Notre Dame may be located in northern Indiana but the football program recruits on as much of a national level as anyone.
How has Notre Dame fared in the recruiting game since 2000?
Some years have left quite a bit to be desired but for the most part,
they’ve remained one of the better programs at attracting talent to campus despite not reaching the elite category.
So in the last 23 years of recruiting who are the best players from each state that Notre Dame has gotten to enroll?
Here is the top player the Irish have signed from each state according to 247Sports:
Arizona DaVonte’ Neal Wide Receiver 5-9, 170 lbs. Phoenix, Arizona (Central) 4*, #57 nationally in 2012
California Jimmy Clausen Quarterback 6-3, 200 pounds Westlake Village, CA (Oaks Christian) 5*, #2 nationally in 2007
Colorado Danny Spond Linebacker 6-3, 232 pounds Littleton, CO (Columbine) 3*, #369 nationally in 2010
Connecticut John Sullivan Center 6-4, 270 pounds Greenwich, CT 4*, #75 nationally in 2003
Florida Sam Young Offensive Tackle 6-8, 305 pounds Ft. Lauderdale, FL (St. Thomas Aquinas) 5*, #8 nationally in 2006
Georgia Stephon Tuitt Defensive End 6-5, 270 pounds Monroe, GA (Monroe Area) 4*, #31 nationally in 2011
Hawaii Manti Te’o Inside Linebacker 6-2, 225 pounds Honolulu, HI (Punahou) 5*, #4 nationally in 2009
Idaho Tristen Hoge Center 6-4, 276 pounds Pocatella, ID (Highland) 4*, #89 nationally in 2015
Illinois Cam Williams Wide Receiver 6-2, 190 pounds Glen Ellyn, IL (Glenbard South) 4*, #32 nationally in 2024
Indiana Jaylon Smith Outside Linebacker 6-3, 218 pounds Ft. Wayne, IN (Bishop Luers) 5*, #2 nationally in 2013
Iowa Eli Raridon Tight End 6-6, 228 pounds West Des Moines, IA (Valley) 4*, #173 nationally in 2022
Kansas Brian Smith Outside Linebacker 6-2, 222 pounds Overland Park, KS (St. Thomas Aquinas) 4*, #237 nationally in 2007
Kentucky Michael Mayer Tight End 6-4, 232 pounds Alexandria, KY (Covington Catholic) 5*, #32 nationally in 2020