RECRUIT UPDATE: Where Notre Dame’s 2025 Commits Stack Up in Recruiting Rankings

College football recruiting ratings and rankings hold varying levels of significance for different people. Some individuals strongly react to these terms, while others pay little attention to them.

It’s possible to argue that rankings represent the ultimate goal, but equally valid points can be made about how acquiring the most five-star talent does not guarantee national titles.

Notre Dame’s recruiting efforts have noticeably improved under Marcus Freeman, reflecting the considerable importance placed on talent acquisition. Freeman and his team are expected to exert extensive efforts to attract top talent to South Bend.

As of now, Freeman’s Fighting Irish have secured commitments from 21 players and boast the nation’s fifth-ranked recruiting class, with the potential for additional high-caliber recruits.

Following spring and summer camps, 7-on-7 tournaments, and other events, major recruiting services and Jamie Uyeyama from ISD have updated their player ratings.

• Ranking top talent can often be like comparing apples to oranges, especially at this level. However, I firmly believe Knight has proven himself to be a five-star player. His accuracy had been questioned, but he showed considerable improvement during the 7-on-7 circuit this spring, even leading a less powerful team to the OT7 Finals in June. Knight then solidified his status with a standout performance at the Elite 11 in California, where ON3 named him MVP, and the Elite 11 staff recognized him as one of the top quarterbacks in the country. While most services rank Knight in the top 35, I think it’s fair, but I also believe a top 15-20 ranking would be deserved.
• If you’ve followed my thoughts on Golden over the past two years, you’d know I consider him one of the best football players in the country. The major recruiting services are starting to catch on, as Golden rose from the nation’s No. 179 player (247 composite) in April 2023 to No. 88. I firmly believe the Florida native is a top 15 player in the country, a sentiment I held long before his commitment to Notre Dame.
• Flanigan is another player I think is somewhat underrated. While the No. 135 247 composite ranking is fair, I believe Notre Dame has a top 100 talent here. Flanigan and Golden didn’t participate in the camp circuit, which partially explains their rankings. Additionally, national analysts aren’t likely to travel to Green Bay for live evaluations, which is understandable. Nonetheless, I think Notre Dame secured one of the nation’s top tight ends, and I expect his ranking to rise.
• Notre Dame values its defensive line class more than the recruiting services do. While the group lacks a standout like Keon Keeley or even Bryce Young, it consists of quality players who have yet to reach their physical peak. Hulak’s growth over the past six months should draw attention from Illinois high schools, and Reiff is another player I’d classify as underrated, especially given his lower rankings from 247 and ESPN.

Regarding the remaining targets on the board, there’s some star power there…