoke (Va.) Patrick Henry’s Bodie Kahoun and Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco’s Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa. Don’t be surprised to see predictions logged in favor of Notre Dame for Kahoun after the visit. I already like the Irish for Viliamu-Asa.

Another couple of options on the board in the front seven are Salem (Va.) High LB Chris Cole and Jonesboro (Ark.) Valley View’s Brian Huff. They are both visiting this weekend and could be linebackers or rush ends at the next level.

A huge edge rusher target due in for the Irish is Notre Dame legacy and Charlotte (N.C.) Christian’s Bryce Young. He has long been a commitment candidate for the Irish. Is this weekend finally the time that puts Notre Dame over the top?

Philadelphia Monsignor Bonner’s Mylachi Williams is another intriguing vyper target the staff offered earlier this year and hosts this weekend.

— On the interior of the defensive line, Bryant (Ark.) High’s TJ Lindsey has been a longtime target for the staff and is making his long-awaited trip back to South Bend. We’ve liked Notre Dame to land him for quite some time, and this weekend could put the Irish in the pole position.

KEY 2025 NAMES TO KNOW

— Two notable wideouts will be on campus in Atlanta Woodward Academy’s Jerome Bettis Jr. and Red Oak (Texas) High’s Taz Williams Jr. Both prospects picked up offers from Notre Dame during Pot of Gold Day in March. Bettis is, of course, the son of Irish legend Jerome Bettis Sr.

— Miami Belen Jesuit Prep defensive lineman Davion Dixon loves Notre Dame from what we gather. He could be a sneaky contender for the first commit of the 2025 cycle for the Irish. He’ll get his first look at campus this weekend.

— Tampa (Fla.) Berkeley Prep’s Dallas Golden picked up an offer from Notre Dame back in 2022 and was one of the earliest offers the Irish dished out in the 2025 class. He’s a huge safety target for the staff.

— Pittsboro (N.C.) Northwood EDGE Gus Ritchey is an Irish target who will return to Notre Dame for the second time this spring. Ritchey picked up an offer on his last visit and will be giving the Irish a second look Saturday.

— Notre Dame loves Philadelphia St. Joseph’s Prep linebacker Anthony Sacca and is excited to play host to him this weekend. He’s another top target for the Irish in the next cycle.

— And last but certainly not least is Green Bay (Wis.) Notre Dame De La Baie Academy tight end James Flanigan, the son of former Irish defensive lineman Jim Flanigan. The Irish should be tough to beat in his recruitment.

2023 NOTRE DAME SIGNEES

Here are the class of 2023 signees who have yet to enroll at Notre Dame but are expected to be in South Bend for the Blue-Gold Game:

TE Cooper Flanagan

DL Armel Mukam

OL Chris Terek

RB Jeremiyah Love

OL Sullivan Absher

DL Brenan Vernon

K Spencer Shrader (USF transfer)