Crunch Time For Running Back Recruiting

Notre Dame fans have been glued to 2020 running back recruiting as several of the nation’s top backs have been through South Bend in recent months. 

The staff is back on the road and will make some crucial visits over the next few weeks in hopes of setting the table for official visits. 

There is no secret 2020 Thomas Dale (Va.) running back Chris Tyree‍ is at the top of the board for his talents on the field, but also how he would fit in Notre Dame off the field. It’s also not a surprise the Irish are playing a little catchup after the four-star prospect took an official visit to Oklahoma last weekend. 

Offensive coordinator Chip Long and running backs coach Lance Taylor made their way to Virginia the first day on the road this week to check on Tyree. ISD’s Christian McCollum stated it was a great trip as it showed Tyree and Tyree’s coach how much he was wanted in South Bend by the fact both coaches went, but it was Taylor’s only visit of the week as he is in the process of moving of his family from Charlotte. 

Notre Dame will get its final shot at Tyree at the end of June when he returns for an official visit, which would be his third visit in six months.  

Another name to keep tabs on is Akron Hoban (Ohio) four-star back DeaMonte Trayanum‍. There is quiet momentum building for Notre Dame and Wisconsin, while Ohio State is toying with some other names. Trayanum was in South Bend for the first time at the end of March and thoroughly enjoyed his time on campus. 

Notre Dame was in to check on him on Thursday and from all indications, things went very well. I’d expect Trayanum to set his official visit to Notre Dame sooner than later. 

Rye Country Day (N.Y.) running back Cullen Coleman‍ is another name keep close tabs on moving forward. Notre Dame wants to land two backs in this class and Coleman fits the power back mold and the staff believes he has an extremely high ceiling. 

The 6-foot-3, 221-pounder was on campus in March and got the red carpet treatment from many members of the staff, but it was made clear the Irish do want him at running back as opposed to defensive end or linebacker. 

Coleman comes from a background of high academics, so it’s easy to see why he and his family value what Notre Dame brings to the table. It will be interesting to see how the board unfolds over the next few months as the Irish could end up pushing hard for Coleman. 

Someone is going to get a quality back when it comes to Fairfield (Ohio) running back JuTahn McClain‍. The four-star prospect has taken a ton of visits over the last few months and had a good showing at The Opening regional in Ohio. 

However, McClain is in a waiting position as the Irish wait on Tyree and Ohio State is waiting on a few guys, which could open the door for several schools to make a move. 

McClain made his first trip to Notre Dame earlier this winter for Junior Day and it couldn’t have gone better as his family left extremely impressed with the opportunity in South Bend. 

Chip Long made his way to Ohio on Thursday to check on McClain and the two have developed a solid relationship over the past few months. 

I also have a feeling things will become a little more clear with Destrehan (La.) running back Kyle Edwards‍ over the next few months. Edwards took a visit for Junior Day in February and finally got an offer from Notre Dame. It was an offer he had wanted for almost a year, so it wasn’t taken lightly by him.

Edwards and his family had high expectations for Notre Dame coming into the visit and they were easily exceeded. The four-star prospect wants to get back for an official visit and if that happens, watch out as this is a kid who hasn’t made it a secret that he wants to be at Notre Dame. 

Christ The King (N.Y.) four-star running back Tirek Murphy Jr.‍ was on campus with Tyree in March and things could not have gone better. Notre Dame is the leader for Murphy as he heads to Oregon this weekend, but he and Notre Dame want to play things out. 

Murphy has mentioned taking an official visit in the fall for a game. Notre Dame is likely happy with that plan as they will know a lot more about the running back board at that stage. 

At The Opening regional in New Jersey, Murphy was still glowing about the visit to Notre Dame, so that’s never a bad thing. As with a few names on this list, Murphy’s place on the board will become more evident at the end of June.