On Jan. 16, 2006, Notre Dame welcomed its first three early enrollees into its football program: Indiana running back James Aldridge, Texas offensive lineman Chris Stewart and Oklahoma wide receiver George West.
They are student-athletes who complete their high school academic requirements by December and can be admitted into a university that ensuing January. This provides an opportunity to work out with the football team in the winter and partake in spring drills to get a jump on the learning curve as a freshman.
Fourteen years later with the 2020 spring semester beginning this Monday, eight more early entrants raise the all-time total to 70. The octet is comprised of: