The wait is over—Mississippi quarterback has switched his commitment from Notre Dame to Auburn.
Back in August, I already saw the signs and said my goodbyes, writing that the main reason for this outcome was Notre Dame’s handling of his path to playing time. I speculated that with C.J. Carr poised to be the next big thing, Knight wouldn’t have a shot at starting until 2027.
No top-tier quarterback today wants to wait two years for their chance. You can argue that elite QBs shouldn’t fear competition, but that’s not my concern, and in this case, it actually works in Notre Dame’s favor.
While the narrative around this flip is disappointing, I’m not sure how much it will really impact the program. Then again, recruiting is unpredictable, and this could be another “what if” scenario for Notre Dame.
BREAKING: Elite 2025 QB Deuce Knight has Flipped his Commitment from Notre Dame to Auburn, he tells me for @on3recruits
The 6’4 210 QB from Lucedale, MS had been Committed to the Fighting Irish since September 2023
“AU it’s up❄️ #LLMYGUYS”https://t.co/EQRBDq0ppQ pic.twitter.com/E97zddZqpo
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) October 2, 2024
I still believe much of what I wrote, but recruiting is never about just one or two factors—it’s always a combination of things. As Eric Thomas pointed out in his piece, an unnamed source noted, “You can’t blame Notre Dame for losing Deuce… Never bet against LSU, Ole Miss, Auburn, or Alabama when it comes to a deep south player with no northern ties.”
The source added that Notre Dame’s mistake was not pursuing Bear Bachmeier from California, a player who wanted to join the program. With Bachmeier out of the picture, Notre Dame now faces a quarterback dilemma. Even if Carr is as good as advertised, every recruiting cycle matters, and without consistent talent, they might have to rely on the transfer portal for mid-tier ACC players.
Now, with 22 commitments, Notre Dame’s class is ranked 13th in the nation according to the 247 Composite Team Rankings.
After this season, many believe that Steve Angeli will come back in the spring to compete with Kenny Minchey and C.J. Carr for the starting position. Given the current landscape, it’s also quite possible that one or two of the three may not even be on the Irish roster by August. This is why this recruiting cycle remains crucial for the position.
At least this part of the recruiting cycle has finally concluded.
Now, on to other matters…
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