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Notre Dame Football Recruiting

2018 Offers: How Does Notre Dame Stack Up?

February 9, 2017
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The hot topic on message boards has been offers for the 2018 class. Where does Notre Dame stack up against other programs in the country? Is Notre Dame behind in offering prospects?

Many fans believe Notre Dame is far behind in offering 2018 prospects, so here is where Notre Dame currently stacks up nine days after National Signing Day.

Let’s first start off with the final AP Top 25 to see where the Irish stack up.

Total Offers

Clemson: 77
Alabama: 140
USC: 72
Washington: 37
Oklahoma: 112
Ohio State: 112
Penn State: 118
Florida State: 89
Wisconsin: 122
Michigan: 168
Oklahoma State: 69
Stanford: 21
LSU: 140
Florida: 150
Western Michigan: 26
Virginia Tech: 113
Colorado: 96
South Florida: 103
Miami: 135
Louisville: 195
Tennessee: 214
Utah: 68
Auburn: 121
San Diego State: 12

Bonus Teams
Baylor: 64
Michigan State: 122
Minnesota: 56
Georgia: 131
Oregon: 89
UCLA: 111
Texas: 57
Texas A&M: 70
Duke: 127
Northwestern: 50

Notre Dame: 83
Average: 99 Offers

It’s clear Notre Dame is behind on offers against some of the top teams in the country, but the gap isn’t as big as some feel it is.

What positions are the Irish falling behind in?

Quarterback

Clemson: 5
Alabama: 8
USC: 4
Washington: 2
Oklahoma: 6
Ohio State: 6
Penn State: 8
Florida State: 4
Wisconsin: 6
Michigan: 9
Oklahoma State: 6
Stanford: 1
LSU: 9
Florida: 6
Western Michigan: 3
Virginia Tech: 11
Colorado: 6
South Florida: 9
Miami: 11
Louisville: 18
Tennessee: 12
Utah: 9
Auburn: 4
San Diego State: 4
Bonus Teams
Baylor: 4
Michigan State: 7
Minnesota: 4
Georgia: 7
Oregon: 5
UCLA: 7
Texas: 4
Texas A&M: 7
Duke: 6
Northwestern: 5

Notre Dame: 1
Average: 6.2

Running Back

Clemson: 6
Alabama: 8
USC: 4
Washington: 3
Oklahoma: 7
Ohio State: 8
Penn State: 6
Florida State: 8
Wisconsin: 11
Michigan: 8
Oklahoma State: 6
Stanford: 2
LSU: 9
Florida: 10
Western Michigan: 2
Virginia Tech: 10
Colorado: 7
South Florida: 12
Miami: 11
Louisville: 18
Tennessee: 20
Utah: 6
Auburn: 10
San Diego State: 0

Bonus Teams:
Baylor: 8
Michigan State: 8
Minnesota: 3
Georgia: 11
Oregon: 8
UCLA: 7
Texas: 4
Texas A&M: 0
Duke: 12
Northwestern: 6

Notre Dame: 6
Average: 7.3

Wide Receiver

Clemson: 6
Alabama: 18
USC: 17
Washington: 11
Oklahoma: 13
Ohio State: 12
Penn State: 11
Florida State: 9
Wisconsin: 17
Michigan: 16
Oklahoma State: 8
Stanford: 2
LSU: 17
Florida: 20
Western Michigan: 4
Virginia Tech: 15
Colorado: 18
South Florida: 9
Miami: 24
Louisville: 24
Tennessee: 37
Utah: 16
Auburn: 21
San Diego State: 1

Bonus Teams:
Baylor: 14
Michigan State: 16
Minnesota: 7
Georgia: 16
Oregon: 17
UCLA: 18
Texas: 8
Texas A&M: 14
Duke: 17
Northwestern: 5

Notre Dame: 12
Average: 13.6

Tight End

Clemson: 2
Alabama: 8
USC: 5
Washington: 2
Oklahoma: 4
Ohio State: 8
Penn State: 7
Florida State: 4
Wisconsin: 6
Michigan: 10
Oklahoma State: 8
Stanford: 1
LSU: 8
Florida: 6
Western Michigan: 0
Virginia Tech: 4
Colorado: 5
South Florida: 4
Miami: 7
Louisville: 11
Tennessee: 16
Utah: 2
Auburn: 4
San Diego State: 0

Bonus Teams:
Baylor: 4
Michigan State: 3
Minnesota: 3
Georgia: 5
Oregon: 7
UCLA: 7
Texas: 5
Texas A&M: 4
Duke: 8
Northwestern: 4

Notre Dame: 4
Average: 7.4

Offensive Line

Clemson: 12
Alabama: 15
USC: 6
Washington: 5
Oklahoma: 15
Ohio State: 16
Penn State: 14
Florida State: 13
Wisconsin: 7
Michigan: 24
Oklahoma State: 11
Stanford: 2
LSU: 17
Florida: 28
Western Michigan: 6
Virginia Tech: 12
Colorado: 14
South Florida: 11
Miami: 17
Louisville: 17
Tennessee: 25
Utah: 7
Auburn: 23
San Diego State: 3

Bonus Teams
Baylor: 8
Michigan State: 16
Minnesota: 8
Georgia: 22
Oregon: 11
UCLA: 13
Texas: 8
Texas A&M: 9
Duke: 18
Northwestern: 8

Notre Dame: 6
Average: 12.3

Defensive Tackle

Clemson: 5
Alabama: 15
USC: 3
Washington: 1
Oklahoma: 10
Ohio State: 11
Penn State: 11
Florida State: 9
Wisconsin: 7
Michigan: 13
Oklahoma State: 3
Stanford: 0
LSU: 10
Florida: 11
Western Michigan: 1
Virginia Tech: 8
Colorado: 4
South Florida: 3
Miami: 9
Louisville: 12
Tennessee: 14
Utah: 2
Auburn: 7
San Diego State: 0

Bonus Teams:
Baylor: 4
Michigan State: 8
Minnesota: 4
Georgia: 16
Oregon: 2
UCLA: 11
Texas: 5
Texas A&M: 9
Duke: 6
Northwestern: 2

Notre Dame: 5
Average: 6.6

Defensive End

Clemson: 7
Alabama: 17
USC: 8
Washington: 1
Oklahoma: 12
Ohio State: 10
Penn State: 12
Florida State: 9
Wisconsin: 12
Michigan: 14
Oklahoma State: 3
Stanford: 2
LSU: 14
Florida: 10
Western Michigan: 1
Virginia Tech: 8
Colorado: 3
South Florida: 15
Miami: 17
Louisville: 22
Tennessee: 18
Utah: 0
Auburn: 11
San Diego State: 1

Bonus Teams:
Baylor: 4
Michigan State: 14
Minnesota: 7
Georgia: 12
Oregon: 8
UCLA: 4
Texas: 5
Texas A&M: 6
Duke: 11
Northwestern: 3

Notre Dame: 9
Average: 8.5

Linebacker

Clemson: 7
Alabama: 13
USC: 8
Washington: 4
Oklahoma: 7
Ohio State: 8
Penn State: 13
Florida State: 4
Wisconsin: 17
Michigan: 19
Oklahoma State: 7
Stanford: 4
LSU: 20
Florida: 10
Western Michigan: 1
Virginia Tech: 7
Colorado: 9
South Florida: 9
Miami: 9
Louisville: 18
Tennessee: 11
Utah: 9
Auburn: 9
San Diego State: 0

Bonus Teams:
Baylor: 2
Michigan State: 16
Minnesota: 2
Georgia: 8
Oregon: 5
UCLA: 13
Texas: 2
Texas A&M: 5
Duke: 12
Northwestern: 5

Notre Dame: 11
Average: 8.3

Cornerback

Clemson: 13
Alabama: 17
USC: 12
Washington: 2
Oklahoma: 19
Ohio State: 11
Penn State: 14
Florida State: 11
Wisconsin: 16
Michigan: 21
Oklahoma State: 8
Stanford: 2
LSU: 14
Florida: 20
Western Michigan: 3
Virginia Tech: 12
Colorado: 12
South Florida: 16
Miami: 13
Louisville: 21
Tennessee: 24
Utah: 4
Auburn: 14
San Diego State: 2

Bonus Teams
Baylor: 8
Michigan State: 14
Minnesota: 7
Georgia: 16
Oregon: 12
UCLA: 14
Texas: 5
Texas A&M: 9
Duke: 16
Northwestern: 3

Notre Dame: 14
Average: 11.6

Safety

Clemson: 8
Alabama: 11
USC: 5
Washington: 3
Oklahoma: 16
Ohio State: 12
Penn State: 11
Florida State: 10
Wisconsin: 11
Michigan: 17
Oklahoma State: 8
Stanford: 4
LSU: 14
Florida: 13
Western Michigan: 3
Virginia Tech: 10
Colorado: 11
South Florida: 6
Miami: 8
Louisville: 17
Tennessee: 20
Utah: 7
Auburn: 10
San Diego State: 0

Bonus Teams:
Baylor: 6
Michigan State: 11
Minnesota: 4
Georgia: 8
Oregon: 6
UCLA: 9
Texas: 9
Texas A&M: 6
Duke: 13
Northwestern: 5

Notre Dame: 7
Average: 9.3

Athlete

Clemson: 6
Alabama: 10
USC: 2
Washington: 3
Oklahoma: 5
Ohio State: 10
Penn State: 11
Florida State: 8
Wisconsin: 12
Michigan: 17
Oklahoma State: 1
Stanford: 1
LSU: 8
Florida: 16
Western Michigan: 2
Virginia Tech: 16
Colorado: 7
South Florida: 9
Miami: 8
Louisville: 17
Tennessee: 17
Utah: 6
Auburn: 8
San Diego State: 1

Bonus Teams
Baylor: 2
Michigan State: 9
Minnesota: 7
Georgia: 10
Oregon: 8
UCLA: 8
Texas: 2
Texas A&M: 1
Duke: 8
Northwestern: 4

Notre Dame: 8
Average 7.4

All in all, Notre Dame isn't too far behind the curve when you break it down and when you consider the academic hurdles, the staff has done a pretty good job at getting in early on the 2018 class.

Notre Dame does need to get out a few more offers on the offensive line, but that's really the only glaring difference outside of quarterback, which the Irish have five-star Phil Jurkovec committed.

What will be interesting is seeing what this looks like at the end of the cycle, but Mike Elston and the Notre Dame recruiting office needs credit for improving the offer process and making it more timely.
Discussion from...

2018 Offers: How Does Notre Dame Stack Up?

15,441 Views | 18 Replies | Last: 7 yr ago by Chicubfannin
Starshooter
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This should put this myth to rest. Now staff needs to designate Plan B offers and keep recruiting them at a level where players feel as though ND still has high interest level in them.
subalum75
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I don't think it is a myth. I think ND is behind on offers. Average was 99. ND was 83. Those are the numbers.

However, the top programs were probably far above 99. The average is 99, but that is not due to programs that are the powerhouses though. That is who I think ND should be comparing itself to.

I understand ND has some hurdles. I get it. However, if we are asking for excellence on the field, we have to be realistic. ND is not playing the same game as some of the main powers



Bentwaterirish
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ND is much tougher to get into then Bama, OSU, etc. Look at Stanford. That's the acceptable pruce we pay for being an elite university.
Sec26Row30
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Sec26Row30
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Just QB, OL, and TE.... are a total of 15 below the average.... do we need a wide net for OL? And, are we taking any more QBs and more than 1 TE.....
Frankbuz
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I understand the need for so many offers in this day in age. But what happens if a bunch of 3* accept early in the game and fills up your roster.? Do you run them off later in the recruiting year? This is where early signing period could have a real impact. Schools are going to confess their true assessment of the player or get stuck with him if someone better comes along. Unless you are sure, don't sign a player early.
bogtrotter
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How much of ND being 'slightly' behind in offers is due to; A) having a 5 star QB committed, B) Having two top TE's committed, and EE for 2017, C) being stacked from GS to Sophomore class with the offensive line (two GS candidates for a fifth year, including one that started saw the handwriting on the wall and went elsewhere,) and D) Most importantly probably, this class has the feel that they identified their priorities early, and built early relationships with those individuals, particularly at positions of need, (Maybe not CB, but WR, and LB certainly)?
jason4irish
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So Bama basically offered everyone because they know they can and will just pull a scholly if they have too.
Honestly I thought it was worse. Not asking anyone to do this but I wonder how many players Clemson, Bama, LSU, USC etc have offered that wouldn't even qualify at ND.
bogtrotter
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Looking at the numbers two patterns jump out. First - Alabama: 140, Auburn: 121, Oklahoma: 112, Ohio State: 112 Penn State: 118, Wisconsin: 122, Michigan: 168, Virginia Tech: 113, Miami: 135, Louisville: 195, Tennessee: 214. These are schools that cast a wide net and most don't usually let a little thing like playing school get in the way. Is this kind of blanket realistic for ND? Because you have to believe, to get that kind of number of offers out, you have to have pretty much blanketed the top 250, and then some!

But more interesting are Clemson: 77, USC: 72, Washington: 37, Stanford: 21. If any schools have gotten the classes they want for the last five years, these would be within the core of the list. Other than Alabama, Ohio State, and maybe Michigan, few schools have shown the kind of consistency at pulling in the kids they want, developing them, and more importantly having those results translate onto the field.

So with that I will say that ND needed more offers, but more importantly they needed the right offers earlier. I bet numbers don't matter as much as relationships. That being said, recruiting like sales is still a numbers game.
fisher
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What really matters is how many offers have been extended by ND to 3*, 4* and 5* student athletes.

What does this distribution look like?
northirish
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I would rather see ND offer positions of need, target specific prospects vs. Sending out as many as you can. ThT said seemed to work out for UM sending a recruit a thank you for attending a BBQ he didn't go to and he ended up signing anyway...
calhoun
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One would assume the administration has made it clean to Kelly they will not tolerate any more thugs, druggies, and cheaters. Hopefully a pared down list of offers corresponds to the type of quality young men ND should be recruiting.
Jread6683
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Offers per slots available have to be considered not just average per school.

Also, Alabama's offers are not contingent on the player's ability to read or write plus they over-sign every year.

I'll be honest ... I wouldn't have guessed ND had that many offers out already.
Chicubfannin
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jason4irish said:

So Bama basically offered everyone because they know they can and will just pull a scholly if they have too.
Honestly I thought it was worse. Not asking anyone to do this but I wonder how many players Clemson, Bama, LSU, USC etc have offered that wouldn't even qualify at ND.
This is the major difference between Notre Dame and other football powers like Alabama and Michigan, under Harbaugh. If ND makes an offer and the kid gives a verbal, ND will not pull that offer for a more highly rated recruit unless the kid screws up in the classroom or gets into off the field trouble or continues to take visits. As a result, ND needs to more judicious in giving out offers. They do not have the safety valve of pulling offers to verbal commitments.

borromini
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Frankbuz said:

I understand the need for so many offers in this day in age. But what happens if a bunch of 3* accept early in the game and fills up your roster.? Do you run them off later in the recruiting year? This is where early signing period could have a real impact. Schools are going to confess their true assessment of the player or get stuck with him if someone better comes along. Unless you are sure, don't sign a player early.
ND doesn't have a policy to accept all verbal commits. Everyone of those offers come with either a "we'll take you now" or "we're going to have to wait before accepting your verbal". This avoids that issue.
jtthedomer
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Tennessee with 214 is rediculous.That tells you that they just throw offers out every where and could care less if there even academically eligible .They can't even know the backgrounds of most of those kids there offering.
ndman
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jtthedomer said:

Tennessee with 214 is rediculous.That tells you that they just throw offers out every where and could care less if there even academically eligible .They can't even know the backgrounds of most of those kids there offering.

They are just throwing **** at the wall to see what sticks.
Chicubfannin
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borromini said:

Frankbuz said:

I understand the need for so many offers in this day in age. But what happens if a bunch of 3* accept early in the game and fills up your roster.? Do you run them off later in the recruiting year? This is where early signing period could have a real impact. Schools are going to confess their true assessment of the player or get stuck with him if someone better comes along. Unless you are sure, don't sign a player early.
ND doesn't have a policy to accept all verbal commits. Everyone of those offers come with either a "we'll take you now" or "we're going to have to wait before accepting your verbal". This avoids that issue.
You are correct in that there are two types of offers - one is "we will immediately take you if you commit" and the other is " we are not yet ready to accept your verbal". But you are wrong when you state that this avoids the issue.

The issue is ND accepting the "we will immediately take you if you commit" verbal, because ND will not pull that verbal, unlike Alabama and Michigan, who have shown that they will pull an accepted verbal at any time for a better prospect. As a result, ND has to be sure that this type of verbal is for a kid that they want in their class, as there is no going back. If they are too generous in accepting those types of verbals early in the recruiting cycle and fill up their class, and then a better prospect pops up, ND is simply out of luck. They will not pull a verbal from one of the committed recruits to make room for the better prospect.

I see no problem in Notre Dame pointing out the actions of schools like Alabama and Michigan to recruits, and telling a top recruit that if you commit to ND, you have a scholarship guaranteed provided you keep your grades up, keep your nose clean and don't take other visits. The same can not be said about Alabama and Michigan.
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