Four-star OT Elijah Paige decommits from Notre Dame
The promise of Notre Dame's 2022 season evaporated Sept. 10 when Marshall upset the Irish in Notre Dame Stadium. As the Irish (1-2) try to get their season back on track, the program's also in a fight to keep its promising 2023 recruiting class together.
The class, which for months was considered No. 1 in the country by Rivals, took a loss Thursday when four-star offensive tackle Elijah Paige announced he was no longer committed to the Irish.
The 6-foot-6, 295-pound Paige previously committed to the Irish in June following an official visit. At the time, Paige planned to make official visits to Michigan State, USC and Washington following his trip to Notre Dame, but he decided he had seen enough after his first trip to South Bend.
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Now Paige, a senior at Phoenix Pinnacle, will have more opportunities to consider other options. He still has three official visit available to him. Paige also made an official visit to UCLA in May.
The loss of Paige shrinks Notre Dame's 2023 class down to 22 verbal commitments. He was part of a five-man offensive line class put together by Harry Hiestand just months into his return to Notre Dame as offensive line coach.
The Irish still have offensive line commitments from four-star recruits Charles Jagusah (No. 8 OT), Sam Pendleton (No. 23 OT) and Sullivan Absher (No. 28 OT) and three-star recruit Joe Otting (No. 20 OG). Rivals ranks Paige as the No. 36 offensive tackle in the 2023 class.
Notre Dame shut down its offensive line recruiting after Jagusah became the fifth in the class. The Irish were recruiting four-star offensive tackle Monroe Freeling into June, but he committed to Georgia in August and isn't expected to reconsider Notre Dame.
Paige became the first recruit to leave Notre Dame's 2023 class since five-star defensive end Keon Keeley did so last month. The Irish also lost previous commitments from four-star cornerback Justyn Rhett in April and four-star running back Sedrick Irvin in May.
Notre Dame's 2023 class of 20 four-star commits and two three-star commits remains ranked No. 3 in the country by Rivals behind Alabama and Ohio State.
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