Notre Dame’s strong early start with the 2023 recruiting class got even better Wednesday morning when four-star running back Sedrick Irvin Jr. committed to the Fighting Irish live on CBS Sports HQ. Irvin chose Notre Dame over Michigan State, Stanford and Oregon to give the Fighting Irish their fifth commitment of the 2023 cycle. All five commitments are four-or-five-star prospects, according to 247Sports.
Irvin ranks as the No. 177 prospect in the class and No. 8 running back, according to the 247Sports Composite. His father starred as a running back at Michigan State in the late 1990s and was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft. But the younger Irvin will forge his own path in South Bend, Indiana.
“For me, it was kind of an easy decision. I always knew Notre Dame was a school I really liked. Then, my sophomore year getting that offer, it really meant a lot to me,” Irvin said. “Then being able to see the campus and meet the staff, it was just something I knew I could be a part of. The great tradition they have there as a football program and a school of excellence, it’s just a great thing to be a part of.”
The 5-foot-10 back plays for a strong high school program at Gulliver Prep in Miami, Florida and has shown promise as a receiving threat out of the backfield. Here is the full breakdown on Irvin from 247Sports southeast recruiting analyst Andrew Ivins:
The type of running back that can do a little bit of everything. Has spent the past three years making a difference at one of the top private schools in the Miami metro. A patient runner with superb vision that doesn’t try to do too much. Quick out of the chute and more than capable of beating a defender to the edge. Soft hands make him more than just the occasional check-down option as he can generate big gains when he gets the ball on both screen and swing passes. Shouldn’t be viewed as much of a power back at this stage in his development, but is already pushing 190 pounds and has shown on Fridays that he can pick up yards after contact. Posted above-average testing numbers the spring before his junior season. Lateral quickness shows up on tape with his swift cuts. Could probably improve top-end speed a bit, but not exactly slow. Has experience working out of a variety of different formations, which is certainly valuable. Will likely need a few years to adjust to the college game, but has the skillset to emerge as a contributor at the Power 5 level. Might carve out a role early on in his career as a third-down back of sorts given ability to impact the passing game.
Notre Dame already had a top-five class in the 2023 cycle before Irvin’s commitment, so the Fighting Irish are recruiting at an elite level for the future.
