We are almost done with the first week of August and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish still have a “scholarship problem” on paper. The words, “on paper” are significantly important here. While we (you, me, and everyone else) may not know what’s going on inside the Gug with the count — but Brian Kelly and his staff probably do.
But what looks like an actual season around the corner, the problem on paper sticks out like a sore thumb. So — let’s get into it. Here’s Notre Dame’s scholarship count for the 2020 season:
2020 Notre Dame Football Scholarship Chart
| Quarterback | Drew Pyne | Brendon Clark* | - | - | Ian Book |
| Running Back | Chris Tyree | Kyren Williams* | Jahmir Smith*, C'Bo Flemister* | Jafar Armstrong*, Avery Davis* | Trevor Speights** |
| Tight End | Michael Mayer, Kevin Bauman | - | George Takacs*, Tommy Tremble* | Brock Wright | - |
| Wide Receiver | Jordan Johnson, Jay Brunelle, Xavier Watts | Kendall Abdur-Rahman* | Micah Jones*, Kevin Austin*, Braden Lenzy*, Lawrence Keys III*, Joe Wilkins* | Isaiah Robertson | Javon McKinley, Bennett Skowronek |
| Center | - | Zeke Correll* | Jarrett Patterson* | - | - |
| Guard | - | John Olmstead*, Hunter Spears* | John Dirksen* | Dillan Gibbons*, Aaron Banks* | Tommy Kraemer |
| Tackle | Tosh Baker, Michael Carmody | Andrew Kristofic*, Quinn Carroll* | Cole Mabry* | Robert Hainsey, Josh Lugg* | Liam Eichenberg |
| Defensive Tackle | Aidan Keanaaina, Rylie Mills | Howard Cross*, Jacob Lacey | Jayson Ademilola, Ja'mion Franklin* | Kurt Hinish, Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa | - |
| Defensive End | Alexander Ehrensberger, Jordan Botelho | NaNa Osafo-Mensah*, Isaiah Foskey* | Justin Ademilola*, Ovie Oghoufo* | Kofi Wardlow* | Ade Ogundeji, Daelin Hayes |
| Linebacker | - | Jack Kiser*, Osita Ekwonu*, Marist Liufau*, JD Bertrand* | Bo Bauer, Jack Lamb*, Shayne Simon, Paul Moala | Drew White*, Jordan Genmark Heath, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah* | - |
| Safety | - | Litchfield Ajavon*, Kyle Hamilton | D. |