Notre Dame’s recruiting class of 2019 will go down as the exception proving an Irish rule. In the last six recruiting cycles, that was the only year Notre Dame did not chase down two tight ends, instead signing none. The current cycle, the sixth in that timeline, now has its second pledge with consensus four-star tight end Holden Staes (Westminster High School; Atlanta) committing to the Irish on Saturday.
Setting aside the entire cycle, Staes joins consensus three-star tight end Eli Raridon (Valley H.S.; West Des Moines, Iowa) in committing to Notre Dame just this week.