We’ve been waiting on this one, and it’s totally worth it

Washington 4-Star wide receiver Tobias Merriweather committed to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Wednesday, ending a month and a half wait to publicly announce after ND appeared to be the clear leader in June. Merriweather chose the Irish over a long list of suitors that included the Tennessee Volunteers, USC Trojans, Michigan Wolverines, Oregon Ducks and others. Notre Dame’s biggest competition for Tobias looked to be the Stanford Cardinal, but today ended that speculation.

Merriweather is a long and lean wide receiver prospect that looks to be very well coordinated for his size and age.

247’s Brandon Huffman offered this evaluation:

Merriweather is a lengthy receiver with optimal height and range, with a large catch radius, soft hands that can pluck passes from all angles and glides when in the open field. He’s smooth in his routes and in and out of his breaks, adjusts well to throws and flashes great body control. Has tended to stay on the slighter side throughout his prep career so will need to continue to get stronger and add weight to avoid being pressed. Projects as multi-year Power 5 starter and projects as second day pick.

Merriweather is now the 20th commitment for Notre Dame’s 2022 recruiting class, and it is shaping up to be a really good one. This commitment moves the Irish back into the #3 class according to the 247 Composite Team Rankings (behind Penn State Nittany Lions and Alabama Crimson Tide).

Notre Dame’s current class represents 16 different states with its 20 players.

While Merriweather is ranked “just” at 125 in the 247 Composite, 247 Sports has him as the #75 player over all and the #11 WR in the country.

After our podcast chat with Tom Loy, I am more comfortable than ever of predicting that this class will contain 27+ commitments. The Irish are favorites to land C.J. Williams on Sunday for its 21st commitment (which puts the team rankings at #2) and they are very much in the mix for a large handful of other players.

Besides the commitments of Merriweather and Amorion Walker, Notre Dame is expected to land Williams — but also to add that elusive 4th WR at some point as well. The numbers are there for the Irish, and if they do add 4 this cycle, the 2 year cycle of 2021 and 2022 will be as successful of a haul at WR as we have seen.

FIST PUMPS UP FOR TOBIAS!!!