Notre Dame Still in Great Spot Following Decommitment from Darren Agu

2022 Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School (Ga.) defensive end Darren Agu‍ backed off his verbal pledge from Notre Dame on Sunday evening. 

The 6-foot-7, 235-pounder committed to Notre Dame on April 9th, picking the Irish over 30 programs. 

Agu also becomes the second Irish decommit as Atlanta tight end Jack Nickel decommitted on April 13th. Nickel committed to Michigan State last week. 

Mike Elston's defensive line room is still in fine shape as Notre Dame boasts commitments from Tyson Ford‍, Aiden Gobaira‍ and Donovan Hinish‍ in the 2022 recruiting class. Agu’s decommitment is a loss, but the three-star prospect was also more of a developmental prospect as he’s only played one year of high school ball in the US after transferring in from London. 

Notre Dame is still very active with Vyper Cyrus Moss‍, defensive lineman Anthony Lucas‍ and Elston offered California defensive tackle Hero Kanu‍ on Saturday, which was likely a sign of Agu’s decision. 

Lucas and Moss took officials to Notre Dame in June and the Irish appear to be firmly in the race for both prospects. The offer to Kanu might be new, but there's a long relationship between Elston and his camp as Notre Dame took fellow German Alexander Ehrensberger in the 2020 class, who hails from the training program. 

And yes, Notre Dame is off to a hot start in 2023 as the Irish received four-star commitments from Berkeley Prep (Fla.) defensive end Keon Keeley‍ and Mentor (Ohio) defensive end Brenan Vernon‍ in June. 

Agu's decommitment also led to Notre Dame falling in the 247 and Rivals team rankings. The Irish are now ranked No. 3 on 247 behind Ohio State and Penn State. Rivals has Notre Dame No. 4 as the Irish trail Ohio State, Penn State and LSU.