Notre Dame Football Recruiting: NCAA extends the dead period through May

There’s a lot of recruiting news going around, but a recent decision by the NCAA is just as important as who the Notre Dame Fighting Irish just offered, and more important than who leads for who.

The NCAA DI Council has extended the recruiting dead period through May, 31.

The NCAA put a stop to in-person recruiting due to the COVID-19 pandemic back in March of 2020, so this extension means that there will be a year gone by without any official visits.

“After careful consideration of all available information, the Council agreed that an extension of the dead period through May 31 was necessary,” said Council chair M. Grace Calhoun, athletics director at Pennsylvania. “However, there is a strong commitment to use the next several weeks to outline the transition plan back to recruiting activities post June 1 and to provide those plans to prospective student-athletes, their families and the NCAA membership no later than April 15.”

Perhaps the best card up Notre Dame’s sleeve over the years when it comes to recruiting is the official visit — getting these kids from all over the country on campus in northern Indiana. Its importance has only grown with the addition of spring official visits because of the early signing period. Notre Dame was able to move the clock up with some prospects, and gain a foothold much earlier with others. The lack of those official visits put the Irish at a disadvantage as it goes up against the “Big State U” schools that recruits may be much more familiar with.

Because of this ruling, and a plan to return coming before the middle of April, we will likely see a lot less commitments across the country this late winter and early spring (maybe).

Another thing that came out of this ruling was a blanket waiver to allow 10 hours a week instead of 8 for offseason activities for the team.

Council members also provided a blanket waiver that increased the number of hours football teams can spend on countable, athletically related, out-of-season activities this spring from eight to 10 hours per week. The 10 hours may include:

* Up to four hours per week for meetings/film review and walk-throughs, with a two-hour limit on walk-throughs.

* No more than six hours of physical activities (weight training/conditioning).

All activities will be non-contact. The waiver does not change the existing requirement that student-athletes have two days off per week.

So keep April 15th circled as a day of importance besides filing your taxes, as it will tell us what the next steps will be as these programs navigate this recruiting cycle.