Where are they from?: A look at the top 10 states from which Notre Dame signs players

Since 2013, Notre Dame has signed 226 prospects from 37 states, Washington D.C. and two additional countries.

It seems impressive, and it certainly is, but for Notre Dame, national recruiting is a survival mechanism. The school is not blessed with the fertile recruiting grounds of a USC or a Georgia.

Which of the 37 states are the most popular when it comes to getting prospects to sign on the dotted line?

Here is a look at the top 10 (well, top 11) states from which Notre Dame has signed prospects in the last 10 years plus the highest-rated recruit from each one.

Included under each state is the highest-rated prospect according to On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. 

1. Florida – 24 signees

Highest-rated: 2013 running back Greg Bryant (95.867)

Recruiting in Florida is a little weird given many prospects move to the state for high school football, but they aren’t originally from there. Of course, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy is the big one that brings in out-of-state players. Notre Dame has signed four prospects out of the powerhouse school in the last decade, and they are counted in the 24. Even if you take them out, that’s still 20 recruits from the state, so the point stands: teams have to recruit Florida to have success. Just ask Alabama, who essentially runs South Florida now.

2. California – 22 signees

Highest-rated: 2013 safety Max Redfield (96.533)

Notre Dame’s relationship with the state of California dates back to the Knute Rockne days, and it remains strong. Redfield didn’t pan out, but famous Notre Dame names like quarterback Ian Book, offensive lineman Aaron Banks and EDGE Isaiah Foskey certainly have.

T3. Illinois – 15 signees

Highest-rated: 2014 linebacker Nyles Morgan (94.100)

Illinois isn’t typically a recruiting hotbed, but this makes sense given the state neighbors Indiana. The Irish have located some gems out of the Chicago metro area in the last decade, including receiver Miles Boykin, corner Julian Love and tight end Cole Kmet. Top 2023 Notre Dame target Carnell Tate is from Chicago, although he is now playing at IMG.

T3. Ohio – 15 signees

Highest-rated: 2016 offensive lineman Tommy Kraemer (95.700)

There is a lot of high-level talent in Ohio, but competing with the in-state Buckeyes can make this a difficult ask, especially given their success over the last decade. Notre Dame’s top offensive recruit in the 2022 class, Aamil Wagner, is an Ohio product out of Irish head coach Marcus Freeman‘s high school. Five of Notre Dame’s 11 coaches were raised in Ohio, which could bode well for the future.

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5. New Jersey – 14 signees

Highest-rated: 2015 quarterback Brandon Wimbush (96.067)

Recruiting in New Jersey has really picked up for Notre Dame in recent years. From 2013-17, the Irish signed four prospects from the Garden State. Since 2018, they’ve picked up eight plus running back Audric Estime. He is from New York, but he went to high school in New Jersey. To keep the count consistent (like I did with IMG Academy), Estime falls into this bucket.

Newly installed defensive coordinator Al Golden is from the state and has deep ties to his alma mater, Red Bank Catholic. The high school is the alma mater of Irish alum and All-Pro offensive lineman Quenton Nelson as well as current Notre Dame tight end Kevin Bauman.

6. Georgia – 13 signees

Highest-rated: 2020 safety Kyle Hamilton (94.533)

It’s fitting Georgia slips in right behind New Jersey because recruiting has soared in the state in recent years. From 2013-17, Notre Dame signed just two recruits out of Georgia. Since 2018, they have locked in 11. That’s quite the jump, and it’s a necessary one if the Irish want to compete for national titles. Pulling talent out of the Southeast has become a priority for Notre Dame in recent years, and you’re seeing it pay dividends.

7. Texas – 12 signees

Highest-rated: 2017 tight end Brock Wright (94.400)

Texas is typically lumped in with Florida and California as one of the biggest states from which to pull talent, but the Irish haven’t had as much success in the Lone Star State as they have in the other two. Notre Dame has signed just three recruits from Texas in the last five years; their 2018, 2020 and 2021 classes had zero.

T8. Indiana – 11 signees

Highest-rated: 2013 linebacker Jaylon Smith (98.667)

You have to win your home state in college football recruiting, and Notre Dame does it often. In the last 10 classes, they have signed the top recruit from Indiana four times. When they are losing the top guy, it has been to Michigan and Purdue twice and Clemson and Kentucky once. Indiana’s No. 1 2023 prospect, linebacker Drayk Bowen, is committed to Notre Dame.

T8. Pennsylvania – 11 signees

Highest-rated: 2018 quarterback Phil Jurkovec (93.767)

Notre Dame has had a lot of success in Pennsylvania, particularly when it comes to offensive linemen. Mike McGlinchey, Josh Lugg, Kurt Hinish, Andrew Kristofic and Michael Carmody are all products out of the state in the last 10 years. Additionally, receiver Will Fuller was a grossly underrated recruit out of the Philadelphia area, coming in at No. 525 nationally.

T10. Michigan – nine signees

Highest-rated: 2021 offensive lineman Rocco Spindler (94.675)

It’s always a battle between Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State when it come to Michigan’s top-notch recruits. If Notre Dame can land four-star quarterback Dante Moore in their 2023 class, his 95.970 recruiting ranking would top anything the Irish have done in Michigan in the last decade. According to On3 RPM, Moore has a 73.1 percent chance of making South Bend his next home.

T10. Virginia – nine signees

Highest-rated: 2020 running back Chris Tyree (93.900)

While Virginia, Virginia Tech and the majority of the ACC are down, powerhouse programs across the country have infiltrated Virginia. Notre Dame has joined in on the fun. They have signed six prospects from the commonwealth since 2017, including current NFL players Jalen Elliott (Detroit Lions) and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (Cleveland Browns).