ReRank Breakdown: 2014 Notre Dame Recruiting Class

The 2014 recruiting class for Notre Dame demonstrated a blend of strong hits and a few notable misses, reflecting a mixed outcome against initial recruiting expectations. With a class ranking of 11, the expectations were set high for several recruits, particularly those with blue chip status, which constituted 55% of the total commits. Despite the overall class ranking slipping to 13 during the S2S rerank, several recruits outperformed their original rankings substantially.
The standout performers include Quenton Nelson, who achieved an NFL Pro Bowl status, and several others like DeShone Kizer and Drue Tranquill, who became NFL starters. Their successes indicate that Notre Dame was able to develop talent effectively, even from recruits who were ranked lower than their eventual outcomes would suggest. In contrast, some higher-ranked recruits, such as Nyles Morgan, only achieved starting status without rising to all-conference or higher accolades, indicating that while expectations were met to an extent, they could have been exceeded further.

Overall, the class met expectations, with several recruits significantly outperforming their original rankings. The S2S rerank fell slightly due to the underperformance of some higher-ranked recruits, particularly in achieving higher outcome labels. Nonetheless, the presence of multiple players achieving NFL status, albeit without the NFL validation, highlights effective player development within the program.
In summary, the Notre Dame 2014 recruiting class showcased strong potential, with notable hits that demonstrate the program's ability to nurture talent, while also revealing areas for improvement in maximizing the impact of higher-ranked recruits.