While the recruiting trail has been a bit cold for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish over the past few months, the transfer trail is absolutely on fire. On Thursday, former Stanford Cardinal running back Trevor Speights gave his commitment to Notre Dame for the 2020 season.
Thank you Stanford for an unbelievable opportunity and experience, it has been a dream come true Excited for what the future holds! #GoIrish ☘️ pic.twitter.com/wm5tvntGXO
— Trevor Speights (@TSpeightsRB) May 29, 2020
Speights is a former 4-Star prospect from Texas and has been plagued by injuries during his time in Palo Alto, and in 19 games he has rushed for 363 yards and one touchdown. He was part of the 2016 class, but did not play his freshman year — something that could have been because of an injury. He also missed the entire 2019 season with an injury.
It’s very clear that running back coach Lance Taylor wanted Speights, and their relationship which began back when Taylor recruited Trevor to Stanford, was a big reason for this decision.
According to 247, Notre Dame doesn’t think his past injuries will be a future concern:
“Notre Dame is definitely doing their due-diligence to make sure he’s healthy and he’d be a potential contributor. They’re not trying to waste a scholarship here.”
There is, however, a big question about the running back room for the Irish in 2020. With this commitment, Notre Dame has a total of 6 running backs for this fall:
- Jafar Armstrong
- Kyren Williams
- C’Bo Flemister
- Chris Tyree
- Jahmir Smith
- Trevor Speights
There’s also Avery Davis who could play some running back.
Is there a possible move or transfer out in the works? Notre Dame is now 3 scholarships over the limit for 2020 (not including anything involving Colin Grunhard or Mick Assaf). Speights could be eligible for a sixth year of eligibility in 2021 because of his injury past — but that won’t be decided upon until after the 2020 season.
This is the 4th graduate transfer for the Irish this year. Safety Isaiah Pryor (Ohio State Buckeyes), wide receiver Bennett Skowronek (Northwestern Wildcats), and cornerback Nick McCloud (N.C. State Wolfpack) are the other three — and all three of those players are expected to be solid contributors for the Irish in 2020.
Personally, I think there is a lack of trust in the running back room between Taylor and the backs. I don’t mean that in a completely negative way (like problems etc.) — it just appears as if they are searching for much more production and are seeking it out.
The running back competition for 2020 should be fierce, and could go a number of different ways. It could also, as I already stated, see some type of movement for one or two of the running backs on the roster.
Welcome to South Bend Trevor.
2020 Notre Dame Football Scholarship Chart
Position / Year | Freshmen | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | 5th Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position / Year | Freshmen | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | 5th Year |
Quarterback | Drew Pyne | Brendon Clark* | - | - | Ian Book |
Running Back | Chris Tyree | Kyren Williams* | Jahmir Smith*, C'Bo Flemister* | Jafar Armstrong*, Avery Davis* | - |
Tight End | Michael Mayer, Kevin Bauman | - | George Takacs*, Tommy Tremble* | Brock Wright | - |
Wide Receiver | Jordan Johnson, Jay Brunelle, Xavier Watts | Kendall Abdur-Rahman* | Micah Jones*, Kevin Austin*, Braden Lenzy*, Lawrence Keys III*, Joe Wilkins* | Javon McKinley, Bennett Skowronek | |
Center | - | Zeke Correll* | Jarrett Patterson* | - | - |
Guard | - | Hunter Spears* | John Dirksen* | Dillan Gibbons*, Aaron Banks* | Tommy Kraemer, Colin Grunhard |
Tackle | Tosh Baker, Michael Carmody | Andrew Kristofic*, Quinn Carroll* | - | Robert Hainsey, Josh Lugg* | Liam Eichenberg |
Defensive Tackle | Aidan Keanaaina, Rylie Mills | Howard Cross*, Jacob Lacey | Jayson Ademilola, Ja'mion Franklin* | Kurt Hinish, Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa | - |
Defensive End | Alexander Ehrensberger, Jordan Botelho | NaNa Osafo-Mensah*, Isaiah Foskey* | Justin Ademilola*, Ovie Oghoufo* | Kofi Wardlow* | Ade Ogundeji, Daelin Hayes |
Linebacker | - | Jack Kiser*, Osita Ekwonu*, Marist Liufau*, JD Bertrand* | Bo Bauer, Jack Lamb*, Shayne Simon, Paul Moala | Drew White*, Jordan Genmark Heath, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah* | - |
Safety | - | Litchfield Ajavon*, Kyle Hamilton | D.J. Brown*, Houston Griffith | Isaiah Pryor* | - |
Cornerback | Clarance Lewis, Caleb Offord, Ramon Henderson | K.J. Wallace*, Isaiah Rutherford*, Cam Hart*, | TaRiq Bracy | - | Shaun Crawford**, Nick McCloud |
Specialists | Alex Peitsch (LS) | Jay Bramblett | - | Jonathan Doerer | - |
Totals | 17/85 (17) | 38/85 (21) | 60/85 (22) | 75/85 (15) | 85/85 (10) |