National Analysts Elites Went Bold In-Depth About Notre Dame Recruiting In 2025

Bottom Line takeaways on Notre Dame’s 2025 recruiting class

247Sports Director of Scouting Andrew Ivins, along with National Analysts Tom Loy and Cooper Petagna, provided an in-depth analysis of Notre Dame’s 2025 recruiting efforts. They discussed the top players in the class and identified those with the greatest potential.

Their insights were covered in a 15-minute breakdown of the Fighting Irish’s recruitment strategy.

One key topic was the Bottom Line, where they shared their overall impressions and conclusions regarding Notre Dame’s 2025 recruiting class.

Here’s what the panel had to say.

Ivins: “I really like the offensive linemen they’ve committed. We’ve discussed Will Black’s potential for Notre Dame, and don’t forget about in-state center prospect Cameron Herron. Cooper and I have talked about him a lot; he’s among the best when it comes to snapping the ball at Warren Central. I see him as a potential multi-year starter. While his measurables might not be overwhelming and he’s on the smaller side, he knows how to find leverage, making him a solid addition for Notre Dame. Then there’s Owen Strebig, the offensive tackle from Wisconsin—he’s another imposing player. As a senior, he shows promise but needs to refine his hand placement; he might require some development time. Still, there’s potential there. On the secondary front, we’ve mentioned Brandon Logan and Dallas Golden, but also consider Mark Zackery. These players may need some time to develop, but they’re all versatile with solid experience. Notre Dame has a track record of developing talent in the secondary, and I believe one of them will step up, possibly including Cree Thomas. Overall, I like what they’re doing with both the offensive line and defensive backs.”

Petagna: “Notre Dame has really found their stride, and they have a clear identity under Marcus Freeman. Tom, you often highlight Chad Bowden and the front office’s efforts. They’re bringing in instinctual, high-floor players. We talked about how most of these recruits are three-star talents, but their depth and positional flexibility are impressive. However, the main challenge now is securing top-tier talent to elevate the program from just being in the playoff conversation to actually competing for a national title. I love their developments on both lines and some skill positions, but the receiver position has consistently been a weak spot for Notre Dame. They’ve made attempts through the portal, bringing in players like Beaux Collins and Kris Mitchell, and Jaden Greathouse has shown potential. But can Elijah Burress and Jerome Bettis be game-changers? They’re solid contributors, but they need dynamic playmakers who keep defenses on edge. This remains their biggest challenge. They have the talent in the offensive line, running back, and quarterback rooms; it’s really about finding reliable receivers. On a different note, Blake Hebert, who recently switched from Clemson, could be compared to Steve Angeli—he may not be the most talented but adds stability and is a good fit for the team.”

Loy: “I think it’s a solid class with room for improvement. Months ago, when it was ranked highest in the country, I mentioned I preferred the 2024 class. I had some inside info on Deuce Knight not sticking around and a few missed opportunities. While they’ve faced some tough losses, they still have the chance to land significant recruits before it’s done. Players like Madden Faraimo and Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng are possible targets, and they might have a shot at flipping tight end Andrew Olesh from Michigan or try again for Derek Meadows. There are plenty of prospects still available to enhance this class, so while it’s nice, there’s definitely room for improvement.”