Notre Dame Crystal Ball Pick: Top of the Board Target

The 247Sports Crystal Ball is a tool recruiting analysts use to show exactly where a recruit might end up. On Monday, a new prediction went in regarding a big-time talent potentially landing with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Notre Dame has already landed its quarterback for the class of 2024 in CJ Carr. For quite some time, the Fighting Irish coaching staff has been focused on the class of 2025 and landing a top signal-caller in that cycle. Today, I predicted Notre Dame to land its No. 1 target at the position in Nashville (Tenn.) Lipscomb Academy four-star quarterback Deuce Knight.

Per 247Sports, Knight is the No. 203 overall player in the country, No. 10 quarterback in America and No. 6 prospect in the state of Tennessee from the class of 2024.

The composite rankings list Knight as the No. 78 overall talent next cycle, No. 5 quarterback in the land and No. 4 recruit in the state of Texas.

This prediction comes fresh off his unofficial visit to Notre Dame in late July. The Fighting Irish haven’t received a silent commitment or anything similar, and this recruitment is far from done, but I do believe that Notre Dame is absolutely the leader right now and is setting the bar in his process. For others like Ole Miss and Tennessee, I firmly believe the Rebels and Volunteers are playing catch-up to the Fighting Irish.

Head coach Marcus Freeman, quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli, offensive coordinator Gerad Parker and director of recruiting Chad Bowden have done a stellar job of recruiting the 6-5, 195-pounder to Notre Dame. The Irish are checking off a lot of his boxes when it comes to fit, both academically and athletically, life after football, the chance to get to the league, and competing for national championships. The staff is pushing all of the right buttons and will now look to close this one down and eventually secure his commitment.

In addition, I'm told those very close to Knight are very high on Notre Dame. According to some sources, mom is completely on board with Notre Dame and everything they are about as a program and school. Like I said before the visit, getting her on campus and around Freeman and the rest of the staff is a big, big deal.

Regarding a timeline, Knight said he wants to take a few game day visits early this fall before making any type of a decision. Look for him to get back to Notre Dame for either the Ohio State game or USC matchup, or potentially both. If Notre Dame continues to do well here and they impress him on the field this year, the Irish could eventually receive some good news from the coveted quarterback.

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