What recruits flipped in (and out of) Notre Dame Football's 2024 recruiting class

Marcus Freeman’s latest National Signing Day as Notre Dame head coach went much smoother than the first two.

The Irish officially added all 23 of their verbal commitments to the 2024 roster before 10:30 a.m. EST on Dec. 20 — the first day of early National Signing Day. In doing so, they avoided any late early signing day decommitments and kept intact a recruiting class that had zero departures or additions after Sept. 19.

“The best thing to me was the zero decommitments after senior seasons began,” Freeman told reporters during his signing day press conference on Dec. 20. “That shows that these young people want to be here. They have a close relationship with each other. It’s a strong class, and they’re a close class. That’s also a credit to our coaches, and to (director of recruiting) Chad Bowden and our recruiting staff for making sure that we keep these guys together.

“Because until they actually sign, there’s always people pulling at them, saying there is a better opportunity for them. But they stayed committed to each other, to this university and to this football program. So I’m extremely happy about that.”

That was much different theme than the last two recruiting cycles.

Freeman’s previous National Signing Day ended with elite safety recruit Peyton Bowen flipping to Oregon … only to sign with Oklahoma days later. Running backs Dylan Edwards and Jayden Limar also left the 2023 class in December to play in the Pac-12 — for one season — at Colorado and Oregon, respectively.

2023 class running back Sedrick Irvin Jr., cornerback Justyn Rhett, EDGE Keon Keeley and offensive tackle Elijah Paige decommitted before the 2022 season began. Safety Brandyn Hillman earned a release from his national letter of intent last March.

The 2022 recruiting cycle saw a similar postseason exodus. After former Irish coach Brian Kelly departed for LSU, the Irish lost commitments from wide receivers Amorion Walker and CJ Williams and defensive back Devin Moore. Freeman contributed to the class as defensive coordinator before being promoted to head coach in early December 2022.

So what changed to secure a drama-free signing day in the 2024 recruiting cycle?

“I think it starts with the relationship,” Freeman said. “It starts with, you can’t relax, when a kid’s committed. You have to continue to pour time into building that relationship and trust. But it’s also the ability to continue to sell Notre Dame, right? And reminding them upfront, this is what you’re choosing.

“Don’t choose this place because of a coach. Don’t choose this place because of just what you believe in NIL. There’s so many different reasons to choose this place. And when they make the decision, we remind them of that. So, I think the other thing is the core. Like those guys able to develop that relationship with each other. I always tell them don’t make the decision based off things that can change. Coaching can change, uniforms can change. A lot of things can change.”

The Irish only lost three recruits to decommitments in the 2024 cycle. Meanwhile, they flipped two prospects in their favor. Here’s a breakdown of each one.

Who flipped to Notre Dame in the 2024 recruiting class?

Three-star CB Karson Hobbs 

Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller’s Karson Hobbs gladly accepted an invitation to attend Notre Dame’s game against California on Sept. 17, 2022, even though he did not have an Irish scholarship offer and was committed to South Carolina. His recruitment changed quickly before that Week 3 matchup kicked off. 

Notre Dame cornerbacks coach Mike Mickens offered the now 6-foot-1, 180-pound Hobbs a few weeks into his junior season. It was an emotional moment for his family — lifelong Fighting Irish fans — and left them with a decision to make. Truthfully, there really was not one for Hobbs. He had his mind made up.

But out of respect to the Gamecocks’ coaching staff and Hobbs’ primary recruiter, defensive backs coach Torrian Gray, he waited about two months to verify his decommitment and eventual flip to the Irish. It happened on November 9, 2022, four days after Hobbs attended Notre Dame’s upset victory over nationally ranked Clemson. 

Kentucky and West Virginia publicly offered before his flip. And despite eventual post-Notre Dame interest from Georgia, Ohio State, Tennessee and others, Hobbs stayed locked in with the Irish. He visited campus seven more times before signing Dec. 20.

High school quarterbacks hardly tested Hobbs during his senior season. His side of the field usually remained untouched, which is a credit to his coverage skills. In 15 games, he had 11 pass breakups and 2 interceptions, along with 34 tackles (15 solo) and 0.5 tackles for loss. 

The On3 Industry Ranking — proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services — considers Hobbs the No. 579 overall player, No. 60 cornerback and No. 23 prospect in Ohio in the 2024 recruiting cycle. 

Hobbs will enroll at Notre Dame in January. 

Four-star WR Logan Saldate

Those close to Salinas (Calif.) Palma’s Logan Saldate insisted he would never flip from Oregon State because of the relationships he built with their coaching staff. Then, Notre Dame came calling.

Bowden discovered Saldate when he was a lowly-rated recruit last July. The Irish were on the prowl for a third wide receiver. And they landed on Saldate after he sent Bowden video footage of a workout. 

Saldate never publicly reported his Notre Dame scholarship offer before announcing his flip on July 21. He verbally committed to the Irish before ever stepping foot on campus. Notre Dame eventually welcomed him to town twice during football season.

As Saldate came to find out, his connections with college coaches were only a part of the recruiting process — not the end all, be all. Freeman eventually moved on from wide receivers coach Chansi Stuckey less than four weeks before signing day. Around that same time, Oregon State coach Jonathan Smith and several other Beavers’ coaching staff members bolted for Michigan State. 

And as casual recruiting fans learned, the Irish dug up a diamond in the rough in Saldate. When he pledged to the Irish, Saldate was the No. 989 overall player and No. 144 wide receiver in America, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. Now, Saldate is the No. 337 player and No. 57 prospect at his position. 

Saldate is coming off a senior campaign in which he produced 1,242 yards and 15 touchdowns on 68 receptions (18.3 yards per catch). Like Hobbs, Saldate will also enroll in June.

Who flipped from Notre Dame in the 2024 recruiting class?

Four-star WR Isiah Canion 

Stuckey identified the 6-3, 190-pound Isiah Canion in his hometown of Warner Robins, Ga. Notre Dame offered him during an unofficial visit on March 5. It secured his commitment on April 27 — four days after he paid a return visit for the program’s Blue-Gold intrasquad spring game. 

Canion returned for his official visit from June 16-18. A family dynamic led to his decommitment on July 1. Two days later, Canion committed to Georgia Tech, the closest Power Five program to him. 

The Irish replaced Canion with Saldate, a speedy slot wide receiver. Canion is the No. 218 overall player, No. 39 wide receiver and No. 26 prospect in Georgia in the 2024 recruiting cycle. 

Four-star DL Brandon Davis-Swain

West Bloomfield (Mich.) High’s Brandon Davis-Swain was a surprise visitor for the 2022 edition of Notre Dame’s Blue-Gold Game on April 23. The 6-2½, 240-pounder hit South Bend on his way to Indianapolis for a high school football camp. The Irish offered him during their Pot of Gold Day recruiting event about a month prior on March 17. 

Before he left Notre Dame that day, Davis-Swain made an unexpected commitment. He was the first to join the class … and the first to leave it. 

During the ensuing football season, Davis-Swain frequented Ann Arbor by visiting Michigan several times. It led to a mutual parting of ways. Davis-Swain’s Notre Dame commitment was unplanned and clearly uncertain. 

He eventually pledged to Colorado and coach Deion Sanders on June 10. Davis-Swain stayed loyal to the Buffs and signed with them earlier this month despite several prospect departures from their 2024 recruiting class.

Davis-Swain is the No. 291 overall player, No. 29 defensive lineman and No. 6 prospect in Michigan in the 2024 class. 

Three-star DL Owen Wafle

Following two unofficial college recruiting visits to Notre Dame, Princeton (N.J.) Hun School’s Owen Wafle verbally committed to the Irish on May 16, 2022, over offers from Iowa, Michigan State, Rutgers and Vanderbilt. Notre Dame offered Wafle on Pot of Gold Day. 

The 6-2, 267-pound Wafle’s pledge lasted about a year before he and the Irish parted. Behind the scenes, Michigan defensive line coach Mike Elston recruited Wafle, and the Irish eventually preferred Clearwater (Fla.) Academy International’s Sean Sevillano for Wafle’s spot in the class. It was a clean break for both parties. 

Wafle eventually committed to Michigan on June 11 and signed with the Wolverines on Dec. 20. He is the No. 444 overall player, No. 47 defensive lineman and No. 9 prospect in New Jersey in 2024. The 6-1½, 325-pound Sevillano ranks No. 545 overall, No. 52 among D-linemen and No. 69 overall in Florida.