While the Notre Dame Fighting Irish may struggle a bit at other positions, they almost always do really well at wide receiver. This latest commitment from 4 star wide receiver, Kevin Austin, is more proof for that point.
On paper, Notre Dame is in really good shape heading into the 2018 season. I'm not sure of their target number at the position, but 12 players is a fairly healthy position to be in - as far as the numbers are concerned.
Of course, this could be a lot different come spring of 2018.
There's a strong chance that Equanimeous St. Brown will be on his way to the NFL Draft if he has another good season in 2017. Kevin Stepherson, by all accounts, is on very thin ice right now, and perhaps a transfer takes place if things don't change over the next few months.
Those two reasonable scenarios puts that number at 10 in 2018, and that is a slight problem. Notre Dame is still in the running for some other wide receivers such as Chase Cota and Amon-Ra St. Brown, and would most likely have room for both if they choose the Irish. Both, however, are leaning in other directions right now.
That's why this commitment from Kevin Austin is so important. Notre Dame could be facing not only a bit of a numbers issue in 2018, but also a "gamer" issue. We have no concrete proof on who will emerge this year as another weapon at receiver, so that unknown needs help.
Austin could prove to be some of that help right away in 2018.
2018 Notre Dame Football Scholarship Chart
Position/Year | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | 5th Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position/Year | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | 5th Year |
Quarterback | Phil Jurkovec | Avery Davis* | Ian Book* | Brandon Wimbush* | |
Running Back | Jahmir Smith, C'Bo Flemister | Jafar Armstrong* | Tony Jones Jr.* | Dexter Williams | |
Tight End | George Takacs, Tommy Tremble | Cole Kmet, Brock Wright | Alize' Mack* | Nic Weishar | |
Wide Receiver | Micah Jones, Kevin Austin, Braden Lenzy, Lawrence Keys III | Michael Young | Chase Claypool, Javon McKinley* | Chris Finke*, Miles Boykin* | |
Center | Luke Jones | Sam Mustipher | |||
Guard | John Dirksen | Dillan Gibbons* | Tommy Kraemer* | Trevor Ruhland* | Alex Bars |
Tackle | Cole Mabry, Jarrett Patterson | Josh Lugg*, Robert Hainsey, Aaron Banks* | Liam Eichenberg* | ||
Defensive Tackle | Jayson Ademilola, Ja'mion Franklin | Kurt Hinish, Darnell Ewell*, Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa | Micah Dew-Treadway*, Jerry Tillery | Jonathan Bonner | |
Defensive End | Justin Ademilola | Kofi Wardlow* | Ade Ogundeji*, Daelin Hayes, Khalid Kareem, Julian Okwara | ||
Linebacker | Matt Bauer, Ovio Oghoufo, Jack Lamb | Drew White*, Jordan Genmark Heath | Jonathan Jones*, Jamir Jones, DJ Morgan | Te'von Coney | Drue Tranquill |
Rover | Shayne Simon | Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah*, Isaiah Robertson | Asmar Bilal | ||
Safety | Derrik Allen, Paul Moala, Houston Griffith | Devin Studstill, Jalen Elliott, Alohi Gilman* | Nicco Fertitta, Nick Coleman | ||
Cornerback | Joe Wilkins Jr., Tariq Bracy, D.J. Brown, Noah Boykin | Julian Love, Troy Pride Jr., Donte Vaughn | Shaun Crawford** | ||
Specialists | John Doerer | John Shannon* | Justin Yoon | Tyler Newsome | |
27/85 (27) | 45/85 (18) | 65/85 (20) | 79/85 (14) | 85/85 (6) |