Rivals bumps Notre Dame OL commit Blake Fisher to five-star status

Notre Dame added a five-star recruit to its 2021 class on Monday, but it wasn’t from a new commitment.

Longtime Irish offensive line commit Blake Fisher received a five-star rating from Rivals in its latest round of updates.

Notre Dame signed two five-star recruits in the 2020 class — wide receiver Jordan Johnson (per Rivals) and tight end Michael Mayer (per 247Sports). If Fisher maintains his five-star status, he would become the first five-star offensive linemen to sign since Tommy Kraemer (247Sports) in the 2016 class. The last five-star offensive lineman rated by Rivals to sign with the Irish is Quenton Nelson in the 2014 class.

Fisher started his senior season at Avon (Ind.) High School last Friday. The Orioles lost 62-34 to Lawrence North. A strong season could help solidify Fisher’s spot in the rankings as other states have pushed football seasons to the spring amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rivals ranks Fisher as the No. 3 offensive tackle and No. 19 overall in the 2021 class. Fisher is joined by five other commits in the Rivals 250, four of whom are also among the top 100.

Notre Dame commits Lorenzo Styles Jr., Rocco Spindler and Gabriel Rubio received only slight drops in their overall rankings in the top 100. Styles lost two spots as the No. 6 wide receiver and No. 4 overall. Spindler dipped three spots as the No. 3 offensive guard and No. 59 overall. Rubio fell just one spot as the No. 10 defensive tackle and No. 100 overall.

Rivals gave Irish quarterback commit Tyler Buchner a more significant drop. He fell 34 spots to No. 80 overall as the No. 4 dual-threat quarterback.

Notre Dame cornerback commit Philip Riley made his first appearance in the Rivals 250. His stock was elevated to No. 240 overall as the No. 22 cornerback.

The Rivals 250 also included six of Notre Dame’s top remaining targets in the 2021 class: offensive lineman Nolan Rucci (No. 29), wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. (55), running back Donovan Edwards (65), cornerback CB Ceyair Wright (95), wide receiver Deion Colzie (107) and wide receiver Jayden Thomas (194).

Rivals ranks Notre Dame’s 2021 class of 18 commits No. 11 nationally.

The complete Rivals 250 can be found here.