With all of the talent Notre Dame lost from its 2015 Feista Bowl squad and with an upper class decimated by early departures, transfers, and retirements; Notre Dame will need big contributions from its sophomore class in 2016 if the Irish are to post back to back 10 win seasons for the first time in 23 years.
Notre Dame’s sophomore class signed in 2015 without much fanfare. 247Sports ranked the class outside the top 10 and only one other full class (2012) under Brian Kelly has been ranked lower. Note, however, that the class of 2012 still included Sheldon Day, Elijah Shumate, CJ Prosise, Ronnie Stanley, Chris Brown, and Romeo Okwara.