:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59789133/Screen_Shot_2018-05-18_at_1.24.46_PM.0.0.png)
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish got an enormous boost to its recruiting class tonight when 4 Star defensive end, NaNa Osafo-Mensah, gave them his verbal commitment for the class of 2019. NaNa delivered his commitment at a ceremony at his high school with friends and family in attendance.
Despite holding offers from just about everyone in the country, NaNa narrowed his choices down to the Irish and the Texas Longhorns back in April. It was around this time that many felt that the in-state pull of the Longhorns was too much for the Irish to beat. Texas head coach, Tom Herman, was personally overseeing the recruitment of NaNa, and there was real concern that Brian Kelly and Clark Lea would be unable to that energy and enthusiasm.
As it turned out - they were up for the challenge.
Not only is the 6’4” 235 pound Osafo-Mensah a TRUE weakside defensive end capable of creating a pass rush, he is a TRUE student athlete and academics are exremely important to him and his parents. While that sounds like a slam dunk for Notre Dame, over the years “Big State U” (Texas, Ohio State, Penn State, etc) has done a tremendous job of making their own academic programs appear to be on the same level as the Irish.
NaNa is the 10th commitment for Notre Dame’s 2019 class, and he is the second highest ranked prospect in this class. (Quinn Carrol is the highest ranked player for the Irish). All rankings aside, we all know the struggles Notre Dame has each year in signing an elite pass rusher. This is most likely the most important recruit Notre Dame has on their board — and now he’s a commitment.
There’s still a long way from here until signing day (take your pick of December and February) and recruits of this caliber don’t suddenly have programs back off because they are committed, so the Irish must continue to wow NaNa as they did on his official visit in April which was a game-changer.
But enough of all that worry for now — NANA OSAFO-MENSAH IS IRISH!
2019 Notre Dame Football Scholarship Chart
| Position/Year | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | 5th Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position/Year | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | 5th Year |
| Quarterback | Brendon Clark | Phil Jurkovec* | Ian Book* | ||
| Running Back | Kyren Williams | Jahmir Smith*, C'Bo Flemister* | Jafar Armstrong* | Tony Jones Jr.* | |
| Tight End | ⭐️ | George Takacs*, Tommy Tremble* | Cole Kmet, Brock Wright | ||
| Wide Receiver | Cam Hart, Kendall Abdur-Rahman | Micah Jones*, Kevin Austin, Braden Lenzy*, Lawrence Keys III*, Joe Wilkins Jr.* | Michael Young, Isaiah Robertson | Chase Claypool, Javon McKinley* | Chris Finke |
| Center | Zeke Correll | Jarrett Patterson* | Trevor Ruhland | ||
| Guard | John Olmstead | John Dirksen* | Dillan Gibbons*, Aaron Banks* | Tommy Kraemer* | |
| Tackle | Andrew Kristofic, Quinn Carroll | Cole Mabry* | Robert Hainsey, Josh Lugg* | Liam Eichenberg* | |
| Defensive Tackle | Jacob Lacey, Hunter Spears | Jayson Ademilola, Ja'mion Franklin* | Kurt Hinish, Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa* | ||
| Defensive End | Howard Cross, NaNa Osafo-Mensah, Isaiah Foskey | Justin Ademilola*, Ovie Oghoufo* | Kofi Wardlow* | Ade Ogundeji*, Daelin Hayes, Khalid Kareem, Julian Okwara, Jamir Jones | |
| Linebacker | Jack Kiser, Osi Ekwonu, Marist Luifau, JD Bertrand | Matt Bauer, Jack Lamb*, Shayne Simon, Paul Moala | Drew White*, Jordan Genmark Heath, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah* | Jonathan Jones* | Asmar Bilal |
| Safety | Litchfield Ajavon, Kyle Hamilton | D.J. Brown* | Jalen Elliott, Alohi Gilman* | ||
| Cornerback | K.J. Wallace, Isaiah Rutherford | Tariq Bracy, Houston Griffith | Avery Davis* | Troy Pride Jr., Donte Vaughn | Shaun Crawford** |
| Specialists | Jay Bramblett | John Doerer | John Shannon* | ||
| 22/85 (22) | 46/85 (24) | 63/85 (17) | 80/85 (17) | 84/85 (4) |