Irish Sports Daily

How many scholarships will Notre Dame award recruits for the 2014 class? The number will start at one point, but it shall rise. More importantly, will the Irish land the studs needed to win a national title?

As a given rule, always add two scholarships to the total to be given out from the original allotment to be awarded. Why? Career-ending injuries, transfers, early departures to the NFL, and fifth-year decisions change roster management. The number the Irish coaching staff will be working with, at least now, will be 18. I’m going with 20, and that’s bottom end. Hopefully the Irish sign five or six first round draft picks within those 20 recruits. Here’s my perspective for each Position:

QB – 0/1

Redshirt sophomore Everett Golson could play through the 2015 season. It will be hard to recruit quarterbacks, assuming the roster stays intact. I highly doubt that it does. A position that goes through a high level of transfer attrition would be quarterback because most teams simply play one signal caller. Therefore, quarterbacks transfer. I will be surprised if Gunner Kiel sticks around for the 2014 season. He’s simply stuck behind Golson, and there’s only one year of eligibility difference. Maybe I will be proven wrong, but the odds of Kiel passing Golson on the depth chart appear to be very low. If Kiel does leave it will likely be before or shortly after the 2013 season so that he can begin practicing at a new school. If he does decide to stay, I have a feeling Notre Dame will end up with one of two scenarios: signing a mid-level quarterback recruit that simply loves Notre Dame or none at all. The signing of Malik Zaire will not make signing a signal caller any easier. Again, most quarterbacks want to play, not ride the pine. Bottom line, there’s a good chance a scholarship opens up via the quarterback position.

RB – 1/2

I expect Notre Dame to ardently pursue only the truly elite running backs and see where it goes, or maybe not? The odds on favorite to sign with the Irish, of course, will be Elijah Hood from Charlotte, NC (Christian). The Irish lead for his services. Assuming he pulls the trigger by no later than July, he will likely be the only ball carrier to sign with Notre Dame this year. Then again, perhaps Notre Dame will take another slot back/running back candidate such as Derrell Scott from Havelock, NC. Two running backs will not be out of the question, much like last year’s recruiting haul with Greg Bryant and Tarean Folston.

WR – 2/3

This area will be all about which wide receivers actually want to come. With the talented Justin Brent from Indianapolis, IN (Speedway) in the fold, Notre Dame will be selective. Many of their top targets appear to be prospects that will wait out the recruiting process and take visits. Landing a second wide receiver should not be that hard. If a third wide receiver signs, it will need to be a very talented player, a home run hitter, if one will.

TE – 1/2

With the Irish operating from more and more two-tight end sets, there will be a need to utilize more roster spots on tight ends. Much like wide receiver, an extra tight end will need to be very talented. Then again, with the ridiculous amount of injury attrition Notre Dame tight ends suffered through during the course of the past decade, a second tight end is almost a must if the Irish want to continue to use two-tight end sets that do not include true freshmen being in the rotation. Tight ends, like offensive linemen, usually need a season or two of strength and conditioning before being physically ready to play. The wildcard will be Alex Welch. Will he be willing to come back for a fifth-year? Will he be capable of returning to the really good blocker before his knee injury? I error on the side of caution with knee injuries because of the unpredictable nature knee injuries bring. Until otherwise proven, I am not projecting him back for 2014. That’s just my nature. I hope he’s capable and plays at a high level. If so, Notre Dame could sign just one tight end. At least that’s an option.

OT – 2/3

Tackles move to guard, guards do not move to tackle, or at least that’s the general rule. Notre Dame needs to sign offensive tackles with elite athleticism and size. The national title game displayed the difference with SEC schools: dominant offensive line play. Notre Dame must become much more physical up front. The best way to do that derives from signing elite tackles and figuring out the best overall lineup from that group. From a personal perspective, Notre Dame still needs an ‘Ogre’ at right tackle (and preferably one at left tackle, too). This player needs to be an absolutely massive, mean, physically dominant, and occasionally on the edge of gaining personal foul penalties type of player that sets a tone during each game. The last such player I remember would be Jeff Faine over a decade ago, and he did it as a center. Notre Dame needs that tackle to set the edge for every down, but especially those short yardage plays where everyone in the stadium knows that the Irish will run the football. If the opportunity to sign three tackles arises, I honestly believe Notre Dame will do it. Moving tackles to guard or center happens all the time, so take the best athletes, and those athletes generally play offensive tackle. Because I feel this position will be the most critical, overall, of the entire recruiting class, here’s a list of top offensive tackles Notre Dame offered that I feel could be game changers. The Irish absolutely must sign at least one elite tackle this year.

Cameron Robinson, 6-6, 325, West Monroe, LA – I would take this young man over every other offensive tackle on the board, and it’s not because I believe he’s definitively the best offensive tackle. It’s his intimidating presence and style of play that leads me to rating him no. 1 on the board. He’s the quintessential ‘Ogre’ recruit that Notre Dame needs.  He’s just massive and throws people around. This is the type of player that almost always stays in the SEC. Notre Dame must find a way to sign a few guys like this if it wants to defeat top SEC programs come bowl season. The Irish offered long ago. The first step comes with Robinson visiting Notre Dame, and hopefully sooner than later. Do not count Notre Dame out.

Donnell Stanley, 6-4, 320, Latta, SC – Could also play offensive guard. Stanley fits the ‘Ogre’ analogy quite well, just like Robinson. He’s a powerful young man. I would love for the Irish to land Stanley.

Jamarco Jones, 6-5, 285, Chicago, IL (De La Salle) – Could play tackle or guard. He’s very raw, but he’s also athletic. He’s one of those young men that could blossom into something special down the road.

K.C. McDermott, 6-5, 285, Wellington, FL (Palm Beach Central) – Notre Dame appears to be towards the front of the pack for his services, but his brother played for Miami so the Hurricanes will be a team to watch. National recruit.

Braden Smith, 6-6, 280, Olathe, KS (South) – A very fluid athlete with the skills to play the all-important left tackle position. Like McDermott, the Irish appear to be within the lead group to sign the talented prospect. Also like McDermott, he’s a national recruit.

Casey Tucker, 6-5, 275, Chandler, AZ (Hamilton) – An early Southern California commitment that continues to speak with several schools, Tucker plays with a nasty streak that I like. Notre Dame holds his interest.

OG – 1

Signing two could happen, but I hope it does not. If the Irish land Sam Mustipher from Olney, MD (Good Counsel) I believe they should call it a day. Go after the athletic offensive tackles first. See what happens. This will be interesting to watch because the Irish appear to be in on a plethora of good offensive tackle prospects, but many of them could wait until very late in the recruiting process to make a final decision. Will the Irish coaching staff be patient and wait it out or take another inside guy as the safe pick? It’s much, much easier to sign interior offensive linemen because there are more of them.

C – 0/1

If a handful of the current and incoming freshmen work out at center, there’s really no need to sign a center. The performance of the players on the roster this fall will dictate the result.

OLB – 1

A stud. A dominant player. Notre Dame needs just one, but that player must be really good. Further, he needs to be somewhat versatile so that he can cover in space at least occasionally. The most important skill will be a pass rusher, however, and the recruit Notre Dame set its sights upon would Andrew Williams from McDonough, GA (Eagle’s Landing Christian). I believe he will be an early Notre Dame commitment.

ILB – 2

I am concerned about this position because like offensive tackle, the truly elite players are rare, and many of them decide late. It’s great that Notre Dame added Greer Martini already. He alleviates some of the pressure. My best guess for the second inside linebacker will be Nyles Morgan from Crete, IL (Crete Monee). If it’s not him, however, signing a second high level inside linebacker could be quite difficult.

DE – 2/3

This will be a position of flexibility. If a second really good nose guard wants to jump onboard, great! At least that’s my take. At worst, Notre Dame needs some wide bodies with enough skill to push the pocket and play the run. Jay Hayes from Brooklyn, NY (Poly Prep) started Notre Dame in the proper direction. At least one more defensive end will be needed, and if a third wants to jump on board that would be preferred. Lots of candidates, but as always it will be difficult to sign the best defensive linemen because of how much each school covets their services.

NG – 1/2

At the end of the day, four defensive linemen will be needed. At least one of those defensive linemen needs to be a behemoth interior player, or at least a player that can grow into that stature. Enoch Smith, Jr. from Chicago, IL (Mount Carmel) appears to be the best bet, but do not discount Notre Dame signing another interior player that could also swing outside and play a little defensive end.

CB – 2

This will be one of Notre Dame’s greatest challenges. After signing three cornerbacks this past February, it will be hard to attract two more cornerbacks this next February. Consistency will be the key because teams simply pass the football more than ever before. Numbers at cornerback will be paramount to help ensure Notre Dame places two very good cornerbacks on the field for years to come. The past twenty years of Notre Dame Football displayed just how easy it can be to destroy a defense if even one of the two starting cornerbacks lacks the talent to play major college football. Numbers, numbers, numbers!

S – 0/1

If Notre Dame signs a safety it must be a stud. It would be great to sign another top-notch safety, but the depth chart appears to be loaded with young prospects. It will be very hard to attract someone that can make an early dent into the depth chart. Thus, I doubt Notre Dame signs a safety.

ST – 0

It’s just not happening. No need for this recruiting cycle.

Final Thoughts

This recruiting class should end with 20 or more scholarships being handed out. There will be transfers and the like, and those loses will lead to recruiting gains. I expect Notre Dame to sign a recruiting class ranked some place between no. 5 and no. 10 in the major recruiting service rankings. Most importantly, this recruiting class should be about solidifying roster balance and signing a handful of difference makers at running back, wide receiver, offensive tackle, and at each position on defense, especially within the front seven.

Each year the Irish fight uphill to land the best defensive linemen. Few of the top defensive linemen come from cold weather states, and when they do it’s often Ohio defensive line prospects, where the Buckeyes rule the roost. This year presents a rare opportunity for Notre Dame.

With Jay Hayes, a highly touted defensive end prospect from Brooklyn already in the fold, Notre Dame started well. Now Notre Dame needs to land at least three more hand in the dirt front seven defenders with as much, if not more, talent. Not an easy task, but the stars appear to be aligning for Notre Dame. Here’s why.

New Jersey occasionally sends great players to Notre Dame. Notre Dame does not battle against weather concerns, there’s not a dominant in-state program, and many of the young men actually grow up rooting for Notre Dame. Enter Andrew Trumbetti. The 6-5, 250-pound defensive end appears to be leaning heavily to Notre Dame. Assuming his next unofficial visit to Notre Dame goes well, Irish fans should expect a commitment from Trumbetti to Notre Dame during or shortly after his South Bend. While many recruiting fans do not know much about Trumbetti, after his junior highlight video makes the rounds they soon will. He’s a tremendous prospect that rushes the passer as well as he plays the run. Even better news, Trumbetti is not the only northern defensive line prospect still on the board that Notre Dame holds a good chance to sign.

When Notre Dame recruits the state of Michigan one prime question needs to be asked before anything else. Did the recruit(s) in question grow up a Michigan fan? If the answer ends up being yes, well, the chances for Notre Dame signing that player tend to be quite low. With Malik McDowell, however, it appears that Notre Dame will battle Michigan State more than Michigan for his services. At least that’s the initial feeling about McDowell. He’s a 290-pound athlete in a big-man’s body. From a frame perspective, McDowell resembles Stephon Tuitt, although he’s probably not as physically mature at this stage of his life. Notre Dame will battle the two in-state programs for McDowell, and then there’s an old nemesis as well. Ohio State continues to ardently recruit McDowell, and the Buckeyes should not be counted out. Moving to Chicago, there will be defensive line options for the Irish as well.

The top target for the Irish will be Enoch Smith. With a rare amount of natural strength, Smith could be a future nose guard for the Irish. At 6-3, 265-pounds, Smith possesses plenty of room to grow. Notre Dame became the first major program to offer Smith, but will not be the last. Hopefully Smith makes his pledge to Notre Dame before making unofficial visits to other programs. He does appear to be a prime candidate to commit to Notre Dame before the end of spring practice. Another Illinois prospect recently began to emerge for Notre Dame.

Dylan Thompson provides the size at 6-5, 270-pounds to play in Notre Dame’s 3-4 defense, and he’s visiting Notre Dame in April according to ISD’s Christian McCollum. Ohio State recently offered and should be considered a major player for his services. Illinois also offered. Will Notre Dame extend an offer to stay in the race? This recruitment should be quite interesting for Notre Dame, and it leads to the overall prevailing thought.

Notre Dame needs four (if not five) really good to great defensive linemen within this class, and that does not count the CAT position (Prince Shembo’s position). If the Irish hope to defeat Alabama, that’s the type of recruiting necessary to win national championships. Signing three, perhaps even four defensive linemen from cold weather states would be a blessing. It’s just difficult to continually land Dixie’s best defensive linemen without any help from up North. This year appears to be the year Notre Dame finds itself in excellent position to cherry pick a top defensive lineman from states such as Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, and South Carolina instead of needing to sign multiple studs from those same states. With that said, Notre Dame will still need to land one or two from down South, but that’s better than four or more from down South. Finally, a few names to remember from Dixie that Notre Dame will likely pursue or already began to pursue:

Khairi Clark, DT, 6-3, 310, Hollywood, FL (Chaminade Madonna)

Gerald Willis III, DE, 6-3, 260, New Orleans, LA (Edna Karr)

Dontavius Russell, DT, 6-3, 300, Carrollton, GA

Dexter Wideman, DT, 6-3, 275, Saluda, SC

From impact players to the kids I expect to redshirt, here are my thoughts about the Notre Dame class of 2013.

Impact Players

Without a doubt Greg Bryant will be a major factor next season. I expect him to start at some point next year. He’s an every-down-running back. That’s hard to find. He’s one of those rare prospects that I will go ahead and call him a three-and-out player, i.e. he’ll turn pro early. His style of play fits the NFL quite well.

Perhaps the most talented safety to sign with Notre Dame since Bobby Taylor inked his letter of intent in 1992 would be Max Redfield. The one time Southern California commitment will make a major contribution. Much like Bryant, I expect him to start at some point next season. At the very least, he will be in the rotation because he brings the speed to the safety position that Notre Dame rarely signs. He’s just too gifted to stay off the field.

Jaylon Smith needs to find a position. Or does he? My guess will be for Smith to move around a little bit during his freshman season, especially during third down plays so that he can be a pass rusher that other teams will not definitively know where he will line up before the snap of the football. Perhaps he plays CAT, perhaps DOG, perhaps both. Regardless, Smith shall be playing quite a bit of football for the Irish next fall. Incredible talent, incredible young man!

Few prospects bring the versatility that Tarean Folson brings to the table. He could play safety, cornerback, wide receiver or running back. The Irish coaching staff will utilize him as a running back and slot wide receiver, a la Theo Riddick. With Riddick departing, there’s a chance that Folston could possibly seize a great deal of playing time next fall even with Bryant on the field at the same time. He’s one of the most mature young men I ever met, and I hold high expectations that Folston will eventually be a team captain and future NFL player.

Should play as a freshman

As athletic as Isaac Rochell proved to be during his high school career, it’s simply hard to learn the nuances of defensive line play. Further, Notre Dame returns ample defensive line talent for next season. Look for Rochell to play next year, but I do not see him logging major minutes versus Michigan, Stanford, and Southern California where one mental mistake could change the course of the game.

Notre Dame went from the outhouse to the penthouse with its cornerback situation last year. With two starters returning, plus the starter at nickel back, and Lo Wood returning from injury, it might be hard for a freshman cornerback to play significant minutes next year. Then again, Cole Luke should not be considered just any freshman. He’s extremely talented and at worst he should be a part of the special teams units for the Fighting Irish. Like Rochell, I expect him to earn some cornerback playing time versus some teams that Notre Dame should be prohibited favorites against like Temple, Purdue, and Navy.

Predicting the players that will redshirt can prove to be difficult

If I had my druthers, no player beyond the ones mentioned above will play next fall in an effort to preserve a year of eligibility. Due to injuries, that scenario will not likely play itself out the way I prefer it to play itself out. Time will tell, but most likely another three to five freshmen will play next year, even if just on special teams.

What I like best about this class

Balance. Finally. Notre Dame rarely signs recruiting classes with good balance. In fact, this might be the most well balanced class Notre Dame signed in the past decade. That’s important to note because opponents often times find a weakness and exploit it while Notre Dame’s best players become reduced in their role in a game. This type of recruiting class helps to reduce that trend.

Biggest concern

Will Malik Zaire be the heir apparent to Everett Golson? If a program does not do well at quarterback, that program is all but doomed to fail. Zaire fits the profile that the Notre Dame coaching staff wants for the quarterback position, but is he truly going to be able to transition from an option-based attack at the high school level to the fast paced offense that Notre Dame runs from time to time? It’s not a given that he will. Zaire’s athleticism and arm strength give me great hope, however, and I am confident that the Irish coaching staff will push to be great.

No player in this recruiting class should be questioned

This class represents the first class without a single recruit that I did not want since I began covering Notre Dame recruiting. I mean that. I’m very picky, yes, but I’m also a realist that understands for Notre Dame to compete for national titles every scholarship must count. This class will bring a great deal of competition to the practice field from day one of the 2013 fall camp. That’s good for the program. Down the line, I expect a great deal of these young men to be starters and major contributors.

We Want Eddie!

The smoke appears to be quite positive for Eddie Vanderdoes signing with Notre Dame. He’s obviously one of the most impressive defensive line prospects in the country with UCLA, Alabama, and Southern California being his other finalists. Stay tuned to the Irish Sports Daily message boards for up to the minute updates about Vanderdoes until his decision later tonight.

Player I would love to add to this class that never really considered Notre Dame

O.J. Howard, TE, 6-6, 230 Autuga, AL – He’s signing with Alabama. Why Howard? He’s the only kid that Jaylon Smith did not shut down during the camp circuit. That’s it. One player. That tells me quite a bit about Howard’s talent because Smith is a future NFL linebacker.

Final Thoughts

I am a very happy Notre Dame fan. This program needed another shot of athleticism and size, and that’s what Notre Dame signed today. Simply put, Irish fans should be very happy. This recruiting class will help Notre Dame remain a major factor in the national title race.

With one week remaining from national signing day, I offer my thoughts about which prospects will sign with the Irish. Additionally, I rate this Notre Dame class as it stands today.

Deon Hollins – There’s been more back-and-forth conjecture about this young man than just about any other prospect left on Notre Dame or any other program’s recruiting board. UCLA? Notre Dame? Perhaps he’s privately switched back and forth and the public does not even know it. In fact, that’s what I believe happened with Hollins (and happens with many 17-year olds) and could happen again.

My Prediction – Notre Dame lands the speed rusher. With that in mind, UCLA and Notre Dame will battle to the very last moment regardless of which program Hollins considers himself a commitment to today or will consider himself a commitment to tomorrow, et cetera.

Here’s Hollins’ Twitter account address if anyone would like some insight into his recruitment: https://twitter.com/hollins_deon

Terrodney Prevot – As the USC ship sinks further, there out-of-state options dwindle further. It would be one thing for the Trojans to keep most of the California talent, but it looks as if Prevot will sign with Texas A&M, or, perhaps Notre Dame if he makes his official visit. Much like Hollins, Prevot’s recruitment can be quite difficult to follow. Then again, perhaps Lane Kiffin pulls one out of the hat?

My guess is Prevot will visit Notre Dame because he’s intrigued, but with his earlier comments about how well he fits in at USC it’s hard for me to imagine he will like Notre Dame better.

My Prediction – Prevot will split the difference between USC and Notre Dame and select Texas A&M.

Tarean Folston – Irish fans should not discount Auburn. The Tigers hired former Florida State assistant coach Dameyune Craig, and he holds a strong relationship with Folston. As many people know, 17-year olds often make college decisions based on relationships, not academic rankings via US News & World Report, much to Notre Dame fans’ chagrin. I met Folston, and his father, while in Florida. Great kid, no doubt, and his dad proved to be classy, too. What they will base the final decision upon, however, I do not know. Folston always kept his thoughts close to the vest, and I doubt that changes between now and signing day.

My Prediction – Folston selects Notre Dame. I made this prediction based on Folston’s relationship with Irish assistant coach Tony Alford in combination with the chance to play early because Notre Dame needs running backs that can also play in the slot. I still believe this is a very close race.

Ty Isaac – I will cut to the chase, Isaac will not don the Blue & Gold.

My Prediction – USC.

Eddie Vanderdoes – Really hard to gauge what will happen with the California standout because he’s not completing any interviews. I will state that UCLA holds the family edge. He’s from California, there’s a specific family connection to UCLA, and of course the weather is much better in Westwood. From all I heard, USC is no longer a real contender.

My Prediction – I believe Notre Dame finishes second. UCLA wins out.

Kyle Fitts – Much like Vanderdoes, the local schools hold a big edge. If Fitts was going to pick Notre Dame, I believed he needed to be blown away on his visit and commit shortly thereafter. He did not.

My Prediction – UCLA.

Final Thoughts – Many fans will remember the negative of not landing more big fish at the end of the recruiting cycle because that’s what fans do. Do not be one of those fans. Overall, this is a great recruiting class. I just do not believe Notre Dame will finish as strong as it would like due in large part to the usual suspects: distance from home and weather.

I believe even if Notre Dame does not add another prospect that it’s definitive a top five class. Better yet, it’s a balanced class with talented prospects on both the offensive and defensive lines, and it adds quickness, speed, and size across the board. It’s a great haul.

This class holds up versus Alabama, Louisiana State, Texas A&M, South Carolina Florida, Florida State, and Georgia within a specific area that I believe Notre Dame lacked prior to this recruiting class. Depth along the offensive and defensive lines in conjunction with bringing in at least one stud on each side that can be a first round draft pick.

That’s really what it comes down to. Did Notre Dame close the gap, especially along the lines, with the SEC powers and Florida State? I say yes, and resoundingly so. Imagine The Aggies without their two outstanding offensive tackles this year. Imagine Florida State without its ridiculous defensive end talent and depth this year. Notre Dame needs to be on the same level at those positions in terms of talent and depth.

Obviously if I am correct and Notre Dame misses with Fitts and Vanderdoes it will be a blow, but it’s still a really good group in terms of quality. The offensive line haul is more powerful than any in recent memory. I believe that at least three of the five will be multi-year starters. Also I believe that Isaac Rochell will be a star at defensive end, a critical position for any team. Landing Max Redfield means signing a player that will reach the sideline and break up many of the passes that Alabama just murdered Notre Dame with in the National Title Game. I could go on and on. Notre Dame increased it’s athleticism at the skill positions. One final point to conclude about the Irish class.

It can be really hard to land a really good running back, let alone two, in one recruiting class. I believe that the combination of Greg Bryant and Tarean Folston will prove to be one of the better running back tandems in Notre Dame history.

Notre Dame needs a few for big-time players to get over the top and be a national champion.  Perhaps the Irish will raid the area producing the talent that's helping Alabama win national championships, the SEC West region.

Louisiana and the SEC West

Louisiana – I lived in Louisiana for a few months. It did not take long to realize that many native Louisiana folks do not want to fit in elsewhere, or at least could they be happy away from their Louisiana roots for very long. There’s no place in the United States like Louisiana. The Louisiana cuisine, music, culture and landscape are truly unique. Therefore, Notre Dame will not likely land many Louisiana prospects during any given period of time. With Notre Dame on the upswing, there’s still a chance for the Irish to land a recruit per year from down on the bayou. Keep an eye on Notre Dame’s recruiting efforts at the truly elite public schools, as well as the private schools within Louisiana, both of which produce very talented prospects that Louisiana State and other SEC programs covet. I am by no means predicting Notre Dame to do well in Louisiana, but it would not shock me to see Notre Dame land at least one Louisiana player during the next couple of years. Something else to consider would be the “Tigahs” down fall since its bowl game.

Why did so many Louisiana State players declare for the NFL draft ? There’s been some well documented discomfort between players and the Tigers strength and conditioning staff, and that probably means the coaching staff as well. Too many so-called borderline NFL players decided to cast their lot away from Baton Rouge. Something is amiss. From personal experience, any LSU football news makes its way through the state, good or bad. Recruits will hear about the issues within the confines of the LSU football complex. With dissention in the ranks, recruits might be a little more wary of casting their lot with Louisiana State.

Here are a few recruits Notre Dame began recruiting all the way back to last spring:

Gerald Willis III, DE, 6-3, 270, New Orleans (Edna Karr) – Might be the best all-around defensive end in the country for 2014. Plays the run as well as he rushes the quarterback. That’s rare for a high school defensive end.

Speedy Noil, WR/CB, 5-10, 175, New Orleans (Edna Karr)

Kenny Young, LB, 6-1, 210, River Ridge, LA (John Curtis) – From the same high school as former Notre Dame All-American linebacker Michael Stonebreaker.

Malachi Dupre, WR, 6-3, 180, River Ridge (John Curtis)

Leonard Fournette, TB, 6-1, 225, New Orleans (St. Augustine) – Might be the best big back in America. He can pick his school. Earned an offer from LSU during his freshman year of high school.

Notre Dame will also investigate some northern Louisiana prospects, but that’s a really tough area for Notre Dame from a cultural perspective. Time will tell how that plays itself out.

Arkansas – If there truly is one state that Notre Dame will rarely land a prospect, it’s Arkansas. Most of the kids do not fit in from a cultural perspective, and the number of elite recruits wanes compared to Louisiana. With that said, Notre Dame did make a run at Altee Tenpenny from North Little Rock. Here are the handful of prospects that Notre Dame might pursue for 2014:

Jack Kraus, TE, 6-5, 220, Bentonville

Josh Frazier, DT, 6-4, 320, Springdale (Har-Ber) – One of the top defensive lineman in the land for 2014, Frazier holds offers from Arkansas, Alabama, and UCLA. Look for that number to go well past twenty before spring concludes.

Bijohn Jackson, DT, 6-2, 330, Eldorado – A similar player to current Notre Dame nose guard Louis Nix III. Jackson committed to Arkansas, but that will not stop programs such as Notre Dame from recruiting him.

Recruiting Mississippi and Alabama

Much like Louisiana, this will be a case by case basis. Sure, Notre Dame will offer the truly elite prospects. Why not? There’s nothing to lose. Do not expect the Irish to extend vast resources on this territory, but probing for the prospect that seeks to leave Dixie makes for a good recruiting practice. It’s anyone’s guess if Notre Dame will be able to secure the signature of a top-flight prospect from this region, but historically Notre Dame pulled surprises even the most diehard Irish fan would be surprised at. Melvin Dansby from Birmingham, AL and Jarious Jackson from Tupelo, MS signed with Notre Dame in 1993 and 1995.

Rod Taylor, OL, 6-4, 310, Jackson, MS (Callaway) – Alabama offered Taylor. Alabama knows offensive linemen.

Jamoral Graham, ATH, 5-11, 170, Decatur, MS (Newton County) – Very fast and dangerous with the ball in his hands. National recruit.

While not writing off the state of Alabama, it’s hard to imagine any success with recruits in a state where the Crimson Tide rules supreme. Maybe this will be the year of the Melvin Dansby recruit? He signed with Notre Dame shortly after the Tide won the 1992 national title.

SEC West Goals – No reason to sugar coat it. Even if Notre Dame lands one talented prospect from this region, per year, I would be quite happy. The quality of talent in this region often proves to be no. 1 overall, per capita, based on NFL rosters. Southern Louisiana might be the most talent rich region in the country. Now, Notre Dame needs to find a way to crack open the door. Sign a player that Louisiana State and/or Alabama covets from this region and other recruits will notice. It’s much the same situation with Notre Dame recruiting Texas three years ago. It was ugly, often, and it took quite a while for the truly elite prospects to even consider Notre Dame let alone take an official visit or cast their lot with the Irish. This area will take time.

The outlook for this year should not be all that good, but the issues with the Bayou Bengals provide hope. I suspect a few Louisiana prospects to begin looking outside the state borders. The biggest goal will be for Notre Dame to land unofficial and official visits from prospects from Louisiana. Once on the Notre Dame campus, who knows? Sometimes kids want a different environment for college. Let’s see what Notre Dame can do this year. I expect a few Louisiana kids to visit Notre Dame, and I would not be shocked if prospects from Arkansas, Mississippi or Alabama visit Notre Dame as well. Come the classes of 2015 and 2016, Notre Dame should begin to sign some prospects from this region if the coaching staff stays after it.

Notre Dame began to make inroads into Texas the past few years, and I expect the number of signees to increase moving forward. 

Texas – Like the Trojans, the Longhorns appear to be headed in a downward spiral. As the dominant in-state recruiting power, that’s significant. The area to watch will be Dallas, suburban Dallas in particular. The ‘Horns usually land the best of the best from the suburban Dallas schools. That’s significant because besides Los Angeles, no other area produces more Division I talent than the Dallas area. Look for the Irish to now challenge the ‘Horns for those prospects. Ten years ago, no way Notre Dame would sign elite talent that the Longhorns wanted. Now it’s a real possibility. The Houston area also holds value.

Notre Dame signed Nicky Baratti from the Houston area last year, and Houston will continue to be a city that Notre Dame targets moving forward. Like Dallas, there’s plenty of talent.

Special Notice

What will be really interesting during the remainder of the Mack Brown tenure will be the rural Texas prospects, and in some cases, perhaps inner city kids from Houston or Dallas. Most of those young men, as a rule, stay closer to home. With Notre Dame’s resurgence it’s not out of the question for Notre Dame to land a few of those prospects even if the Longhorns make early offers. Keep an eye on east Texas talent. Notre Dame rarely signs players from this region, but it’s always been loaded with talent. From a little research of Irish players from east Texas since 1992, only Bobby Taylor (Longview), Anthony Denman (Rusk), Ronnie Nicks (Kilgore) and Tyreo Harrison (Sulpher Springs) signed with Notre Dame from the 1992, 1996, 1997 and 1998 recruiting classes. If Notre Dame can dip into this particular region of Texas, it will greatly bolster Notre Dame’s roster. Notice how each of those four players were very good athletes that could run, and all four played defense for the Irish. Notre Dame will need to compete with two other Southwest stalwarts to gain not only east Texas prospects, but Texas prospects as a whole.

Texas A&M and Oklahoma – I expect both of these teams to be constant competitors for top Texas talent, and that’s not an epiphany by any means. Notre Dame will certainly bump heads with each program. Both teams will be good moving forward, and the Aggies could even be a top five team again next season. Due to proximity, Notre Dame will lose most of those battles, but the Irish should still win enough battles to land two to four recruits from Texas each year, and those prospects could come from any location within the Lone Star State. Inner city recruits, east Texas, San Antonio, Dallas, or the west Texas oil fields could see Notre Dame snag a recruit.

As noted above, Notre Dame could go after east Texas prospects. Texas A&M always recruited east Texas hard, and many of those kids allegedly “fit in” to the College Station campus quite well. Same situation with Oklahoma, as the Sooners recruit Texas very hard, east Texas included. Keep an eye on these two programs. Further, the Bayou Bengals recruit Texas hard each year, and Notre Dame will bump into the Tigers on both sides of the east Texas border.

LSU, Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech

I do not believe Notre Dame will lose many true recruiting battles to these programs. Why? As a rule, if Notre Dame offers a Texas prospect and that prospect receives an offer from at least one of the programs listed above, one of two things will happen. 1) The recruit wants something different, i.e. leaving the Southwest, and Notre Dame will be a major player; 2) the recruit does not seek what Notre Dame offers away from the gridiron, such as academics being too much for him or a different type of social life that a smaller school does not offer. Still, each of the five schools listed above could battle Notre Dame for a recruit or two because all of them recruit Texas hard. One never truly knows in advance.

Names to remember

A few of the better Texas prospects I watched on film. Time will tell if Notre Dame becomes a serious player.

Davion Hall, WR/S, 6-3, 193, Texarkana (Liberty-Eylau) - Flat-out NFL talent.  Reminds me of former Alabama great and current Atlanta Falcon Julio Jones.  Without a doubt he possesses the size, speed, and toughness to be a great player.  He's also a thumper at safety.  Relishes contact!

Nick Watkins, CB/WR, 6-1, 180, Dallas (Bishop Dunne) – One of Notre Dame’s top cornerback targets for next year, but could also play wide receiver. Talented on and off the gridiron. Possesses the height and length Notre Dame defensive coaches seek for the cornerback position. Provides the ability to quickly stop and start, tip-toe along the sidelines to make a catch or interception, and make sudden explosive movements towards the football. Watkins will be a national recruit.

Koda Martin, DE/TE, 6-6, 245, Manvel -- My only concern with Martin stems from which position to play him at.  He's an excellent tight end and defensive end.  Due to his long frame and quick feet, I would give the slight edge to defense, for now.  He's incredibly nimble.  Further, he's a tremendous blocker with a propensity for physical contact.  From all of the players I watched for the class of 2014, regardless of state or position, Martin earned a spot in my top 25. I will certainly watch numerous players from this point forward, but there’s no doubting he's a special talent.

Darrion Johnson, CB, 5-11, 170, Brenham - Oklahoma offered before the start of his junior year and Texas appears to be very close to offering.  I only watched his sophomore footage on YouTube, but it's well worth it.  He's a clone of KeiVarae Russell.  Definitely a big-time recruit.  Quick feet, excellent hands, and a very good leaper.  He could also play free safety or wide receiver.

Solomon Thomas, DE, 6-3, 265, Coppell – Extremely quick from the snap of the football; a high-motor player. Will be a pass rushing threat at the college level. Texas, Alabama and some of the nation’s most well-known programs offered already.

This first installment of Recruiting Road Map will be an overview of programs Notre Dame continues to compete with the most and forecasting the next few years, team by team, and region by region. Today will be a look at the Notre Dame recruiting efforts out West, focusing on Pac 12 opposition.

The Competition

Certain teams tend to compete against Notre Dame for recruits year after year. There will be variances. The West Coast appears to be in a state of flux. Notre Dame should take advantage. Watching Troy fall will help the Irish the most.

Southern California – The Trojans continue to sink into the abyss. It’s the way of “Old SC.” That program, historically, goes up and down like a yoyo. Sanctions, me-first players, flamboyant coaches, and the limelight of Los Angeles once again caught up with the University of Southern California Football program. I expect Notre Dame to compete for the very best talent in California this year and moving forward because Troy is crumbling during this very moment. Mark it down: Lane Kiffin will not be in Los Angeles beyond 2014, if he’s not canned after the 2013 campaign, and the Irish will take advantage. Kiffin will continue to corrode that program, and Notre Dame will benefit. Helping Notre Dame’s cause will be the NCAA sanctions starting to truly take effect. The smaller recruiting classes (especially along the trenches) will make it difficult for the Trojans to win more than eight or nine games during any given season for the next three or four years. Without question, Notre Dame will be a major player for Southern California talent, especially the private schools in or near Los Angeles.

Stanford – Never thought I would say the following: Moving forward, Stanford appears to be the best program in the Pac 12. Southern California continues to trend down, Washington needs to make big leaps on defense, UCLA whimpered down the stretch of the 2012 season, Oregon State rarely does well from year-to-year, and Oregon appears to be waiting for the NCAA gavel to fall. As for Arizona and Arizona State, neither plays good enough defense for me to be comfortable in believing their offenses will offset their defensive deficiencies. Finally, because of what I expect to be a high level of on-field success due to a very young team this year, Stanford should be really good the next few years. Expect some really good recruiting battles between Notre Dame and Stanford across the country, and not just in California. Stanford could be a very important recruiting competitor during the next several years.

UCLA – Perhaps the most difficult team to understand, a couple of thoughts to consider. UCLA is located on a beautiful campus with beautiful women, plenty to do and see, and it’s a top-notch education for those student-athletes that truly desire to learn. Will the Bruins become the prime competitor for Los Angeles area talent, replacing the Trojans? It’s possible. Then again, will the Bruins take the next step forward and be a BCS contender, the type of program that elite California talent wants to play for? The answer to that question will be important because the Irish will certainly go into Los Angeles each and every year to recruit the best of the best.

Oregon – Notre Dame recruits some of the same prospects as Oregon, but overall, it’s not a significant amount. With the NCAA close to bringing sanctions, it’s doubtful that Notre Dame will compete with Oregon for much longer. Look for this program to make a major step back. Additionally, with Chip Kelly looking at the NFL…

Washington – The power of “Tosh” did not really come to fruition at Washington, at least this year. Of course I am referring to Tosh Lupoi, the assistant coach that recruited so well for Cal-Berkeley before moving to the University of Washington roughly a year ago. The Huskies are currently ranked no. 12 within the Rivals.com recruiting rankings, but no 5 star talent, and only six 4 star prospects. The Huskies recruit California hard, but not many of those prospects strongly consider Notre Dame and Washington. Maybe that changes with Washington breaking through on the gridiron during the 2013 season would create more recruiting competition with Notre Dame?

Arizona and Arizona State – Notre Dame does hit the state of Arizona pretty hard. I expect a few more recruiting battles with the Wildcats and Sun Devils than usual, and those battles could spill over into California as well.

Colorado, Utah, Oregon State and California – Notre Dame will not be battling these four teams very often. The Irish generally recruit a higher level of talent, often times different high schools, and different social fits than these four programs.

Washington State – If Notre Dame would begin to recruit against the Cougars, something went terribly wrong. This is the outpost of the Pac 12, with the “Pirate” at the helm. Yeah, Notre Dame will not be facing Washington often, if at all, on the recruiting trail.

Final Thoughts

I would like to see a bottom end number of three West Coast recruits per year. The combination of players per state should not matter much, with a caveat. There’s plenty of talent in Arizona and Washington in addition to California, but of course the sheer numbers from the Golden State make it the no. 1 target.

Notre Dame signed just one California prospect (Tee Shepard) last year, and we all know how that worked out. Notre Dame signed a grand total of eight California prospects from 2009-2012, to amount to an average of two per year. More importantly, Notre Dame needs to sign elite California talent. Due to the Trojans’ slide, I believe Notre Dame will start doing much better in California than an average of two per year, and the star power will rise as well. Averaging four California prospects per year would not be shocking, honestly.

It cannot be stressed enough how important Southern California’s downfall will be for Notre Dame’s recruiting fortunes. I truly believe that program will watch the wheels fall off during the course of the next 12 to 24 months. That means Notre Dame will sign at least one more big-time recruit, per year, during the time the Trojans are down.

Within the next addition of Recruiting Road Map, a look at the competition for the talent within the state of Texas.

Recruiting continues to move a torrid pace. Come inside and see what Notre Dame recruiting is all about.

The dead period will soon be over. The 2013 Notre Dame recruiting class will be coming together, but expect more than a few new names to emerge. Additionally, key recruits recently committed that many thought would not, and 2014 recruiting already heated up.

New Names

As most recruiting fans understand, there will be new names that continue to ooze out into the public domain in the near future. It’s inevitable. Allow me to throw a monkey wrench into the equation, albeit a good monkey wrench. Due to Notre Dame winning big this year, the list of names could grow longer than usual. Trust me, Notre Dame continues to survey the options, and sometimes those options call Notre Dame first. Bottom line, the Irish sit in an envious position.

From an extra special point of view, I would just love for Notre Dame to steal a recruit from a school like Southern California (in addition to a certain safety, see below), Texas, Louisiana State, Florida State, or Michigan. May the chips fall where they may.

Big Finish

The more I evaluate the current number of commitments and the so-called remaining number of scholarships Notre Dame will be able to extend to recruits, the more I realize that at some point Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly might be forced to make a really hard decision. Does he bring back a solid player for a fifth-year or does he bring in new blood from the recruiting ranks? I’m not going to project my feelings about which player(s) should be turned down in an effort to gain another elite recruit such as Eddie Vanderdoes (probably a tough sell, but you never know), and I certainly would not want to be coach Kelly having to tell a young man he cannot come back. Then again, I don’t earn a seven-figure salary either.

Coach Kelly’s decision will ultimately impact the recruiting class and the roster. Therefore, his decision will be vital. Further, how coach Kelly handles the recruitments of each of prospects expected to commit to Notre Dame before Vanderdoes even visits Notre Dame will be paramount as well. The more recruiting momentum Notre Dame earns, the more likely a player such as Vanderdoes will want to join the Notre Dame Football program.

Assuming Notre Dame lands Tarean Folston and Max Redfield, as expected, adding one or possibly two more big-time recruits could bring Notre Dame the mythical recruiting national title. Maybe such rankings will be hyperbole, but if one gauges the success of teams that consistently finished within the top five to ten spots for any of the recruiting services during the past five to seven years, and one will primarily read the list like one would read the top 15 rankings of the final BCS polls.

In my opinion, Notre Dame will finish this recruiting campaign strong, and this recruiting class will be the backbone of at least a couple more BCS bowl game runs, if not BCS National Championship Game runs. Recruiting matters. No doubt about it.

Prime Recruits

Perhaps the biggest names to announce for Notre Dame recently would be Louis Nix and Zack Martin. Nix helped keep linemen away from Irish linebackers all season long because one blocker rarely contains him. Martin helped protect the blind side of Everett Golson and Tommy Rees. With both players returning for the 2013 season, it should elevate Notre Dame’s preseason ranking to inside the top 10, if not the top five.

2014

Most people spend their Christmas break with family and friends. I do as well, but with a caveat. I watch underclassmen recruiting film. I’ve done it for at least a decade. I just love it. From what I learned, so do several Irish coaches, or, well, at least they did leading up to the Xmas break. In short, Notre Dame will be moving in for the kill with 2013 and 2014 recruits come this January.

I expect at least one or two 2014 recruits to pop for the Irish by mid-February at the latest. Recruiting changed, and Notre Dame now knows how to stay up with the Joneses. It’s a great feeling as an Irish fan to know the coaching staff continues to be relentless along the recruiting trail. The following 2014 recruits, in my opinion, could pull the trigger early for Notre Dame:

Braden Smith, OT, 6-6, 275, Olathe, KS (South) – Smith cancelled a trip to South Bend earlier this year, but he’s intrigued with the Irish. Alabama and Oklahoma, two schools he visited already, along with a host of other programs will continue to pursue the very athletic left tackle prospect. My gut tells me that because A) Notre Dame really needs offensive linemen within the 2014 recruiting class, B) Notre Dame holds mojo within the recruiting world because of the 2012 season, C) Smith already holding Notre Dame in high regard, and D) Smith’s eventual visit to South Bend taking place after he visited several other prominent suitors,  leaves the Irish with a tactical advantage. Bottom line, need to get Smith on the Notre Dame campus during spring football if not earlier. If the Irish do that, I believe he commits no later than May. He’s just a good fit on and off the gridiron for Notre Dame, not to mention he’s a potential five star recruit and Notre Dame began recruiting Smith long ago.

Brandon Dawkins, QB, 6-3, 205, Westlake, CA (Oaks Christian) – From the same high school as Jimmy Clausen, Dawkins visited Notre Dame already. He’s planning to visit Notre Dame once again. Further, quarterbacks generally commit early to preserve their spot. Dawkins could be a very early 2014 commitment for the Irish.

Andrew Trumbetti, DE, 6-5, 250, Demarest, NJ – A life-long Notre Dame fan, hard to imagine this young man’s recruitment not ending by May. He’s been in communication with Notre Dame for quite some time. Combining Trumbetti with 2014 DE commitment Jay Hayes from Brooklyn, NY (Poly Prep) would be a great start to the defensive line recruiting haul. It’s just a matter of time.

Enoch Smith, DL, 6-3, 270, Chicago, IL (Mt. Carmel) – A player that’s been to Notre Dame already, Smith earned an early offer from Notre Dame and the Irish appear to be the team to beat. Overall, it appears to be a pretty good year for the greater Chicago area. Therefore, whether it will be Smith or another touted prep prospect from the land of Lincoln, do not be surprised if the Irish secure at least one early commitment from an Illinois recruit.

Andrew Williams, OLB/DE, 6-4, 250, McDonough, GA (Eagle’s Landing Christian) – The teammate of current 2013 Notre Dame commitment Isaac Rochell, Williams visited Notre Dame once already and will do so again when Rochell takes his official visit to South Bend in January. Could Williams be the fifth 2014 recruit to pull the trigger for the Irish?