For several months, it has seemed inevitable that Deuce Knight might decommit from Notre Dame, with Auburn gaining huge momentum in this recruitment battle. After narrowly avoiding a commitment shift to Ole Miss in the spring, Auburn now appears poised to secure Knight’s commitment sooner rather than later.
On Monday, On3 revealed that Knight will visit Auburn on August 31st for a famous game against Alabama A&M. Meanwhile, Notre Dame will be in College Station, with ESPN College Gameday covering their game against Texas A&M, while Knight spends the weekend at Auburn’s campus.
This official visit should not come as a shock. The signs have pointed towards Knight possibly changing his commitment for some time, and it has become increasingly clear that Notre Dame might lose the commitment Knight made over a year ago.
Over the past 4-5 months, predictions have consistently suggested a move away from Notre Dame, first to Ole Miss and now to Auburn, who have emerged as a strong contender after intensifying their interest in Knight.
Notre Dame has likely been preparing for this scenario, potentially exploring alternative recruits behind the scenes. If they have not yet done so, now would be the crucial moment for them to act.
Several factors, many of which stemmed from Notre Dame’s own shortcomings, contributed to their current predicament. Last year’s uninspiring offense failed to attract recruits, leading to the loss of top receiver targets and opening the door for Auburn and Ole Miss.
Had Notre Dame’s offense performed better last year and secured high-caliber receiver commitments for 2025, the situation might be different. However, the Irish remain in a prove-it phase offensively, compounded by the challenge of potentially starting a true freshman at a critical offensive line position.
The emergence of true freshman CJ Carr could have influenced Knight’s perception, as Auburn likely highlighted Carr’s impressive spring performance to suggest that Notre Dame’s quarterback position might remain uncertain until 2027. With the transfer portal’s influence, Notre Dame needs a quarterback who can contribute immediately, not just provide depth.
Under Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame has faced similar challenges before. After losing out on Dante Moore two years ago, the Irish scrambled and eventually flipped Kenny Minchey from Pitt. Notre Dame will hope for a similar outcome if Knight does decommit.
There remains a slim chance that Notre Dame could stay competitive in the race if their offense performs exceptionally well in September. Despite the possibility of a public decommitment by Knight, the Irish will continue their efforts to remain in contention, given the substantial investment in recruiting him over the past 18 months.
Notre Dame must actively seek alternatives, even if discreetly, and reconnect with other quarterback prospects if Knight confirms his commitment to Auburn.
They could leverage the fact that Denbrock, who was not at Notre Dame during Knight’s initial recruitment, might present a different appeal compared to former offensive coordinator Gerad Parker. Immediate action is crucial to avoid an empty quarterback room in 2025 if Carr secures the starting role and potential transfers occur.