Notre Dame's top player from each 2022 away game destination

Notre Dame has an interesting 2022 schedule filled with unusual destinations. Of course, they often play in unusual locations, partially for recruiting purposes. Which star recruits have they pulled from those states in the past?

In 2022, the Irish play four true away games at Ohio State, North Carolina, Syracuse and USC. The Navy game is a home game for the Midshipmen, but it will be played away from Annapolis, as it usually is, and in at M&T Bank Stadium, home of the Baltimore Ravens. Additionally, Notre Dame plays this year’s Shamrock Series game against BYU at Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders.

In total, that is six states away from Indiana. Here is a look at the highest-rated signee the Irish have gotten from those states since 2007, which is the first year On3 currently has full data available for recruiting classes.

All rankings cited below are from the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. 

Ohio – 2016 offensive tackle Tommy Kraemer

On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 2 player from Ohio, No. 4 offensive tackle and No. 35 nationally (95.700)

High school: Cincinnati Elder

Kraemer was the top recruit in the 2016 class, and he certainly panned out well for Notre Dame. The lineman spent five years in South Bend and was a four-year starter; outside of a season-ending knee midway through 2019, he was a staple on several notable Irish offensive lines. For example, in 2017, the Irish won the Joe Moore Award, given to the nation’s top offensive line. Individually, Kraemer finished up his Notre Dame tenure in 2020 earning All-ACC first-team honors as well as third-team All-America honors from the AP.

Kraemer went undrafted in 2021 and signed with the Detroit Lions. He immediately impressed the staff in Detroit, as he spent the majority of his rookie season as the Lions’ second-string left guard. He appeared in a total of nine games, and he started in Weeks 12, 15 and 17.

North Carolina – 2007 linebacker Kerry Neal

On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 5 player from North Carolina, No. 5 linebacker and No. 72 nationally (91.400)

High school: Bunn (N.C.) High

Neal was recruited as a linebacker, but his versatility allowed him to play both linebacker and defensive end while at Notre Dame. He played in every game of his four-year Irish career, and began starting almost as soon as he arrived on campus; Neal started five games in his rookie season. He amassed 112 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, seven sacks, five pass break ups and an interception for the blue and gold.

A very brief NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts ended after Neal suffered several injuries, and he retired from football in 2011. He subsequently became a sports performance trainer in the Chicago area and now serves as the CEO of WIN Performance in Highland Park, Ill.

Nevada – 2015 tight end Alize Mack

On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 1 player from Nevada, No. 1 tight end and No. 76 nationally (94.233)

High school: Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman

Mack’s career at Notre Dame didn’t go as well as either side would have liked. The Nevada native was originally committed to UCLA, but he flipped to the Irish. He had a promising freshman season, during which he caught 13 balls and averaged nearly 15 yards per catch. Mack was academically ineligible to play in 2016, but he returned to the team the following season. He played in six games in 2017 but was suspended for Notre Dame’s Citrus Bowl appearance against LSU. He finished his Irish career in 2018 with a total of 68 receptions for 716 yards and four touchdowns.

The tight end is still in the NFL after the New Orleans Saints drafted him in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Mack spent three years hopping around between the practice squads of four teams, and he was signed to the Green Bay Packers active roster on Feb. 7, 2022.

PROMOTION: Sign up for just $1 for first year at Blue & Gold

New York – 2011 EDGE Ishaq Williams

On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 1 player from New York, No. 4 EDGE and No. 27 nationally (95.133)

High school: Brooklyn (N.Y.) Abraham Lincoln

Like Kraemer, Williams was also the top recruit in his class. Unlike Kraemer, his college career was plagued by inconsistency. Williams floated back and forth between linebacker and defensive line, and he left Notre Dame with just 45 total tackles, six tackles for loss and a sack. He made just one start, was not enrolled at Notre Dame in 2014, and was not eligible to play in 2015.

Williams went undrafted in 2016 and signed with the New York Giants. The defenseman jumped between the active roster, the practice squad and the injured reserve list for two years before failing a 2018 physical and retiring from football.

Maryland – 2014 center Sam Mustipher

On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 5 player from Maryland, No. 26 interior lineman and No. 304 nationally (89.900)

High school: Olney (Md.) Good Counsel

Mustipher started every game from 2016-18 for Notre Dame and was a part of the aforementioned Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line in 2017. He was a 2018 captain and made his way onto multiple watch lists for his individual performance at center that season, including the Rimington Award given to the country’s top center. He allowed zero sacks in 2018 as the Irish made their way into the College Football Playoff field for the first time.

The Maryland native went undrafted and signed with the Chicago Bears in 2019. After a stint on the practice squad, he made his way to the active roster in October 2020 and has since started 23 games, including all 17 for the Bears last season. According to PFF, he played 1,121 snaps in 2021 and allowed just one sack.

California – 2007 quarterback Jimmy Clausen

On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 1 player from California, No. 1 quarterback and No. 2 player nationally (97.100)

High school: Thousand Oaks (Calif.) Oaks Christian

Not only is Clausen is the highest-rated California recruit since 2007, he is also the highest-rate offensive recruit overall in that time period. Unfortunately for him, he arrived in South Bend during a very tumultuous time. He started nine games his freshman year, and Notre Dame went 3-6 in those contests (3-9 overall). In total, Clausen’s record as a starter over three seasons was 16-18. Clausen completed his college career with 8,148 passing yards, 60 touchdowns and 27 interceptions.

The former five-star prospect forwent his senior season after former head coach Charlie Weis was fired in 2009 and declared for the NFL Draft. He was the Carolina Panthers’ second-round selection in 2010 and ultimately made just 14 NFL starts before leaving football.