The No. 1 recruiting class in the country won’t be stamped by 247Sports until February of 2023, but
several college football programs are putting together a foundation early in the cycle that will make them a contender to bring home that top spot down the road.
Let’s take a look at the race for No. 1.
THE DISCUSSION BEGINS WITH NOTRE DAME
When was the last time Notre Dame had a legit chance to finish No. 1? Perhaps when Lou Holtz stalked the sideline?
With first-year head coach Marcus Freeman and his staff, the Irish are bringing a different kind of energy to the trail. The nation’s elite prospects are responding. Notre Dame is off and running with nine commits, comprising an average recruiting ranking of 94.77 per pledge. That is the exact average ranking per commit Texas A&M’s historic 2022 class that finished No. 1 had.
But this isn’t just a fast start that will certainly fizzle. Looking at the targets the Irish are in on moving forward, they have a chance to sustain that talent level and make a run at No. 1 at the finish line.
The Irish already holding pledges from the likes of five-star edge rusher
Keon Keeley, who returned this past weekend as Notre Dame battles Alabama and Ohio State to hold on to him, and fellow 247Sports Composite Top100 recruits in linebacker
Drayk Bowen, safety
Peyton Bowen and defensive lineman
Brenan Vernon. They're in the mix for a few more elite targets including five-star quarterback
Dante Moore, who visits Monday, five-star jumbo athlete
Samuel M'Pemba, who visited earlier this month, and five-star receiver
Carnell Tate, who was also recently back on campus. A few other elite guys looking hard at the Irish include coveted offensive tackles Charles Jagusah and Monroe Freeling, defensive lineman Jason Moore and receiver Braylon James, who are all 247Sports Composite Top 100 recruits......
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