Notre Dame football freshman class has high potential but could be on standby this season

Blue & Gold reporter Kyle Kelly filed this story on July 30 for Blue & Gold Illustrated’s preseason magazine. Since then, Notre Dame football kicked off fall practice and the media has observed parts of five practices. So, the progress of some Fighting Irish freshmen has become more clear. Those slight changes are noted five times throughout the story.

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For Notre Dame football fans looking to see top 75 wide receiver recruit Cam Williams in action this fall, they might have to look ahead to next season or beyond.

Despite being one of the most promising prospects in the 2024 recruiting cycle, Williams, On3’s No. 10 wide receiver nationally and No. 3 player in Illinois, enters this season at the bottom of the depth chart. A trio of the necessary graduate transfer additions at wide receiver featuring Beaux Collins (Clemson), Jayden Harrison (Marshall) and Kris Mitchell (Florida International) provide the reason why.

Truth be told, Williams will not be the only promising first-year player subject to limited snaps in 2024. If the roster plays out as planned, most of coach Marcus Freeman’s latest recruiting class should be able to preserve an extra year of eligibility by redshirting this season.

They have the NCAA to thank for that and the undesired decreased playing time that comes with it.

As a result of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, the NCAA awarded another year of eligibility to those who played that season. It gives the Irish an unprecedented number of fifth- and sixth-year players in 2024.

Graduate student seniors comprise nearly a fifth (14) of the 85-man scholarship roster. Ten of them are sixth-year guys, meaning they began their college career in 2019. Notre Dame’s freshman class was in seventh grade then.

So, do not consider Freeman’s second full recruiting class as head coach underwhelming. It is the opposite.

Williams is one of six prospects ranked as a top 100 player coming out of high school by On3. Over the last 15 years, the Irish have only hit that mark one other time — in 2011, when they inked six On3 Industry Ranking top 100 recruits. On3 did not begin ranking players until its inception in 2021.

Running back Kedren Young , offensive lineman Anthonie Knapp , defensive lineman Bryce Young and linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa accompany Williams as the other top 100 prospects in the 2024 class. As does the program’s one lone star in the 2024 cycle, offensive tackle Guebry Lambert .

Besides Knapp and maybe Cam Williams , each top 100 player has a pathway to contributing in their first college football season. If the other 17 members of Notre Dame’s class do not see the field this fall, it is because of an unprecedented matter that occurred four years ago.

Still, do not count them out from challenging even the most extraordinary circumstances that led to a veteran-laden roster. Sports have a funny way of allowing it. So, here are the freshmen well-positioned to contribute, some who could break through and others who should not have to play in 2024.

READY FOR ACTION

Ready or not, Aneyas Williams the Irish will thrust him into action this fall. The former four-star running back out of Hannibal (Mo.) High — no relation to Cam Williams — entered the preseason depth chart third behind sophomore Jeremiyah Love and junior Jadarian Price .

Aneyas secured that spot after junior running back Gi’Bran Payne tore his ACL in the Blue-Gold Game on April 20.

Williams’ pedigree gives him the ability to produce. He was On3’s No. 24 running back in America and the No. 9 recruit in Missouri in the 2024 cycle. Williams was a 4,000-yard rusher in high school to go along with 3,000 receiving yards.

RELATED: Why freshman RB Aneyas Williams could contribute to Notre Dame football’s backfield

On3 ranked Lufkin (Texas) High running back Kedren Young 19 spots better than Williams positionally; he was also the No. 79 overall player and No. 16 prospect in the Lone Star State. However, a hamstring injury hindered Young’s spring, questioning the extent of his availability going into the fall.

Aug. 11 update: Young returned to 100% in the summer
RELATED: How Notre Dame RB Kedren Young navigated offseason obstacles to become healthy

Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco’s Viliamu-Asa, the highest-rated defender in Notre Dame’s 2024 recruiting class, is also a play away from being Notre Dame’s starting middle linebacker. Meanwhile, no one is ruling out On3’s No. 83 overall player and No. 6 linebacker in the country from beating out Drayk Bowen for the starting spot.

Similarly, do not be surprised if West Roxbury (Mass.) Catholic Memorial’s Guerby Lambert , the top offensive recruit in Notre Dame’s class, has a preseason camp ascension that places him in the starting right tackle conversation. The two current competitors are uncertain options in journeyman Tosh Baker and previously prized recruit Aamil Wagner .

Aug. 11 update: Wagner has cemented himself as the starting right tackle, while Baker has taken over on the left side for the injured Charles Jagusah . Knapp has made more movement on the depth chart than Lambert.

Unlike the other 100 players in the class, Lambert enrolled in the summer instead of the winter.

Another name to know on offense is Charlotte (N.C.) Christian product Micah Gilbert , a four-star and early enrollee. Although he was not a top 100 prospect, On3’s No. 32 wide receiver in the nation and No. 6 player in North Carolina played like one in the spring. If this was 2023, Gilbert would have had a legitimate chance to lead the Irish in production.

At 6-foot-7, 258 pounds, Gilbert’s teammate at Charlotte Christian, Bryce Young , has college-ready size. He is also the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive lineman Bryant Young . The defensive line depth chart is loaded, but like the others on this list, so is Young’s potential.

SURPRISE BREAKTHROUGHS

Notre Dame’s cornerback depth chart rivals running back for the thinnest on the roster.

Behind prized NFL Draft prospect Benjamin Morrison — who missed most of the spring following shoulder surgery — the only cornerbacks who have logged snaps with the Irish are Christian Gray , Jaden Mickey and Chance Tucker .

So, do not be surprised if former three-stars Leonard Moore and Karson Hobbs , the No. 42 and 56 cornerbacks in the 2024 class, have to play. Cincinnati Moeller’s Hobbs is also cross-training at nickel, while Round Rock (Texas) High’s Moore has the potential to become a lockdown cover corner.

Safety is not as thin as cornerback but is still light on experience.

Behind Xavier Watts and Northwestern graduate transfer Rod Heard II — who transitions from cornerback — are true sophomores Adon Shuler , Ben Minich and Luke Talich . That is where Taebron Bennie-Powell out of West Chester (Ohio) Lakota West could crack the lineup. The four-star was On3’s No. 27 player at the position and No. 13 overall recruit in Ohio.

RELATED: How Marcus Freeman, Adon Shuler challenged Notre Dame football’s freshmen summer enrollees

Bennie-Powell also has special teams potential, as does former three-star linebacker Bodie Kahoun and safety Kennedy Urlacher , the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher . On3 ranked Roanoke (Va.) Patrick Henry’s Kahoun as the No. 70 linebacker in the class, while Chandler (Ariz.) High’s Urlacher was On3’s No. 88 safety.

With veteran tight ends Kevin Bauman and Mitchell Evans recovering from their ACL injuries suffered last season — and Eli Raridon sustaining the same injury twice in high school and 2022 — the Irish could count on three-star tight end recruit Jack Larsen to log some early season snaps. He was On3’s No. 48 tight end in the nation and the No. 25 player in North Carolina coming out of Charlotte (N.C.) Catholic.

One deep sleeper is Canadian product Sean Sevillano Jr, who has the potential to become the program’s future nose tackle. The Clearwater (Fla.) Academy International graduate is 6-1, 320 pounds and fast off the ball. All-American Howard Cross III and veteran Gabriel Rubio are ahead of On3’s No. 50 defensive lineman in the 2024 class.

Aug. 11 update: Defensive coordinator Al Golden did not list Sevillano as an immediate contender for early season snaps after Rubio’s foot injury .

An even deeper sleeper is four-star wide receiver Logan Saldate . The Salinas (Calif.) Palma pass-catcher led his school to a state title. Following an outstanding senior season, he climbed the rankings to become On3’s No. 53 wide receiver in the class.

Lastly, look for preferred walk-on quarterback Anthony Rezac out of Omaha (Neb.) Westside to potentially see the field on special teams. He is competing to be kicker Mitch Jeter’s holder.

WAITING IN THE WINGS

These players all have the potential to play at Notre Dame but might not be relied on this year. They are likely to redshirt this season.

During the spring, Saline (Mich.) High quarterback CJ Carr flashed his potential to become Notre Dame’s future signal-caller. However, the quarterback room is as deep as it’s been in years, providing the former four-star prospect the opportunity to focus on mastering the offense this season. He was On3’s No. 232 overall player and No. 16 quarterback in the class.

Glen Ellyn (Ill.) Glenbard South wide receiver Cam WIlliams shares similar potential but is also behind several veterans. Willimas and Carr have a close connection off the field that will translate on the field soon enough.

Offensive linemen Knapp, Styles Prescod and Peter Jones hope to move up the depth chart but are better suited to be scout team players this season. On3 ranked Roswell (Ga.) High’s Knapp, Fishers (Ind.) Hamilton Southeastern’s Prescod and Malvern (Pa.) Prep’s Jones as the class’ Nos. 5, 15 and 67 interior offensive linemen.

Aug. 11 update: Knapp has been working with the second team. He can compete for playing time after Charles Jagusah’s season-ending injury.

Hoschton (Ga.) Mill Creek defensive lineman Cole Mullins is in a similar position. Defensive line coach Al Washington determines whether the former three-star is better suited to play defensive end or defensive tackle.

Aug. 11 update: Mullins could see snaps following Rubio’s foot injury.

Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward four-star defensive lineman Loghan Thomas , Fort Wayne (Ind.) North Side three-star safety Tae Johnson and Omaha (Neb.) Westside three-star linebacker Teddy Rezac — the twin brother of Anthony Rezac — should have football performance director Loren Landow’s attention. Adding muscle and gaining good weight will be their No. 1 priority this year.

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