Notre Dame Football: 5 commits who’ll have an instant impact in 2018

Star junior wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown was the primary target for junior quarterback Brandon Wimbush in 2017. However, St. Brown did not have the type of production expected, especially since the Irish finished as a top 15 ranked team.

Moreover, wide receiver Kevin Stepherson was dismissed from the program, by Kelly, in the middle of January. That leaves an opportunity open for a player like four-star early signee, from Pompano Beach, FL, Kevin Austin. He’s one of the top ranked recruits in the 2018 class.

Austin carries a large frame, at 6-foot-3, and gives Wimbush a possible new primary target on the outside. He’ll get the chance to compete with rising senior receivers like Miles Boykin and Chris Finke for looks from whichever Notre Dame quarterback wins the starting job.

The specific parts of Austin’s game that leaps off the page at you includes his strong hands, top line speed and route running ability. That route running ability and strength to go up and snatch the ball will only improve over the course of his college career.