With commitment eleven now in the books, who's next?  Here's a look at four players Notre Dame would like to add to the fold soon.  Also, two Notre Dame  recruiting trends Irish fans should expect to take place.

With the spring evaluation period now underway, there will be new information about Irish targets coming out fairly soon.  Expect to see at least a few of the following names amongst the updates, including commitments from at least a few of them for the Blue and Gold.

Jaylon Smith, LB, Fort Wayne, IN (Bishop Luers) -- All signs point towards the Irish.  When will he pull the trigger?  My guess: before July, and for Notre Dame.  Do not be surprised if Purdue ends up being the prime competition for Smith.  No, I am not joking.  It's a local school and many Fort Wayne high school students attend Purdue.  Smith probably knows the school well and probably knows several Purdue students.  Ohio State might be the bigger name, but Smith beats to his own drummer.  He looks at things differently than many other elite recruits.  Regardless, Notre Dame should land this elite recruit before July.

Mike Heurman, TE, Naples, FL (Barron Collier) -- Long ago, most people wrote Heuerman off as a Buckeye.  Something changed opinions.  The answer: Heuerman visited Notre Dame.  Twice.  Depending upon which source one utilizes, Heuerman favors Ohio State, he favors Notre Dame, or he's torn.  I know I heard all three.  Perhaps all three answers prove correct, at least at a certain point in time for each of the three possibilities.  My guess: Heuerman prefers Notre Dame but family ties point to Ohio State where he can play with his older brother.  Hard to say when he will announce his decision.

Isaac Rochell, DE, McDonough, GA (Eagle's Landing Christian) -- It's a matter of time.  Notre Dame will eventually land Rochell's commitment.  That I am very confident to state.  Will Rochell take other visits after committing?  That's the bigger question.  Many elite recruits go that route, and while Notre Dame would be happy with Rochell's commitment, my gut tells me that Rochell will not be a done deal until his letter of intent reaches the Notre Dame Football office.  That's Dixie recruiting in a nutshell.  I hope I am wrong.  At any rate, Rochell is a stud and if wants to take visits even after committing, Notre Dame has to play the game.  Elite recruits hold the cards, as always.

Demarcus Robinson, WR, Fort Valley, GA (Peach County) -- Robinson's status appears to be one of a Notre Dame lean, but whether he's confident to the point of pledging to Notre Dame remains up to debate.  Personally, I see Robinson's recruitment dragging out into the fall even if he commits to Notre Dame.  No way UGA, TN, AL, FL, FSU, and the like will stop calling Robinson.

Spring Equals Recruiting

With the spring game now over, the Irish coaching staff will recruit across the country.  There will be coaches in the usual places such as California, Illinois, Florida, and New Jersey, but do not be surprised to see a few trends that other schools do not utilize. 

1) Notre Dame coaches will cross recruit even during the spring.  Notre Dame's offer list might be long, but the realistic list proves to be shorter.  That's one reason why Notre Dame assistants will venture into territories not explicitly defined to them.   For instance, a position coach could travel an extra 1,000 miles to recruit a prospect he would coach if that prospect signs with Notre Dame.  Why?  Recruits make decisions much earlier now than during decades gone by, and quite frankly many of Notre Dame's top recruits simply do not hold the financial ability to take unofficial visits ($$$$) to Notre Dame due to the cost (gas prices really hinder Notre Dame recruiting efforts).  Thus, Notre Dame coaches will do their best to make recruits feel comfortable with Notre Dame by visiting as many high schools and prospects as possible.  Each recruit's situation will be different, so there's no definitive pattern to follow.  Just be advised that when you hear about a coach recruiting in a state you did not expect, it's not because the recruiting territory changed, it's just a recruiting tactic Notre Dame will use from time to time.  Again, and I cannot stress this enough, this is a case by case basis.  

2) Notre Dame will continue to travel into states that many other schools will not even bother with recruiting.  Notre Dame continues to offer numerous Florida and Texas prospects, and do not be surprised if a few more deep South offers come about within states that Notre Dame does not always recruit.  The success rate will be unquestionably low, but the amount of elite talent is just too numerous for Notre Dame to not recruit Dixie hard, especially with all of the defensive and skill position talent that Dixie produces as compared to the Midwest and cold weather states in general. 

The quarterback derby took a hard turn on Saturday afternoon with two younger players clearly outperforming the returning starter.  There should be a change at the quarterback position by the time Notre Dame travels to overseas for its first game of the 2012 season.

Hard to imagine a veteran player continuing to make the same mistakes that he did from two seasons ago, but performance, good or bad, should be noted. 

Tommy Rees -- He did not improve.  He continued to be a mistake-prone quarterback.  With all his experience he must be held accountable for his continued poor play.  Therefore, Rees cannot be the starter.  In fact, Rees should not be second string.  He should be third string.  Rees played with the same mental and physical deterrents that led to nineteen turnovers last season.  That's inexcusable.  Notre Dame needs to play the young players that could one day lead them to a national title.  Rees does not possess the level of talent to lead Notre Dame to a national title.  That's the bottom line.  The younger quarterbacks do possess that ability.

Yes, Everett Golson and Andrew Hendrix need to learn game management and continue to make the proper reads, but those two quarterbacks must be the only two quarterbacks in contention for the starting quarterback job.  The ability to help other offensive players line up properly, talk to wide receivers about adjusting routes based on blitzes, i.e. hot reads, and knowing when to audible hinder many young signal callers.  Golson and Hendrix will improve on those areas much like Rees did from his freshman season.  It should not be a major concern for the coaching staff as several of the quarterbacks they coached at various schools before coming to Notre Dame went through the same learning curve.  Golson and Hendrix will be much better prepared come Sep. 1 to handle those situations.  What cannot be taught stems from their arm strength.  Golson and Hendrix can throw a football, on a line, while falling back.   Rees cannot.  Golson and Hendrix extend plays with their legs.  Rees rarely does that, and he's usually a sitting duck in the pocket.  Additionally, each player can break containment and gain a much needed third down run for a first down or even score a touchdown.  Rees will rarely make plays outside of the pocket with his feet.  The last nail in the coffin for Rees should be his inexcusable decision making.

Rees struggled to get a few plays off before being called for delay of game penalties, and in fact earned one delay of game penalty before screaming the "F" word while being miked up on the NBC Sports Channel (that was just funny).  His inaccuracy during back-to-back fade passes cost the offense touchdowns, and his poor mechanics including one throw he made off his back foot showed once again he's still the same quarterback.  Further, his interception was a repeat of his first two seasons.  Stairing down his intended receiver from the time he caught the snap, Rees attempted to throw a pass to John Goodman with a linebacker directly underneath the route and Matthias Farley, the safety, waiting for the interception.  Poor use of his eyes to look off the defender, poor decision to throw the pass, and the pass was well over the six-foot-three Goodman's head due to poor mechanics.  Absolutely atrocious play by Rees.  He's started sixteen games.  That's not even remotely acceptable.  If he was an inexperienced player the coaching staff should still be upset.  A good high school quarterback should not make that read or pass.  A player with sixteen starts to his credit should not make that type of play.  Now, Rees did make some good audibles to running plays and the fade pass to Davaris Daniels showed excellent touch.  Those plays just do not happen often enough for him to continue to lead the Irish offense when he turns the football over far too often.  The Rees experiment should be over.  Now, a few thoughts about the other three signal callers, beginning with the only two quarterbacks that should be considered for the starting job.

Everett Golson -- What a cannon for an arm!  Reports of Golson's arm strength came to fruition on Saturday afternoon.  Golson also showed touch during his deep ball to Daniels and the touchdown pass to Ben Koyack.  Young signal callers often attempt to throw bullets no matter the situation.  Golson understands the need to use touch during certain situations.  Great sign.  He also possesses the physical ability to avoid the rush and throw on the move.  A few of his throws took place while falling away, yet he still completed the passes.  The vast majority of college quarterbacks would struggle to make those passes.  Golson made those passes look effortless.  His arm strength could get him into trouble against aggressive cornerbacks (think USC and Oklahoma games), but overall Golson's arm strength will be a big bonus.  Perhaps his biggest attribute will be the ability to run option plays.  The read option and the speed option will be big weapons with Golson's side-to-side quickness faking defenders out of their shoes.  Defenses will need to prepare differently for Golson, and he will probably line up against more basic defenses because teams will fear blitzing him with his his ability to make plays outside the pocket.  Golson should be a star before he leaves South Bend, IN, and he should probably be the starter against Navy in Dublin, Ireland.  Still, Golson needs to improve to earn the starting quarterback position.

Golson struggled with clock management, and that's being kind.  He needs to know the signals, call the play, and keep the tempo rolling.  Fixable, but a huge issue for Golson and the Irish offense until it's resolved.  No question the Irish coaching staff will continue to coach Golson about game management issues during the summer like knowing the signals without hesitation, and how to direct the offense before the snap so that he can be the starting quarterback.

Andrew Hendrix -- Hendrix displayed his arm strength once again, much like last season during his brief appearances.  Hendrix throws with elite velocity.  His ability to hit Tyler Eifert on the cornerback blitz for a touchdown also showed that he's beginning to understand the in-game management needed to be a major college quarterback.  His arm strength helped complete that play, as a quarterback with average arm strength probably throws an interception.  Like Golson, Hendrix will make plays with his legs.  Hendrix lacks the lateral quickness that Golson possesses, but he can still make plays with the read option and speed option.  The one definitive concern comes with Hendrix using a broader field of vision when selecting an intended target.  His interception came about due in large part to not looking off his intended target.  Even if he knows where he wants to throw the ball, Hendrix needs to keep his head and eyes moving to keep defenders from making an early read towards the intended receiving target.  Sounds easy, but during the moment many quarterbacks struggle with this trait.  This area must be changed before fall camp or Golson will certainly move ahead of Hendrix.  Just cannot give up the easy interceptions.

Gunner Kiel -- A long way to go for the early enrollee from Columbus, IN, but his physical prowess showed itself yesterday afternoon.  The arm strength, solid throwing mechanics, especially for a young man fresh out of high school, and the confidence to rip passes down the field all came about during his second half performance.  What Kiel lacks includes the needed knowledge of the Irish offense, continuity with the receiving core, and comfort level to make decisions quick enough to keep defenders off balance and avoid interceptions.  All of those things should come with time.  Due to the limited plays Kiel utilized as noted by Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly, a true analysis should not be done at this time.  Kiel will almost assuredly redshirt during 2012, and a better analysis of his play will come during the spring of 2013 when he holds a better grasp of the offense.

A possible offer, a possible recruiting position switch, two prime recruits that could help the Irish in multiple ways, and two Irish assistant coaches that will provide big impacts along the recruiting trail this spring are featured.

If one Irish target deserves a Notre Dame offer more than Danny Mattingly, TE/LB, 6-4, 220, Spokane, WA (Mead), that player must be incredible.  From all of the film I watched to date, Mattingly would undoubtedly be the one prospect I am shocked that Notre Dame did not yet offer.  He's an extremely talented linebacker, and a pretty good tight end as well.  It's rare for a linebacker to possess the pass coverage instincts and catching ability to match Mattingly.  While many college linebackers look lost and/or uncomfortable in coverage (sound familiar Irish fans?), Mattingly excels.  Further, he actually catches passes thrown near him and turns them into defensive touchdowns.  He plays much like the Boston College linebackers that the Irish faced during the past twenty-five years, albeit faster than most of them.  Offer this young man!  Notre Dame began to recruit Mattingly as a tight end, but Irish fans should not be surprised if he plays DOG for the Irish, assuming Notre Dame extends an offer.  He's similar to Ben Councell in terms of frame and the ability to play the pass.  Again, just really surprised Notre Dame did not extend an offer to date.  Arizona State, Boise State, Oregon, Nebraska, UCLA, Washington, and Utah, among others, offered Mattingly.  Most schools like him as a linebacker more than a tight end.

Recruiting Transformation?

From a similar standpoint, Darius Latham, the talented two-way lineman from North Central High School in Indianapolis, IN desires the chance to play defense in college.  Latham possesses the foot work and quickness to play defensive end for the Irish despite being such a big young man (his weight fluctuates quite a bit due to playing high school basketball) at roughly 280-pounds.  It would not be surprising if Latham moved to nose guard, if even during passing plays, during his college career.  He's going to be a 300-pound man one day, and the weight will look even better in two or three years than it does now.  He's another player I really hope Notre Dame pursues.

Names to Watch

With Tre' Bell's commitment to Florida, an important cornerback target came off the board (well, sort of, because Notre Dame will undoubtedly still recruit Bell).  Notre Dame's pursuit of at least three cornerbacks within this class could become stronger if Cole Luke makes an unofficial visit to South Bend in the coming months.  The 6-0, 165-pound Chandler, AZ (Hamilton) product possesses the make-up speed even NFL scouts covet, and he's definitely interested in the Irish. 

From a different perspective of names to watch, if Isaac Rochell decides to pledge his commitment to Notre Dame it could be a polarizing effect down South for Irish recruiting efforts.  The 6-5, 260-pound defensive end continues to be coveted by Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Tennessee and Clemson.  With a Rochell commitment, several other well known targets would undoubtedly take notice of Notre Dame's presence in the Peach State and Dixie.  Rochell's decision could greatly help the Irish, and he's not alone.

The likelihood that Jaylon Smith selects Notre Dame appears to be quite high.  The 6-2, 205-pound Fort Wayne, IN (Bishop Luers) could impact Notre Dame's defense at different positions, making him really valuable.  His decision could help Notre Dame recruit other prominent recruits.  The sooner the Irish land a truly elite defensive prospect, the more likely other top defensive prospects will want to side with the Irish.  Rochell and Smith give the Irish two excellent chances to make a splash across the recruiting landscape.

Two Coaches to Watch

Many Irish fans do not know Irish assistant coach Scott Booker and what makes him tick.  Irish fans should now know that he can recruit at a very high level.  Landing three separate unofficial visits from Georgia prospects in a short time frame is a coup within itself.  Georgia does not normally send prospects to Notre Dame.  It's one of the hardest states for the Irish to recruit.  What coach Booker accomplished during his short tenure in South Bend should be considered rare at best.  It will be very interesting to see if he lands unofficial visits from the state of Virginia, the Norfolk-Hampton-Chesapeake area in particular, a region that's been extremely unkind to Notre Dame recruiting efforts over the years.  That might be coach Booker's biggest challenge.  Lots of incredible talent there, but very few "natural fits" for Notre Dame's traditional academic and social structure.  Another Irish coach will continue to build relationships within another difficult state for the Irish to recruit.

Each year Notre Dame assistant coach Tony Alford recruits the state of Florida for Notre Dame.  Each year I expect all the well known difficulties for Notre Dame when recruiting the Sunshine State to cause him to strike out.  He always manages to pull at least one rabbit (recruit) out of the hat.  This year could be a banner year for Florida recruiting, or maybe not.  Notre Dame continues to be involved with a plethora of Floridians, and the May evaluation period should be a good barometer of where the Irish stand.  My expectations will be for the Irish to land at least three Florida prospects based upon the information to date, but again, the May evaluation period looms large.  Irish fans will be hearing some new names from Florida by the time the month of June begins.  Of course the Florida targets Notre Dame fans know about will also be a part of the picture as well.  I am really looking forward to learning where Notre Dame stands with players from Florida.

Several prospects visited Notre Dame already and/or plan to visit Notre Dame again.  Several more commitments could come from this group.  A player by player evaluation will highlight these Notre Dame prospects.

Likely = Notre Dame holds the lead or perceived lead for prospect and a commitment could be looming.

Good Chance = Notre Dame amongst top three to five schools and should receive an official visit and possibly an unofficial visit.

Waiting For A Visit = Whether the prospect will take an official and/or unofficial visit to Notre Dame to be determined.

Next In Line = Notre Dame may or may not recruit a prospect based on scholarship numbers at a position, recruiting needs, etc.

Likely

Tre' Bell, CB, 5-11, 170, Jersey City, NJ (St. Peter's Prep) -- A recent visitor for a Notre Dame junior day, if the Irish survive Bell's impending visit to Gainesville, FL look for Bell to make a pledge to play his college football in South Bend, IN.  Wisconsin, Michigan, South Carolina, West Virginia could be factors as well.

Devin Butler, CB/ATH, 6-1, 175, Washington, D.C. (Gonzaga) -- After moving up his decision date from May to April 4th, many now feel good about Notre Dame overcoming Penn State for Butler's college choice.  In all likelihood, Notre Dame will receive its tenth verbal commitment for the class of 2013 when Butler makes his college selection.  Bell's athleticism and length will make him a great addition to the Notre Dame program.

Ryan Green, RB, 5-11, 195, St. Petersburg, FL (Catholic) -- Green could decide soon or take more trips; hard to tell which decision Green will make about his decision time table.  Notre Dame holds the enviable position of being Green's leader.  Gators and 'Noles will not give up the chase even if he commits. 

Jaylon Smith, LB, 6-2, 210, Fort Wayne, IN (Bishop Luers) -- Notre Dame continues to be at the front of a group that also includes Ohio State and Purdue.  Smith could decide early or wait until the fall.  Being an elite prospect time will be on his side.

Good Chance

Alex Anzalone, LB, 6-3, 220, Wyomissing, PA (Wyomissing Area) -- Florida, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Penn State appear to be the finalists.  Notre Dame made a very favorable impression on Anzalone when he visited a week ago, but the Irish will need to be able to overcome three other national recruiting powers.

Dajuan Drennon, OLB, 6-4, 230, Sicklerville, NJ (Timber Creek) -- This could be yet another Penn State verses Notre Dame battle.  Much more will be known about Drennon's recruitment after he takes a few more unofficial visits, Penn State included.  Notre Dame made a lasting impression during junior day.

Mark Heuerman, TE, 6-4, 220, Naples, FL (Barron Collier) -- Enjoyed his unofficial visit to Notre Dame and enjoyed personal attention from several coaches including head coach Brian Kelly.  Still plans to visit Miami (April 14) and Ohio State (April 21) before deciding.  Louisiana State could also be Heuerman's choice.

Keeon Johnson, WR, 6-3, 200, Kannapolis, NC (Brown) -- Already an unofficial visitor to Notre Dame, Johnson fits the mold of the big and physical down-the-field-threat Notre Dame wants to add to its current roster. North Carolina State might be the biggest competition, or it could be North Carolina or Virginia.  No definitive time table for a decision appears to be set.  Johnson appears to be a very good fit for Notre Dame on and off the gridiron.

Jordan Mastrogiovanni, LB, 6-3, 225, Dallas, TX (Jesuit) -- Texas A&M and Notre Dame appear to be the frontrunners.  He could stay closer to home or go against the grain and head north.  Tough call.

Doug Randolph, LB, 6-3, 215, Richmond, VA (Woodberry Forest School) -- Stanford earned Randolph's commitment in June of 2011, but his trek to Notre Dame for an unofficial visit left him with more than one option.  For Notre Dame to complete the commitment switch with Randolph, the Irish must now land an official visit.  Former teammate of recent Notre Dame signee C.J. Prosise.

Max Redfield, FS, 6-2, 195, Mission Viejo, CA -- Southern California and Oregon pose the biggest threats to Notre Dame.  Great player from a high school that's traditionally been very good to the Trojans.  Ironically, Redfield likes the idea of cold weather and snow.  Might be Notre Dame's best chance at a star California recruit for the class of 2013.

Demarcus Robinson, WR, 6-2, 200, Fort Valley, GA (Peach County) -- As reported by Irish Sports Daily's own Christian McCollum, Robinson described his feelings towards where Notre Dame stands after his unofficial by saying, "They shot straight to the top."  Even so, the competition to land Robinson's signature will be demanding all the way through national signing day.  A rare 200-pound make-you-miss wide receiver, Robinson's skill set will keep the college coaches coming after him no matter what his so-called commitment status might be at any point during his recruitment.  Florida, Clemson, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina and Oklahoma figure to be the prime competition for the Irish. 

Waiting For A Visit

Vonn Bell, S, 6-1, 190, Rossville, GA (Ridgefield) -- Notre Dame will be hosting Bell for an unofficial visit fairly soon.  Defeating numerous schools down South for Bell's services will still be hard.  Bell did not grow up a fan of one particular school.  He could end up at several different programs across the country.  Georgia continues to recruit Bell hard, so keep the Bulldogs in mind.  Texas, Oklahoma State, Arkansas, Notre Dame and Ohio State comprise the list of schools for Bell's current unofficial visit swing.

Jaynard Bostwick, DE, 6-4, 290, Port St. Lucie, FL (West Centennial) -- Claiming a visit to Notre Dame will take place, anything can happen.  Competition will be extremely stiff. Florida, Florida State, Miami, Georgia, Tennessee, and Oregon.  The Hurricanes and Ducks currently lead for Bostwick.  From this particular category, Bostwick might be the most unlikely recruit.

Tashawn Bower, DE, 6-5, 235, Somerville, NJ (Immaculata) -- From the same high school as Theo Riddick, Bower will continue to be a target for the Irish even if the Irish do not appear to be a favorite.  Not only a very good football player, Bower would be a good fit as a Notre Dame student.  Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Virginia Tech, Louisiana State, and Miami will be some of the programs Notre Dame battles for Bower.

Aaron Cochran, OT, 6-8, 350, Atwater, CA (Buhach) -- Scheduled for an April 4th visit to Notre Dame, it will be interesting to hear how the Irish recruit him with four offensive linemen already in the fold.

Michael Hutchings, LB, 6-2, 210, Concord, CA (De La Salle) -- Southern California and Oregon could be hard to beat, but Notre Dame continues to hold good dialogue with one of the nation's top overall prospects.  Hutchings plans to visit Notre Dame.

Ty Isaac, RB, 6-3, 220, Joliet, IL (Catholic) -- Notre Dame recruited Isaac hard from the outset, but it appears that despite visiting Notre Dame multiple times, he's likely headed to Michigan or Southern California.  For any shot, Notre Dame needs at least one more unofficial visit.  The good news would be Isaac does not plan to decide in the near future.  

Francis Owusu, Jr., WR, 6-3, 195, Westlake, CA (Oaks Christian) -- With a brother that just finished playing for Stanford, Owusu appears to be a long shot.  From the opposite perspective, Notre Dame would be a way for Owusu to cut his own collegiate path.  He wants to visit Notre Dame.

Isaac Rochell, DE, 6-5, 260, McDonough, GA (Eagle's Landing Christian) -- One of the most difficult recruits to gain a definitive read about his college choices, Rochell continues to list a plethora of schools.  Irish fans just need to hope that Rochell takes at least an official visit to Notre Dame.

Jordan Sherit, DE , Tampa, FL (Hillsborough) -- With several out of state programs contending for Sherit's football skills, Notre Dame currently holds a good chance to land at least an unofficial visit.  Stanford, Miami, Ohio State, and several other programs will be involved with Sherit.

Laquon Treadwell, WR, 6-3, 185, Crete, IL (Monee) -- Treadwell visited Notre Dame before.  He's also visited other prominent programs.  With an impending visit to Notre Dame for its annual Blue - Gold game come April 21st, hopefully the Irish surge to the front of Treadwell's leader board.  Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Southern California make up but a few of the main competitors for Notre Dame to sign Treadwell.

Waiting Game

Tim Kimbrough, LB, 6-1, 215, Indianapolis, IN (Warren Central) -- Just visited Notre Dame but did not receive an offer.  Hard to read what will happen next.

Darius Latham, OL/DL, 6-5, 280, Indianapolis, IN (North Central) -- Notre Dame could begin to recruit Latham as a defensive lineman now that the Irish filled up along the offensive line.  Latham possesses the quickness and strength to be a 3-4 defensive end.  If Notre Dame waits too long, other schools could hold a decided advantage when the Irish decide to go after Latham.  Timing could be important.

Dorian Johnson, OL, 6-5, 280, Belle Vernon, PA -- During almost any other year Notre Dame would certainly be pushing for a commitment. Pittsburgh, Penn State, and other programs could seize the opportunity.  Johnson's talent make him an intriguing prospect.

Donovan Munger, OG/NG, 6-3, 285, Shaker Heights, OH -- A switch to recruiting Munger as a nose guard could be in order for the Irish.  Much like Latham, it will be interesting to see how the Irish choose to proceed.  Additionally, Ohio State just hosted Munger for an unofficial visit and he came away impressed. 

Notes

• Notre Dame continues to be involved with several other players that will visit.  By June, after the May evaluation period, this list will look quite different.

• This is the time of year prospects suddenly fall off the Irish radar.  It's almost always due to prospects' lacking an acceptable grade point average or test score, or it could be a lack of enough core classes (foreign language and math classes in particular).

• The next several weeks will be interesting because prospects will continue to take unofficial visits to Notre Dame to watch spring practices.  Between now and the end of April a safe assumption will be Notre Dame landing at least two more verbal commitments.

With roughly twenty scholarships to allocate to the class of 2013, there appears to be a strong trend to attempt to sign elite prospects from private schools.  How many private school players could the Irish sign next February?

Notre Dame's commitment list grew to seven over the weekend with a few more possible commitments between today and the Blue - Gold game come Saturday, April 21st in Notre Dame Stadium. From that original list of seven commitments four prospects play for private schools.  Here's the remaining list of offered prospects that I personally believe Notre Dame holds a good shot of landing, plus another target that could earn an Irish offer.  Keep in mind that it's still early in the recruiting cycle and this list will undoubtedly change with California and Florida providing a possibility of adding more players because of the vast number of Catholic and prep schools that play football.

Running Back

Ryan Green, St. Petersburg, FL (Catholic)

Ty Isaac, Joliet, IL (Catholic)

Greg Bryant, Delray Beach, FL (American Heritage School)

Comments: Green appears to be the most likely from this group, but do not count out Bryant or Isaac signing with Notre Dame.  Landing Green or Bryant would probably help lure other Floridians to Notre Dame, as both prospects earned high status within the Sunshine State.

Wide Receiver

Travis Johnson, Tampa, FL (Jesuit)

Steven Mitchell, Mission Hills, CA (Bishop Alemany)

James Quick, Louisville, KY (Trinity)

Corey Robinson, San Antonio, TX (Christian)

Comments: None of the four wide private school receivers should be considered strong Irish leans, but Notre Dame appears to be a contender for each prospect.  Still, several of Notre Dame's top wide receiver targets play for public schools including Demarcus Robinson, Fort Valley, GA (Peach County), Laquon Treadwell, Crete, IL (Crete Monee), Torri Hunter, Jr., Prosper, TX, Keeon Johnson, Kannapolis, NC (Brown), and Alvin Bailey, Seffner, FL (Armwood) among others.  If the Irish land a fantastic group of wide receivers, it's probably going to be a mix of private and public school players.

Tight End

Greg Hart, Dayton, OH (Archbishop Alter)

Comments: Notre Dame did not extend a scholarship to Hart, or at least not yet.  He's the teammate of quarterback Malik Zaire.  Considering Zaire's commitment to Notre Dame, one would think it would be an advantage for the Irish.  If Notre Dame becomes involved, it would be quite interesting.  A Notre Dame offer to Hart could be dependent upon how the Irish coaching staff feels about its chances with Mike Heurman, Naples, FL (Barron Collier).  He's one of the top tight ends in the country and will be visiting Notre Dame next weekend. 

Linebacker

Jason Hatcher, Louisville, KY (Trinity)

Al-Quadin Muhammad, Ramsey, NJ (Don Bosco Prep)

Jordan Mastrogiovanni, Dallas, TX (Jesuit)

Jaylon Smith, Fort Wayne, IN (Bishop Luers)

Comments: Mastrogiovanni and Smith appear to be the most likely to end up in the Blue and Gold.  Hatcher and Muhammad could sign with Notre Dame, but it will be a battle.  Smith will be very important to this class because of proximity to South Bend, his elite athleticism, and his ability to play several different linebacker positions.  He's arguably the most important player left on the board for Notre Dame.

Cornerback

Tre Bell, Jersey City, NJ (St. Peter's Prep)

Devin Butler, Washington, D.C. (Gonzaga)

Desmond Lawrence, Charlotte, NC (Christian)

Comments: Bell appears to be close to joining the recent commitments by offering his verbal commitment.  He would be a very welcome addition to the class of 2013.  Landing Butler and/or Lawrence would be excellent for Notre Dame as well.

Athlete

Ezekiel Elliott, St. Louis, MO (John Burroughs School)

Comments: Elliott could help the Irish from a multitude of ways, much like Irish commitment James Onwualu from St. Paul, MN (Cretin-Derham).  With an impending unofficial visit to Ohio State lined up for the near future, Elliott could end his recruitment soon.  Notre Dame appears to be the favorite.

Final Analysis: The Notre Dame coaching staff did a fantastic job of evaluating and offering top prospects across the country in general, and the coaches probably completed as fine job of finding prospects that come from private schools since before I began watching Notre Dame Football in the mid 1980s.  That's an added bonus. 

How well Notre Dame recruits the aforementioned list of private school targets may well determine if the class of 2013 will be an elite recruiting class.  Notre Dame must land the elite public school players as well, no doubt, but if Notre Dame does not need to sign more than seven to ten public school players the recruiting process will probably be smoother for the Irish coaching staff.  The private school recruits usally come from schools/cities with parents and administrators that know the true value of a Notre Dame degree.  Some of the public school players gain guidance from parents and administrators with a high regard for Notre Dame, but not likely as often.  Notre Dame often times needs the help of those parents and administrators to provide an edge to beat out "State U." for recruits in states such as Florida, Texas, North Carolina, California, and New Jersey where the Irish often recruit.

My one concern from this list stems from the defensive line position, a long time nemesis within Notre Dame recruiting.  A big "zero" in terms of true defensive linemen coming from the private schools that I feel Notre Dame holds a true shot at signing.  The one possible exception might be Isaac Rochell, McDonough, GA (Eagle's Landing Christian).  Let's see if he takes an unofficial visit to Notre Dame before marking him with a high chance of signing with the Irish.  Notre Dame will fight an uphill battle with practically every defensive lineman it offers and recruits this year.  In addition to Rochell, a few private school players earned offers from Notre Dame such as Henry Poggi, Baltimore, MD (Gilman School), but Notre Dame does not appear to be a prime option at the moment.  If Notre Dame can find three good to great defensive linemen, with current commitment Jacob Matuska being one, this should be an excellent recruiting class.

With four committed offensive line targets, Notre Dame could still utilize one more offensive line scholarship.  Room for one more?

The first four Irish commitments blend well together, and each could play more than one position along the offensive line.

Commitments

Steve Elmer (MI) -- The prototypical right tackle, Elmer moves well in space and finishes blocks with authority.  If his footwork continues to develop he could be a candidate for left tackle.  Elmer's physical maturity make him a candidate for playing time by his sophomore year.  He's a big-time player.

Hunter Biven (KY) -- Biven could end up at guard, center or tackle.  He needs to work on technique like most young linemen, but Biven's size and strength make him a prime candidate for multiple positions.  I believe Biven can be very good no matter the position.  It's up to him.  He reminds me a little bit of former Irish offensive lineman Mark LeVoir.

Colin McGovern (IL) -- McGovern should be rated just as high as Elmer as far as I am concerned.  With above average foot work and a frame to weigh 300-pounds, McGovern's quickness will allow him to play left tackle if need be, or his size and technique could lead him to being a left guard where he can punish defenders in the tackle box or pull to the outside and lead Irish running backs during sweeps.

Mike McGlinchey (PA) -- Until otherwise proven, this young man will play his college football in Happy Valley, PA.  At least the rumors led one to believe Happy Valley was in his future before this weekend.  As I typed this article word leaked that McGlinchey committed to Notre Dame.  That's why one just never knows.  All the scuttlebutt about Penn State did not matter.  Now, will McGlinchey completely end his recruitment and not listen to overtures from Penn State coaches?  No doubt Penn State coaches will continue to recruit McGlinchey if he's willing to listen.  He needs to grow into his frame and become more physically dominant when run blocking, but he possesses the potential to be a very good college offensive tackle on either side of the line. 

The following list represents what I believe to be the best remaining offensive line targets, assuming Notre Dame makes room for one more (things change in recruiting.  I am not convinced that Notre Dame will sign only four offensive linemen).

Offensive tackle

1. Larry Tunsil (FL) -- He's absolutely a stud.  Could play multiple positions along the offensive line.  He finishes with pancakes, gets to the second level to engage linebackers with ease, blocks defensive backs during screen plays like few his size can do, and could play practically any position along the offensive line.  Florida, the team he grew up rooting for holds the lead.  Georgia and Florida State would probably be next.  Will Notre Dame be able to lure Tunsil to South Bend for an unofficial visit and an official visit?  Playing catch up with a recruit of this caliber from north Florida will be hard.  Notre Dame needs Tunsil to make it to South Bend twice, in my opinion, to really possess a shot of signing him.  Keep in mind that Tony Alford recruits the state of Florida so that should help Notre Dame.  Still, odds of Tunsil ending up at Notre Dame appear to be quite low.

2. Ethan Pocic (IL) -- One of the more physically advanced linemen left on the board for any school, Pocic appears to be a long shot for Notre Dame.  Then again, perhaps the recent commitments of Biven and McGovern will help Notre Dame's chances of signing Pocic because offensive linemen tend to bond.  I hold not doubt that at least one of Biven, McGovern, and Notre Dame's first commitment from the class of 2013, Elmer, will be communicating with Pocic about joining the fold.  Much more will be known about Pocic's recruitment after he concludes a southern tour that includes Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State and Tennessee, while mixing in a visit to Ohio State as well.  Notre Dame does not currently hold the best position with Pocic, but that could change depending on how well Pocic enjoys his sojourn to Dixie and Columbus, OH.

3. Nico Falah (CA) -- With quick feet and the desire to finish blocks by overpowering defenders, Falah's college potential did not go unnoticed by college coaches.  He could also play guard, but it will be hard for Notre Dame to find another offensive tackle with better feet for pass protection.  Hard to say where Notre Dame stands with Falah because he lives near Los Angeles.  If he visits, watch out.  He plays for St. John Bosco so one should probably assume there will be a little bit of a positive Notre Dame influence at his school.  Another factor with Falah's recruitment comes from whether or not Southern California offers.  If the Trojans join his offer list, it will make it more difficult for the Irish to sign Falah.

4. Aaron Cochran (CA) -- One of the most powerful run blockers in the country, Cochran annihilates many of the defenders that line up in front of him.  Cochran's weight issue, however, make him more of a risk than the three tackles rated higher on this list.  He could end up in the NFL, or he could end up on the bench in college.  He's set to visit Notre Dame soon enough.  It will be interesting to see how Notre Dame handles Cochran's recruitment moving forward.

Guard

1. John Montelus (MA) -- Boston College desperately wants to keep Montelus close to home, but Notre Dame and many other national programs will continue to recruit him.  Montelus could easily play tackle or guard and it would not matter much due to his nimble feet and overall athleticism.  Further, he finishes blocks the way an offensive line coach prefers, with a defender landing on his back side.  I prefer Montelus at guard because of his quick first step while run blocking.  He completes reach and double team blocks that many other interior linemen would struggle to make.  He's also strong enough to take on bigger defensive linemen.  Will there be a scholarship left on Notre Dame's offensive line board when Montelus wants to make a college decision?  Will Notre Dame even attempt to fight the uphill battle of recruiting Monteulus?

2. Dorian Johnson (PA) -- Being a relative of Irish assistnat Scott Booker, Johnson should now be quite familiar with the Notre Dame Football program.  He took in Notre Dame this weekend for the junior day.  He's a capable offensive tackle, but like Montelus, Johnson's first step in the run game proved so good that it's hard not to place him at offensive guard where he can help propel the Irish rushing attack.  Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Penn State and many others will be worthy competitors.  With the connection to coach Booker, however, I like Notre Dame's chances.  Going to be interesting to see if Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly would take his commitment, especially if Johnson wants to pledge fairly soon. 

3. Timothy Gardner (IN) -- A true power player, Gardner plays against good competition in Indianapolis.  He needs to lose weight and better condition himself, but if he does reshape his body there's a chance he could be a dominant college player.  His situation follows the path of Cochran.  Will he make the effort to get into shape?  With four offensive linemen in the fold I doubt Notre Dame takes a risk on Gardner.

Wildcards

1. Darius Latham (IN) -- Although offered by Notre Dame as an offensive lineman, Latham prefers defense.  Will Notre Dame pursue Latham as a defensive lineman if the last offensive line scholarship goes elsewhere?  He's a capable defensive end or nose guard due to size and athleticism.  I watched Latham play basketball for North Central High School (Derrick Mayes gradauted from North Central) roughly a half dozen times.  He continues to amaze me with how well he moves for a big man.  I also watched him play football once.  He dominated as an offensive tackle and defensive end.  He routinely out ran smaller players to make tackles and harass the quarterback.  I hope Notre Dame goes after Latham as a defensive lineman.

2. Donovan Munger (OH) -- Another recruit that trekked to Notre Dame this weekend, Munger would be a coup because he holds an offer from Ohio State.  Notre Dame struggles to land public school prospects from the state of Ohio if the Buckeyes offer.  Munger's recruitment appears to be up in the air with Notre Dame and Ohio State in the mix.  Munger could play offensive guard and do it quite well, but I like him at nose guard because of how difficult it can be to find the body types to play nose guard, especially recruits with grades to be admitted to Notre Dame.  Munger would be an excellent addition to Notre Dame for either side of the football.  Like Latham, will Notre Dame move to recruiting him as a defensive lineman?

Final Thoughts

With a strong year in the Midwest and Pennsylvania for offensive linemen, Notre Dame capitalized much the same way schools out West capitalized last year with numerous talented offensive linemen becoming available.  Adding three talented linemen to the mix this weekend really helps the program moving forward.  Not only does the talent and depth help against the Southern Californias and Michigans of the world, but many of the pesky teams like Boston College, Stanford, and Michigan State will be hard pressed to over power the Irish.  Notre Dame should be able to continually wear down the mid-level programs because of its strong offensive lines.  Defeating Southern California and/or Michigan when they are at their peak becomes a different challenge because of the skill position talent those two programs usually attract, but when Notre Dame signs offensive linemen like this group, yes, it goes a long way in helping defeat its arch rivals. 

Keep in mind that Notre Dame secured four commitments with a new offensive line coach.  As a rule, offensive line coaches do not recruit well.  Obviously Harry Hiestand earned his keep as a recruiter since joining the Irish.  He helped keep Elmer in the fold, and he helped add three talented offensive linemen this weekend.  Good sign.

I still believe it will be best to sign another lineman, perhaps Latham, because of the injury factor that needs to be accounted for with offensive linemen.  Plus, Latham or Munger can play defense.  Notre Dame could maximize its scholarships by signing one of those two.  Also, six offensive linemen during a two-year stretch would be a low number.

The first big junior day takes place tomorrow. Which recruits will be offered, which recruits could pull the trigger for the Irish, and general thoughts about key recruits included inside.

To witness the full list of unofficial visitors, click here.

Most of the games between the Irish and Spartans come down to which team wins the battle at the line of scrimmage.  Here's a look at the the players returning on both sides of the line for Michigan State and how they match up with the Irish.

Defensive Line: The difference between Michigan State's 2011 defense with defensive tackle Jerel Worthy (6-3, 310) in the lineup and not the lineup proved to be stark.  He not only took up space, Worthy made tackles and drew double teams.  With Worthy, the Spartans could run a 3-4 or 4-3 front because of his athleticism and strength.  With Worthy's early departure to the NFL, Michigan State still holds the ability to shift its defensive style to make plays up front, but some unproven players will likely need to step up along with a couple of veterans.  The returning cast will not receive the luxury of Worthy drawing double teams, however, and that could be how Notre Dame ignites its running game.  Cierre Wood and Jonas Gray combined for 26 rushes and 126 yards, with Wood finding the end zone twice.  The returning Michigan State players that will likely be starters include future NFL defensive end/outside linebacker William Gholston (6-7, 280) along with two big bodied seniors, nose guard Anthony White (6-2, 315) and defensive end Tyler Hoover (6-7, 290).  Gholston can make incredible plays, but he disappears at times.  He recorded 70 tackles and 5 sacks last season; he's capable of much more production. White needs to be more than just a space eater, as the junior college transfer recorded just 25 tackles last year.  Hoover missed the vast majority of 2011 with injury.  Will he be ready for 2012?    Hoover utilizes power more than quickness, and he could be pushed for playing time by more talented underclassmen.

On The Rise: Defensive end Marcus Rush (6-2, 250).  The redshirt sophomore played well against Notre Dame last fall registering two tackles for loss.  For the season, Rush earned four sacks.  Depending on on whether the Spartans line up in a 3-4 or 4-3, along with Gholston, Rush could play with his hand on the ground or play from a two-point stance.  Notre Dame will definitely need to know where Rush (and Gholston) line up each play. 

New Faces: Micajah Reynolds (6-5, 320) bounced between offensive and defensive tackle during his career, with the redshirt junior expected to make a bid for playing time along the defensive interior this fall.  Defensive ends Joel Heath (6-5, 270) and Shilique Calhoun (6-4, 220), along with defensive tackle Damon Knox (6-4, 274) all redshirted this past season.  All three played on the edge coming out of high school, and all three hold the athleticism to be involved with the pass rush.  Will they be contributors come September 15, 2012?  Knox could be important as the Spartans possess more experienced defensive ends than defensive tackles.  Heath, listed at 6-5, 270, could also slide inside, especially during passing situations.  Two more redshirt freshmen could help the Spartans, and both should be interior defensive lineman.  Matthew Ramondo is a mammoth man at 6-5, 328, while classmate Mark Scarpinato plays at 6-3, 270.  Ramondo can move his feet.  He's not just big.  He did gain forty-plus pounds since high school.  It will be interesting to see how the Spartans utilize him.

Offensive Line: The best offensive lineman will not return to East Lansing.  Joel Foreman (6-4, 315) started forty-nine games for the Spartans during his career as a left guard.  A player the Spartans likely miss that did not even play last year because his career is over, and he would be David Barrent (6-8, 280).  He was a highly regarded 2009 recruit that incurred debilitating injuries.  He might have been a starting offensive tackle last season and this season.  The good news for Michigan State stems from the return of three-year starter and fifth-year senior Chris McDonald (6-5, 300) at right guard, redshirt junior left tackle Dan France (6-6, 315) returning for his second year as a starter, senior and former Junior College transfer Fou Fonoti (6-4, 300) returning as the right tackle where he did not allow a sack last season, and redshirt sophomore Travis Jackson (6-3, 275) returning after starting 10 games at center last fall with his performance earning freshman All-American honors from Phil Steele.  

Fifth Starter: The Spartans might try different combinations to replace Foreman.  A good bet to find playing time will be senior Blake Treadwell (6-3,295).  He played defensive tackle before moving to center and starting the first three games last season.  He injured his knee against the Irish and did not play the rest of the 2011 season.

Key Match Up: Jackson should be the player the Irish attack and defeat.  Unless he gained a considerable amount of weight and strength, he just does not match up with Notre Dame's girth in the middle.  Louis Nix holds his own against 500-pound bencher Braxton Cave in practice, and Jackson did not produce running lanes for Spartan tailbacks against Notre Dame last year.  In fact, the middle of the Spartans' line was stoned time and again in Notre Dame Stadium.  Michigan State's best hope for producing a running attack will certainly be McDonald.  He will likely be helping double team Mr. Nix, but that also frees up Aaron Lynch, Stephon Tuitt, Kapron Lewis-Moore and Manti Te'o to go one-on-one or roam free.  Michigan State's offensive line will have its work cut out to produce a consistent rushing attack against the Irish.  It could be a better unit than last year, but that will be hard to with Foreman no longer a part of the Spartan front.

Statistics of Note: When Michigan State played against the three most talented defensive fronts it played against in 2011 it played poorly  -- Notre Dame (29 rushing yards), Ohio State (71 rushing yards), and Geogia (73 rushing yards) -- while being efficient against teams with good but not great defensive fronts -- Michigan (213), Wisconsin (190), and Iowa (155 yards rushing). The Spartans fell behind in Lincoln, NE and subsequently passed more than it usually does, but did manage to rush for 101 yards against the Cornhuskers. Michigan State running backs attempted just 22 carries compared to quarterback Kirk Cousins completing just 11 of 27 pass attempts.

Trending: Michigan State ranked 78th in the nation with 137.93 yards per game last season. From 2008 to 2011, Michigan State never ranked higher than 64th in the nation in rushing, with its high mark being 2010 with an average of 152.15 yards on the ground. Michigan State continues to be labeled a power rushing team, but the statistics show that Michigan State continually rushes for pedestrian totals, and during the 2011 season did not even rush for over 200 yards against Youngstwon State (159 yards rushing), Florida Atlantic (188 yards rushing), or Central Michigan (197 yards rushing). Even lowly Minnesota, ranked 86th in rushing defense last season by allowing 186.42 yards per game, held Michigan State's rushing attack to 106 yards.

When it came to pass protection, the Spartans did a fantastic job.  Michigan State surrendered 16 sacks for the entire season (14 games).  With Cousins taking snaps, a fifth-year senior, it helped the pass protection because of his ability to read blitzes and get rid of the football before being sacked.  Redshirt junior Andrew Maxwell will likely become the Spartans next signal caller, and the number of sacks Michigan State will likely allow should rise because of his inexperience in live college action.  Maxwell attempted a grand total of 51 passes during his first three years in East Lansing, MI.

Final Analysis: Michigan State's defensive front holds great promise, and that does not even include one of the better linebacking cores in college football.  If Gholston comes to play during each down against the Irish, he will be very difficult to contained.  Gholston will still be dependent upon his fellow defensive linemen to make plays.  If not, he will receive double teams much like Worthy did last year.  At least one of the young players must play well against the Irish as well.  Notre Dame's offensive line holds too much talent, experience, and power to simply use one base group of defensive linemen.  The Irish will wear down the Spartans' defensive linemen if they do not possess the ability to rotate good substitutes into the lineup.  Further, if Notre Dame runs the ball effectively it will open up the play-action passing game for Everett Golson (I'm sticking with my prediction that he will be the starter). 

Offensively, the Spartans need a much better rushing performance against the Irish.  Losing Foreman hurts, but several other players gained valuable experience as starters last year.  Based on experience, the Spartans should be better at running the football against the Irish .  There does not appear to be a dominant Spartan up front, however, and that could spell doom against Notre Dame's defensive front seven.  With Le'Veon Bell toting the football, the offensive line will not need to create excessive running lanes.  He's a special talent.  Based on returning players for the Spartans and Irish, it's questionable if the Spartan offensive line will be able to provide Bell  with running lanes.  The Spartans need to continue to do an excellent job in pass protection with Maxwell being the new starting quarterback.  He's going to miss reads and protection calls, and it will be up to the offensive line to help fill the gap when he makes mistakes.  Michigan State also lost its top three wide receives, applying further pressure on the offensive line.

Notre Dame holds the edge over Michigan State on both sides of the line, especially when the Irish defense takes the field.  There's more to football than the game in the trenches, but during the past fifteen yeas the Spartans often times out played the Irish in the trenches.  It's good to see Notre Dame holds the physical advantage.

I will be completing a similar analysis of Michigan later this spring.