Notre Dame Fighting Irish Recruiting: 2025 commit breakdown
With under two months to go until the Early Signing Period, Marcus Freeman and his staff at Notre Dame are working to get back into the top 10 of the 2025 team recruiting rankings.
With 21 commitments, Notre Dame ranks No. 13 in the
Notre Dame Class BreakdownOnce the crown jewel of Notre Dame's class, elite quarterback Deuce Knight flipped from the Irish to Auburn on Oct. 2. The Irish will look to replace Knight in the class, and there are several names to watch as the cycle winds down.
Of Notre Dame's 21 commits, 12 rank as four-star prospects in the On3 Industry Ranking . Wallingford (Conn.) Choate Rosemary Hall four-star offensive tackle Will Black headlines the group. On3 is especially high on Black — he is the No. 2 overall prospect in the On300 .
Tampa Berkeley Prep four-star cornerback Dallas Golden also ranks inside the top 100, while Indianapolis Ben Davis cornerback Mark Zackery , Chicago Simeon EDGE Christopher Burgess , Winston Salem (N.C.) Mount Tabor safety JaDon Blair and Green Bay (Wis.) Notre Dame De La Baie tight end James Flanigan are each top-150 recruits.
The Irish have earned one commitment thus far in October. Greenville (Ga.) four-star athlete Antavious Richardson joined the class on Oct. 1.
Top Irish Offensive Commit: OT Will BlackThe No. 5 offensive tackle in the 2025 class, Black ranks No. 47 overall according to the On3 Industry Ranking — a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
On3's Scouting and Rankings team gives their take on him:
"Highly coordinated athlete with the frame, balance and movement skills to develop into a premier left tackle. Measured in at 6-foot-7.5, 283 pounds with 34.25-inch arms and 9.75-inch hands at the On3 Elite Series prior to his senior season. New to football, picking up the game at the beginning of high school. Looks like a true top athlete in the combine setting, running an electronically timed 4.90-second 40-yard dash along with a shuttle in the 4.5-second range prior to his senior season. Plays with eye-popping bend for such a tall lineman. Gets low in his stance. Able to get underneath the pads of defenders and runs his feet to create a push.
"Plays with outstanding balance. Shows encouraging vision with the radar to identify defenders not in his direct line of sight. A smooth, light-footed mover in pass protection. Drops his weight to anchor on contact. Will need to continue getting stronger in his upper body. Moved to the United States to attend boarding school prior to his junior season. Has a hockey background. Older for the class after reclassifying upon moving to the US. Should be able to add weight and maintain his top-shelf athleticism. The overall physical tools and technical skills along with the relative lack of experience point to a very promising upside as one of the top offensive tackles in a very strong cycle at the position."
Top Defensive Commit: CB Dallas GoldenTampa Berkeley Prep four-star cornerback Dallas Golden is the No. 81 overall prospect and No. 9 corner in the On3 Industry Ranking. He joined the class on April 28.
Golden officially visited Notre Dame over the summer after committing to the Irish in the spring.
"Absolutely, no doubt," he said of whether the official helped solidify his commitment . "When I was up there for my official, that solidified my decision from the way they treated me. They talk to me the same as if I'm committed or uncommitted. This is the right decision.
"Nothing is ever awkward with them. It feels like I've known them for my entire life. You get that bond and connection, especially with the guys who are already committed. With the players who are committed to Notre Dame, I have a way better relationship with them than any other school.
"I had a great time. It solidified my decision for sure."
