Only a matter of days ago our 18 Stripes Twitter feed joked that the 2018 senior class was almost under 20 bodies which has always been the case in recent years and frankly happens at most schools. That was after a transfer on May 31st and just 5 days later another transfer brings the 2018 seniors under the 20 body mark.

Out of Eligibility Following the 2017 Season:

TE Tyler Luatua

TE Durham Smythe

OL Mike McGlinchey

OL Hunter Bivin

DE Andrew Trumbetti

DT Daniel Cage

LB Nyles Morgan

LB Greer Martini

No changes to this list as all of the seniors and grad students remain in school into the summer.

2018-19 Academic Classes:

11 Verbal Commits
21 Sophomores
22 Juniors
19 Seniors
12 Grad Students
85 Scholarships

The Irish lost a pair of rising redshirt sophomores recently. First, was linebacker Josh Barajas who is curiously leaving South Bend for FCS Illinois State a few hours to the southwest across the Indiana border. Barajas’ career never got off the ground and it’s another blow for a program trying to improve on defense. He was the 6th best recruit from the 2015 Irish class and 2nd highest-rated defender, as well.

Notre Dame also just lost offensive lineman Tristen Hoge to transfer which makes him the first non-grad transfer at this position since Alex Bullard in the weeks after Brian Kelly was hired in 2010. For that reason alone this is a bit of a surprise transfer, plus Hoge was nominally the backup center heading into the fall. He’s now heading to BYU.

For Barajas, a major change of scenery was likely needed. He was being passed up by players two years younger and in no position to see the field as an upperclassman. For Hoge, the most likely reason what that he didn’t want to wait another 2 seasons for Sam Mustipher to leave and he wants to start somewhere.

By the way, if you include walk-ons Chris Finke and Montgomery VanGorder who have been awarded 1-year scholarships in the past the Irish are now at 84 scholarships heading into the season.

List of Eligible 2018 Grad Students:

Tier 1
OG Quenton Nelson
C Sam Mustipher
OG Alex Bars
S Drue Tranquill
DT Jonathan Bonner
CB Nick Watkins
DE Jay Hayes
P Tyler Newsome

Tier 2
TE Nic Weishar
WR Freddy Canteen

Tier 3
DT Pete Mokwuah
OG Jimmy Byrne

Two scholarships opening up increases the odds of another 5th-year player coming back for 2018 but it really helps add some room for the 2018 freshmen class.

If we have 7 players from the above 5th-year options coming back that leaves room for 5 more scholarships for the 2018 class, or a class of 17 players. Word out of campus is that the staff would like to get to 20 bodies (doesn’t everyone?) and it’s looking like it’s much more likely now.

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The Roster

QUARTERBACK
Roster (3): Wimbush r-SO, Book r-FR, Davis FR
Commits (1): Jurkovec

RUNNING BACK
Roster (5): Adams JR, Williams JR, Jones r-FR, McIntosh r-FR, Holmes FR
Commits (1): Stepp

WIDE RECEIVER
Roster (11): St. Brown JR, Stepherson, SO, Sanders JR, Boykin r-SO, Finke r-SO, Claypool SO, McKinley SO, Young FR, Armstrong FR, Canteen r-JR, Smith r-SR
Commits (2): Jones, Lenzy

TIGHT END
Roster (6): Smythe r-SR, Mack r-SO, Weishar r-JR, Luatua SR, Wright FR, Kmet FR
Commits (0)

OFFENSIVE TACKLES
Roster (6): McGlinchey r-SR, Kraemer r-FR, Eichenberg r-FR, Bivin r-SR, Hainsey FR, Lugg FR
Commits (2): Mabry, Dirksen

INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Roster (8): Nelson r-JR, Mustipher r-JR, Bars, JR, Banks FR, Byrne r-JR, Ruhland r-SO, Boudreaux r-FR, Gibbons, FR
Commits (0)

STRONG-SIDE DEFENSIVE END
Roster (4): J. Hayes r-JR, Trumbetti, SR, Kareem SO, Ogundeji r-FR
Commits (0)

WEAK-SIDE DEFENSIVE END
Roster (4): D. Hayes SO, Okwara SO, MacCollister FR, Wardlow FR
Commits (0)

DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Roster (10): Cage, SR, Tillery JR, Bonner r-JR, Taylor r-SO, Dew-Treadway r-SO, Mokwuah r-JR, Tiassum r-SO, Ewell FR, Tagovailoa-Amosa FR, Hinish FR
Commits (1): Ja. Ademilola

BUCK LINEBACKER
Roster (3): Martini SR, Coney, JR, White FR
Commits (1): Bauer

MIKE LINEBACKER
Roster (4): Morgan SR, Jon. Jones r-FR, Jam. Jones, SO, Adams FR
Commits (1): Ju. Ademilola

ROVER
Roster (3): Tranquill, r-JR, Bilal r-SO, Owusu-Koramoah FR
Commits (1): Oghoufo

CORNERBACK
Roster (6): Watkins r-JR, Love SO, Crawford r-SO, Pride SO, Vaughn SO, White r-SO
Commits (0)

SAFETY
Roster (7): Coleman, JR, Elliott SO, Studstill SO, Robertson FR, Fertitta JR, Morgan r-FR, Genmark Heath FR
Commits (1): Allen

SPECIAL TEAMS
Roster (4): Newsome r-JR, Yoon JR, Shannon r-FR, Doerer FR
Commits (0)

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2018 Cycle Roster Needs

EDIT: Notre Dame announced the incoming grad transfer of Arizona State wide receiver Cameron Smith, he’ll have one year left with the Irish. He had a big 2014 sophomore season (41 catches, 596 yards, 6 TD, including 4 for 67 and a score against Notre Dame) but missed 2015 with injury and was injury ridden in 2016 as well after 170 yards through the first 4 games. According to THIS article from March 2016 the associate director of student-athlete development called Smith the “hardest working individual I have ever been around as far as the classroom is concerned.”

We can safely assume that Justin Ademilola won’t be showing up to Notre Dame a sliver under 260. His brother and current commit Jayson is already 290 and both should be defensive linemen for the Irish. Therefore, with the loss of Barajas another linebacker could be targeted for the 2018 cycle.

The loss of Hoge probably means the 2018 offensive line haul will be large. Perhaps career backup Jimmy Byrne comes back for a grad year but if he doesn’t we may see 4 linemen gone from the roster next year.

You wouldn’t be crazy for calling the situation in the secondary as bleak at the moment. Out of 36 total offers the Irish have 1 commit and not a whole lot of momentum with many prospects. And to be honest, I wouldn’t expect the class’ top prospect in safety Derrik Allen to stick around unless the Irish have a very strong 2017 season. Reverse jinx engaged.