The Notre Dame Fighting Irish got some great news on Tuesday when 4-Star cornerback Philip Riley committed to Brian Kelly and friends for the 2021 class.
COMMITTED #GoIrish☘️#GoldRush21☘️@CoachMickens pic.twitter.com/5qBdDAgqVt
— PhilipRiley2021 (@Riley18Philip) May 5, 2020
It couldn’t have come at a better time.
Minutes before Riley announced his commitment, Notre Dame lost out on 5-Star running back Will Shipley to the Clemson Tigers. In a big way, Notre Dame’s recruiting efforts were very much in a clouded area — and then a tall athletic cornerback from the state of Florida made his pledge. He chose the Irish over a long list of suitors including the Oregon Ducks, Virginia Tech Hokies, and Washington Huskies (as well as all of the Florida schools).
From 247 Sports:
Physical cover corner with the instincts and technique that is ideal for the position. Technically sound in both zone and man, quickly diagnoses and recognizes routes. Very good ball skills and closing speed. Can cover the slot or outside receivers. Though lacks elite top-end speed, rarely lets his man separate and can stay stride-for-stride with receiver. Projects as multi-year Power 5 starter and third day NFL pick.
Given Notre Dame’s recent troubles recruiting cornerbacks, the addition of Mike Mickens to the Irish staff is certainly helping out right now. The Irish are in great need of more corner depth for the future — depth that is capable of being developed into starring for Notre Dame.
2021 Notre Dame Football Scholarship Chart
Position / Year | Freshmen | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | 5th Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position / Year | Freshmen | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | 5th Year |
Quarterback | Tyler Buchner, Ron Powlus | Drew Pyne | Brendon Clark* | - | Jack Coan |
Running Back | Logan Diggs, Audric Estime | Chris Tyree | Kyren Williams* | C'Bo Flemister* | - |
Tight End | Cane Berrong, Mitchell Evans | Michael Mayer, Kevin Bauman | - | George Takacs* | - |
Wide Receiver | Lorenzo Styles, Deion Colzie, Jayden Thomas | Xavier Watts | - | Kevin Austin*, Braden Lenzy*, Joe Wilkins*, Lawrence Keys III* | Avery Davis |
Center | - | - | Zeke Correll* | Jarrett Patterson* | - |
Guard | Pat Coogan, Rocco Spindler | - | Hunter Spears* | John Dirksen* | Cain Madden |
Tackle | Blake Fisher, Joe Alt, Caleb Johnson | Tosh Baker, Michael Carmody | Andrew Kristofic*, Quinn Carroll* | - | Josh Lugg** |
Defensive Tackle | Gabriel Rubio | Aidan Keanaaina, Rylie Mills | Howard Cross*, Jacob Lacey | Jayson Ademilola | Kurt Hinish**, Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa** |
Defensive End | Jason Onye, Will Schweitzer | Alexander Ehrensberger, Jordan Botelho | NaNa Osafo-Mensah*, Isaiah Foskey* | Justin Ademilola* | - |
Linebacker | Prince Kollie, Kahanu Kia | - | Jack Kiser*, Osita Ekwonu*, Marist Liufau*, JD Bertrand* | Bo Bauer, Shayne Simon, Paul Moala | Drew White, Isaiah Pryor |
Safety | Justin Walters, Khari Gee | - | Litchfield Ajavon*, Kyle Hamilton, KJ Wallace* | Houston Griffith, D.J. Brown* | - |
Cornerback | Ryan Barnes, Chance Tucker, Philip Riley, JoJo Johnson | Clarence Lewis, Caleb Offord, Ramon Henderson | Cam Hart* | TaRiq Bracy | - |
Specialists | Josh Bryan (K) | Alex Peitsch (LS) | Jay Bramblett | - | Jonathan Doerer** |
Totals | 26/85 (26) | 41/85 (15) | 60/85 (19) | 76/85 (16) | 85/85 (9) |
Riley is the 9th commitment for Notre Dame’s class of 2021 which helped the Irish move to 10th in the 247 Composite Team Rankings (If you’re wondering, add Shipley and they would be 6th).
Riley now becomes the 8th player from a different state in this class — a class that includes a 5-Star quarterback. While Irish fans may lament the loss of Shipley, Riley’s commitment represents a HUGE win for Notre Dame and one that they have missed on in the recent past.
Notre Dame Football’s 2021 Commit List (27)
POSITION | PLAYER | SIGNED | STATE | HT | WT | RIVALS | ESPN | 247 SPORTS | 247 COMPOSITE | COMMIT DATE | EARLY ENROLLEE |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
POSITION | PLAYER | SIGNED | STATE | HT | WT | RIVALS | ESPN | 247 SPORTS | 247 COMPOSITE | COMMIT DATE | EARLY ENROLLEE |
QB | Tyler Buchner | ☘️ | California | 6'2" | 200 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 03/08/19 | YES |
DT | Gabriel Rubio | ☘️ | Missouri | 6'6" | 290 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 06/15/19 | YES |
OT | Blake Fisher | ☘️ | Indiana | 6'6" | 300 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 06/15/19 | YES |
TE | Cane Berrong | ☘️ | Georgia | 6'5" | 220 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 06/21/19 | YES |
WR | Lorenzo Styles | ☘️ | Ohio | 6'1" | 170 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 10/13/19 | YES |
S | Justin Walters | ☘️ | Illinois | 6'2" | 175 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 02/02/20 | YES |
OL | Pat Coogan | ☘️ | Illinois | 6'5" | 290 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 04/15/20 | - |
DE | Jason Onye | ☘️ | Rhode Island | 6'5" | 245 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 05/07/20 | - |
CB | Ryan Barnes | ☘️ | Maryland | 6'2" | 180 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 06/06/20 | YES |
OT | Joe Alt | ☘️ | Minnesota | 6'7" | 257 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 07/06/20 | - |
CB | Chance Tucker | ☘️ | California | 6'1" | 170 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 07/22/20 | - |
RB | Logan Diggs | ☘️ | Louisiana | 6’0" | 195 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 07/29/20 | - |
TE | Mitchell Evans | ☘️ | Ohio | 6'7" | 240 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 07/31/20 | YES |
LB | Prince Kollie | ☘️ | Tennessee | 6'2" | 205 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 08/07/20 | - |
OG | Rocco Spindler | ☘️ | Michigan | 6'5" | 315 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 08/08/20 | YES |
DE | Will Schweitzer | ☘️ | California | 6'4" | 220 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 08/16/20 | YES |
WR | Deion Colzie | ☘️ | Georgia | 6'4" | 195 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 09/28/20 | - |
WR | Jayden Thomas | ☘️ | Georgia | 6'1" | 205 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 10/02/20 | - |
CB | Philip Riley | ☘️ | Florida | 6'0" | 195 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 11/16/20 | YES |
K | Josh Bryan | ☘️ | Colorado | 6'1" | 185 | SAILER 6⭐️ | SAILER 6⭐️ | SAILER 6⭐️ | SAILER 6⭐️ | 11/17/20 | - |
LB | Kahanu Kia | ☘️ | Hawaii | 6'2" | 220 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 11/19/20 | - |
OT | Caleb Johnson | ☘️ | Florida | 6'7" | 295 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 11/19/20 | YES |
CB | JoJo Johnson | ☘️ | Indiana | 5'11" | 180 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 11/24/20 | - |
DE | Devin Aupiu | ☘️ | California | 6’6” | 225 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 12/09/20 | YES |
QB | Ron Powlus III | ☘️ | Indiana | 6'3" | 225 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 12/16/20 | YES |
S | Khari Gee | ☘️ | Georgia | 6'3" | 190 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 12/18/20 | - |
RB | Audric Estime | ☘️ | New Jersey | 6'2" | 215 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 12/18/20 | - |