The Class of 2012 is finally signed, sealed, and delivered. Although the class did not end up looking like many had hoped for, and how it appeared it would end up looking like, the Notre Dame coaches were able to land a number of talented football players at key positions. Notre Dame had hoped to combine another Top 10 class with the standout Class of 2011. The Irish staff fell short in that goal, but that does not change the fact this staff continues to restock the roster with talented football players.
Will it be enough to get Notre Dame back on track? That remains to be seen. By and large, Kelly and his staff has been able to land talented players across the board and has overhauled the defense. But there is still work to be done if this staff wants to truly have a roster that can compete with the nation’s best top-to-bottom.
It is often argued that the only way to truly evaluate the job a staff did on the recruiting is to look at the last two classes combined. The Class of 2011 received its grades and the Class of 2012 received its grades. Now it is time to combine the classes and evaluate how well the Notre Dame staff has truly faired during its first two full recruiting cycles.
Next up is the defense: (Total number of signees in parenthesis)
DEFENSIVE LINE (7)
SIGNEES
Aaron Lynch 6-6 260 5* Cape Coral(Island Coast)FL
Stephon Tuitt 6-5 260 4* Monroe(Monroe Area)GA
Sheldon Day 6-2 285 4* Indianapolis(Warren Central)IN
Troy Niklas 6-7 240 4* Anaheim(Servite)CA
Jarron Jones 6-6 290 4* Rochester(Aquinas)NY
Chase Hounshell 6-5 255 4* Kirtland(Lake Catholic)OH
Tony Springmann 6-6 260 3* Fort Wayne(Bishop Dwenger)IN
MEETING NEEDS: It is hard to imagine how Notre Dame could have done better on the defensive line than it has the last two seasons. The Class of 2011 haul was the best in the entire nation. Most services had both Aaron Lynch and Stephon Tuitt listed as five-star players, and both were outstanding at the Army All-American Bowl. Lynch has as much raw talent as any defensive lineman in the country. He has great length, a motor that never quits, and a passion for getting to the quarterback. As a freshman he showed glimpses of becoming the dominant player most expect him to be. He did nothing as a freshman to make anyone doubt he is a five-star football player. Tuitt had a bit more of an up-and-down season, but like Lynch he showed glimpses of his five-star potential. Tuitt missed the Purdue game after missing a class and an illness caused him to miss time late in the season. When he was healthy he looked and often played like a veteran. Tuitt’s game is all about power, and even as a freshman he was able to out-muscle and out-physical the opposition. When he was on he was extremely difficult to block. Troy Niklas spent his freshman season playing outside linebacker, an obvious sign of his athleticism. There are not many 6-foot-7, 240-pound players that are asked to play in space, which is exactly what Notre Dame asked him to do this fall. Late in the season he was allowed to get after the quarterback and he showed the ability to do that as well. His future is likely along the line where his combination of length, athleticism, and effort should allow him to be a force for the Irish. Fellow end Chase Hounshell was supposed to take the year to get bigger, stronger, and learn to play in the Irish defense. Injuries to seniors Ethan Johnson and Kapron Lewis-Moore forced him into the rotation, and he responded well. Hounshell lacked the natural size and girth of his classmates but proved more than capable of making plays. He made up for his lack of ideal size with quickness off the ball and a great motor. Once his size and strength catches up to athleticism and effort he could be a standout for the Irish. Tony Springmann was the one player in the group that was able to preserve a year of eligibility in 2011. Springmann has a great frame and good overall athleticism for a player his size. With Sean Cwynar graduating Springmann will be in the mix to earn backup minutes behind Louis Nix.
It was imperative that Notre Dame follow up the Class of 2011 with another strong haul. The Class of 2012 was going to be low on numbers along the line so landing quality over quantity was essential. In landing Sheldon Day and Jarron Jones the Irish did just that. Day was one of the nation’s top defensive linemen was graded as a five-star player by Scout.com. He is a bit undersized at 6-foot-2 and 285 pounds but has impressive quickness off the line and a motor that never quits. Day will not get out-worked and will scrap and claw his way to the football. He is not a player that will rack up huge sack numbers but his ability to disrupt the offense is outstanding. With his squatty frame and athletic ability he has the ability to play every position along the line, giving the Irish defense much needed versatility. Jones is not the player Day is right now, but he has as much raw talent and upside as any defensive lineman in the country. He has tremendous natural size at 6-foot-6 and 290 pounds. What makes Jones special is his athletic ability. Very few players with his size are able to move like he does. Jones is a strong athlete for his size, which is why he projects to the defensive line despite the fact he is built more like an offensive lineman. His length is outstanding and he combines that with great instincts to get his hands on a lot of passes. As his strength catches up to his raw tools he could be a star for the Irish.
Over the last two seasons Notre Dame has landed seven defensive linemen that have the ability to be players for the Irish. Three of those linemen were graded out as five-stars by at least one service and five of those players were considered Top 100 caliber players according to at least one service, which is very rare haul for a program like Notre Dame. For years Notre Dame struggled to land elite defensive linemen, so landing five players with the potential to become elite in just two classes is tremendous. Winning football games is about winning the battle in the trenches and Notre Dame has put itself in position to win those battles. Defensive line coach Mike Elston and defensive coordinator Bob Diaco were given a tremendous crop of players to develop into a dominant line. If they do their jobs well the Irish could have arguably the nation’s best defensive line at some point over the next two or three seasons.
GRADE: A+
LINEBACKER (5)
SIGNEES
Ishaq Williams 6-5 240 5* Brooklyn(Lincoln)NY
Ben Councell 6-5 225 4* Asheville(A.C. Reynolds)
Romeo Okwara 6-5 240 4* Charlotte(Ardrey Kell)NC
Anthony Rabasa 6-3 230 4* Miami(Columbus)FL
Jarrett Grace 6-4 240 4* Cincinnati(Colerain)OH
MEETING NEEDS: For Notre Dame to be able to run a 3-4 defense, Kelly and his staff needed to go out and land 3-4 linebackers. In its first full class the Irish did just that. Notre Dame’s foursome of Ishaq Williams, Ben Councell, Anthony Rabasa, and Jarrett Grace was outstanding. The Irish landed a player that fit into all four linebacker positions. Williams was a five-star recruit and an Army All-American. He took some time to adjust to the outside linebacker position, but by the end of the season he began showing flashes of that five-star ability. Williams is a natural pass rusher with good all-around athleticism and tremendous length. He has the potential to develop into the dominant pass rusher Notre Dame needs at the Cat linebacker position. The rest of the linebackers preserved a year of eligibility, which they all needed. Councell has tremendous length and athleticism for the Dog linebacker position. As he grows into his frame he become quite stout against the run, and his natural athletic ability should allow him to dominate in the pass game. There are not many linebackers with his size than can run like he can. Grace is the proto-type middle linebacker for the 3-4 defense. He is big, rangy, physical, and intelligent. When you ask Diaco about Grace his eyes light up as he talks about Grace’s physicality and instincts. He has all the tools to develop into the heir apparent to All-American Mike linebacker Manti Te’o. Rabasa has the biggest adjustment to make as he transitions to the inside after spending his high school career as a defensive end. At 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds Rabasa has ideal size for the inside. He is a strong player at the point of attack and has the physicality Notre Dame needs at the Will position. Rabasa is not an elite athlete but does possess good agility, quick hips, and the range to make the transition. He should also emerge as a strong blitzer from the Will position down the road.
Like defensive line, Notre Dame needed to follow up the outstanding Class of 2011 with quality over quantity. Landing North Carolina prospect Romeo Okwara would certainly qualify as a quality pickup. Okwara brings a similar skill set to the Cat linebacker position that Williams brings. He is a long, athletic, and pass rushing specialist that will need some time adapting to being a linebacker. Okwara is still just 16-years old and is just now tapping into his immense potential. With his frame he could easily add significant strength and weight while increasing his explosiveness. Considering the fact he racked up 27 tackles for loss and 14 sacks as a senior, a bigger and more explosive Okwara is a scary proposition for opponents. He will have to adjust to playing with his hand off the ground and dropping in coverage, but Okwara has the athleticism and instincts to make the move. Notre Dame needed a second linebacker in this class but was unable to make that happen. Okwara was a great individual pickup for Notre Dame but the lack of numbers in the 2012 class will bring the grade down just a bit, but the five players Notre Dame landed are outstanding.
GRADE: B+
CORNERBACK (3)
SIGNEES
Tee Shepard 6-1 185 5* Fresno(Washington Union)CA
Jalen Brown 6-1 190 4* Irving(MacArthur)TX
Josh Atkinson 6-0 185 4* Livermore(Granada)CA
MEETING NEEDS: When evaluating the talent Notre Dame has landed at cornerback over the last two seasons one must be pleased. 2012 signee Tee Shepard is a five-star player and was arguably the best cornerback in the country. Shepard is the ideal player for the Irish defense, possessing outstanding length, toughness, and instincts. The 6-foot-1 cornerback plays the game with tremendous confidence. He is one of the most intelligent and instinctive cornerbacks I have ever seen. Shepard has outstanding agility and foot quickness. He can flip his hips with ease and can quickly plant and drive on the football. Shepard’s quickness and instincts should allow him to be a ball hawk in the Irish defense, something it has lacked at the cornerback position for some time. It would not be a surprise to see Shepard emerge as a starter as a true freshman. He will be in a battle with 2011 signees Jalen Brown and Josh Atkinson. Brown is a raw player that oozes potential and upside. By the end of the season Brown was receiving high praise from cornerback coach Kerry Cooks and the starting Irish receivers. Michael Floyd gave special praise to Brown for how well he played against him while on the practice squad. Brown has good length for the position and also possesses quick feet and hips. He can be physical when he is motivated. If Brown can become a more consistent player he could emerge as a strong starter for the Irish defense in the very near future. Atkinson is a talented and athletic player but like Brown is also raw. He was a solid special teams player for the Irish as a freshman and will contend for playing time at cornerback as a sophomore. Atkinson has outstanding speed and quickness and also plays the game with toughness, but he is still learning the finer points of cornerback play.
The talent of the three players Notre Dame landed is quite good, but the Irish came up woefully short on numbers. Three cornerbacks in two years is good for most teams, but Notre Dame has serious depth issues when the new staff arrived. As of right now Notre Dame has just five cornerbacks on the roster and only Bennett Jackson has much experience. Notre Dame needed a deeper influx of talent at the position. Shepard is a standout player and is as close to a sure-thing as you will find at the cornerback position, but both Atkinson and Brown have questions surrounding their game. There is a very small margin for error for Notre Dame at the position, which is why better numbers were needed. That is why the cornerback position received a lower grade despite the influx of talent.
GRADE: B
SAFETY (5)
SIGNEES
Eilar Hardy 6-0 175 4* Pickerington(Central)OH
Nicky Baratti 6-2 215 4* Spring(Klein Oak)TX
Elijah Shumate 6-1 205 4* Ramsey(Don Bosco Prep)NJ
C.J. Prosise 6-2 205 4* Woodberry Forest(HS)VA
John Turner 6-1 195 3* Indianapolis(Cathedral)IN
MEETING NEEDS: Notre Dame needed an influx of talent and depth at the safety position, a common theme for the Irish defense. Over the past two recruiting cycles Notre Dame has landed five players at the position, so much needed depth has certainly been added. Eilar Hardy was the only safety in last year’s class and he injured a knee during fall camp. It remains to be seen if Hardy can return to full strength, but if he does he could provide immediate depth to the safety rotation. It would not at all be a shock to see Hardy in the starting lineup for the Irish in 2013 after Zeke Motta and Jamoris Slaughter graduate. Hardy is a smart and heady football player that has the range and instincts to excel at the free safety position. The former Pickerington Central standout is a smooth and fluid athlete that possesses superior instincts. His quickness and ability to diagnose what is happening in front of him allows him to overcome his lack of pure speed. Those traits also allow him to get his hands on a number of passes. He has the talent to play cornerback and is athletic enough to come down and cover the slot. Hardy is a bit thin and undersized but is a willing tackler.
In the Class of 2012 the Irish brought in four athletic football players, although it remains to be seen how natural the group is at the safety position. Texas standout Nicky Baratti has outstanding length and size. He is a quick and smooth athlete that can fly downhill. Baratti’s size, toughness, and athleticism makes him the ideal player for the field safety position and the hybrid linebacker/nickel role Slaughter played late in the 2011 season. New Jersey standout Elijah Shumate is also perfect for that role. Shumate is a physical and strong football player that often plays more like a linebacker than he does a safety. But Shumate is also an agile and fast athlete that can fly to the football. He could excel as an in the box or alley safety, but Shumate also possesses enough agility and speed to play off the hash. The only question with him is does he have the instincts to play deep. If he does he will be very good for Notre Dame. C.J. Prosise is another raw but talented football player who projects at the boundary safety position. Prosise is a smooth athlete that possesses impressive instincts and ball skills for a young player. At times he can be a bit too aggressive and gets beat with double moves, but as he becomes more disciplined you will see his game take off. John Turner is a bit of an enigma. He is a good athlete that has outstanding length and natural strength. When his effort and production match his tools he is quite good, but Turner does not always play with consistency or effort. There are times when he disappears on the field, something that should never happen to a player with his tools. If he can become a more consistent player he could be a surprise in this class.
The talent at the position is good and the depth is very good. Notre Dame will also likely welcome back Class of 2009 signee Chris Badger this fall. Badger will be returning from a Mormon mission and will provide the Irish with more depth, although he will likely need some time to get re-acclimated to football. The problem with this haul is that Notre Dame did not land impact players at the position, at least not proven impact players. Baratti and Shumate have the athleticism to be impact players, but both have questions surrounding their game and both are better playing in the alley and closer to the line of scrimmage. Can they play deep and get off the hash? That remains to be seen. Prosise can do that but how will he adjust to the huge jump in competition, and is he physical enough? That remains to be seen. Hardy is a talented and instinctive player but is undersized and coming off an injury. There are just too many questions to feel good about the future of this position. If even half of the players in this group (including Badger) pan out the Irish will be very good at safety, so there is certainly plenty of room to be optimistic. It is also the reason this class received a B grade. It is a good group, but right now one cannot confidently say there is enough proven talent in this group to give it a higher grade.
GRADE: B
* - The grade given to each player was the grade I gave when they signed with Notre Dame.
