Dec 28, 2013; Bronx, NY, USA; The Notre Dame Fighting Irish sing their Alma Mater after the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium. Notre Dame defeated the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 29-16. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Olathe, Kansas Offensive Guard Braden Smith cancelled his visit to Notre Dame on January 17th and will visit Auburn instead. Smith’s finalists are now TCU, Texas A&M and Auburn.

Landing Smith with a January 17th visit was improbable. Notre Dame has already landed four Offensive Linemen in this class: Alex Bars, Sam Mustipher, Quenton Nelson and Jimmy Byrne. By far, Smith not visiting is not a huge loss for the Fighting Irish. Since the class of 2012 when Notre Dame only landed only two Offensive Linemen (Mark Harrell and Ronnie Stanley), the Irish have recruited very well along the long.

National Signing Day is Wednesday, February 5, 2014.