With National Signing Day on Wednesday, it’s time to celebrate the 24 recruits who have signed with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. 12 of those 24 players are planning on enrolling early in this class as well, which could help for some immediate returns to help this team in the 2025 college football season.

There are five players who could work themselves into legitimate playing time next season. That includes on the offense, defensive, and even on special teams as well. This class is going a little under the radar, but there is a lot of upside to continue to tap into.

CB Dallas Golden – Tampa Bay (Fla.) Berkeley Prep

Golden is not an early enrollee, so that will hurt his chances to fight for a ton of playing time initially, but it’s going to be hard to keep this type of talent off the field. While cornerback is the position he is projected to early, Golden has the athletic skills to play nickel, safety, or even on offense. Finding a spot for him in the secondary would be a huge boost for what should be an excellent group already.

As a senior at Berkeley Prep, Golden was a dynamic weapon, especially on the offensive side of the football. He rushed for 1,038 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 6.9 yards per carry. Golden also hauled in 32 receptions for 441 yards and five touchdowns as a wide receiver. He’s the type of athlete who can do a little bit of everything on the field.

S JaDon Blair – Winston Salem (N.C.) Mount Tabor

With Xavier Watts leaving for the NFL, as well as Rod Heard exhausting eligibility, there is going to be a starting safety role open opposite of Adon Shuler. There are some other talented safeties on the roster such as Luke Talich and Kennedy Urlacher, but Blair might just be too good to keep off the field.

The 6-4, 190-pound athlete is a versatile safety who can do a little bit of everything for a defense. During his final year with Mount Tabor, he recorded 66 total tackles, two interceptions, and three interceptions. Blair was also utilized on offense as a big play wide receiver, hauling in 18 receptions for 391 yards and six touchdowns. His combination of length, range, and instincts is special.

TE James Flanigan – Green Bay (Wisc.) Notre Dame Academy

Flanigan doesn’t get talked about much because he doesn’t talk to the media much, and plays his high school football in the state of Wisconsin. The Irish legacy, however, is one of the best tight end prospects in the entire 2025 recruiting class. Flanigan was a dominant force for Notre Dame Academy in 2024, hailing in 25 receptions for 609 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging an absurd 24.4 yards per reception. He was also tremendous on defense, recording 61 total tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, and three forced fumbles.

With Mitchell Evans and Kevin Bauman gone after this season, and some past injury issues with Eli Raridon, the tight end position is unsettled going into 2025. It wouldn’t be shocking at all to see Flanigan find a role in the rotation, and maybe even starting at some point next season.

DT Davion Dixon – Miami (Fla.) Palmetto

It’s anticipated that Notre Dame is going to push hard in the portal for some impact defensive tackles. If they do miss this offseason, they will need to find some depth for that group. Dixon isn’t a dynamic player, but he’s big (6-2, 310 pounds), strong, and very productive (82 total tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, and three forced fumbles in 2024). He has enough physicality to provide some reps early on if the need arises.

K Erik Schmidt – Milwaukee (Wisc.) Marquette University

With Mitch Jeter out of eligibility this offseason, and no clear answer in the specialist room, there is going to be a huge need for a new kicker next season. It’s not unreasonable for this team to once again hit the portal for a more experienced replacement, but Schmidt is also a player that some consider the best kicker in the 2025 class. He has the leg strength to extend well beyond 50 yards.