National Signing Day is here. Here's a look at the offensive prospects who are expected to fax in their National Letters of Intent to Notre Dame today. You can check out our capsules on the five players who have already enrolled at classes here and you can see the defensive prospects here. Irish head coach Brian Kelly will hold a press conference at noon today introducing the Class of 2013.
Notre Dame is set to bring in a quarterback, a pair of running backs, four receivers, two tight ends, five offensive linemen, two defensive linemen, three linebackers, four defensive backs. The Irish are also still in the running for California defensive lineman Eddie Vanderdoes, who will announce his decision later today. Notre Dame will also bring a punter in this class as a preferred walk-on, California’s Andrew Antognoli.
RUNNING BACK
GREG BRYANT (LOI RECEIVED)
Delray Beach, Fla./American Heritage
5-11, 195/4.48
Rankings
ISD: ****
Rivals: ****
Scout: ****
247: ****
ESPN: ****
Comments: The U.S. Army All-American rushed 187 times for 1,464 yards (7.8 yards per carry) and 19 touchdowns in 2012. A former Oklahoma commit, Bryant made his pledge to Notre Dame over offers from schools like Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, USC and Wisconsin among several others.
American Heritage Head Coach Stacy Sizemore: “I think what he’ll bring is his work ethic and his competitiveness. Those are probably two things that define Greg Bryant. He runs with a purpose. He has a purpose when he gets the football. It’s not just to pick up a yard here or a yard there. If he wants to hit it up inside and get two or three yards, he can do that. If he wants to get outside and make somebody miss, he can do that as well.
“He’s a strong kid, he’s a thick kid. I think what makes him different is his legs, his leg drive, his leg power, his leg strength. A lot of kids spend a lot of time on the upper body, but if you look at Greg Bryant from the waist down, he’s got really big legs, big calves and he can use those.”
Mele: Bryant has proven he can run the ball out of the shotgun, which will fit in with Coach Kelly’s schemes nicely. I personally believe he’ll be a better I-back than a shotgun back and with the amount of running plays Notre Dame ran under center this season he’ll be a beast in that role. I like him getting the ball on power or inside zone and being a force within those schemes. This was an awesome pickup for the Irish, especially with the de-commitment of running back Jamel James. Bryant has the size to adjust to college football right away and will contend for playing time as a freshman.
Click for Mele’s full evaluation.
TAREAN FOLSTON (LOI RECEIVED)
Cocoa, Fla./Cocoa
5-10, 195/4.50
Rankings
ISD: ****
Rivals: ****
Scout: ****
247: ****
ESPN: ****
Comments: The Under-Armour All-American rushed 222 times for 1,722 yards (7.8 yards per carry) and 16 touchdowns in 2012. Folston (pictured) committed to Notre Dame over offers from schools like Auburn, Boston College, Florida, Florida State, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech and West Virginia among several others. He took a late official visit to Auburn and the Tigers appeared to have a shot at flipping him at the end, but Folston reaffirmed his pledge to the Irish.
Cocoa Head Coach John Wilkinson: “They’re going to get a good football player. He’s a great competitor and he’ll do whatever is asked of him. He’s going to be where he’s supposed to be when he’s supposed to be there. He’s just a good kid.
“He’s a high character guy. He’s a yes-sir, no-sir guy. He’s going to work hard. He’s going to be one of the first at all of the meetings, the last one to leave. He studies film. He knows how to do things the right way. He’s going to bring some different things. He can work in the slot, he can play in the backfield, he can be a receiver. He’s got a lot.”
Mele: Talk about a couple of young running backs that’ll give Brain Kelly a one-two punch with Folston and Bryant. Folston is really fast and athletic with great vision and the ability to make people miss time and time again. You could use shifty and slippery to describe is running style, but he has some power in his game as well. He can block, catch, and will even play special teams if you want him to. He has the ability to break open a game in an instant and will be a difference maker in South Bend. He could also content for playing time in the very near future.
Click for Mele’s full evaluation.
WIDE RECEIVER
WILL FULLER (LOI RECEIVED)
Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic
6-0, 170/4.52
Rankings
ISD: ****
Rivals: ****
Scout: ****
247: ****
ESPN: ***
Comments: The Semper-Fi All-American committed to Penn State early on in the process, but after the sanctions laid down by the NCAA, the talented receiver flipped his pledge to the Irish from the Nittany Lions. Fuller committed to Notre Dame over offers from schools like Boston College, Rutgers and Temple among several others. Fuller made 85 catches for 1,408 yards and 19 touchdowns over his final two high school seasons.
Roman Catholic Head Coach Joe McCourt: “He’s explosive. He can be effective anywhere on the football field from the 20 to the 20 and he’s a big-time goalline threat too. You can’t cover him one-on-one. He’s so smooth, he’s so quick. He’s got the best hands I’ve ever seen. Even the coaches from Notre Dame were floored by the way he caught the football.
“You’re getting a really good football player. I wouldn’t go by the stars. He’s going to go to Notre Dame and he’s going to be an impact football player. There’s no doubt in my mind.”
Mele: Fuller will be a nice fit at the X or W receiver for Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly’s offense. He is a fine route runner with really good hands and is not limited to only going deep. He can be effective in the screen game and will give defenders fits trying to tackle him. If he grows an inch and gains 15 pounds he will improve in all aspects of his already solid receiving capabilities. Fuller realizes the need to bulk up and has committed himself to accomplishing that since his senior season ended. This is a well-rounded player who will complement the wide receiver talent already on the Irish roster.
Click for Mele’s full evaluation.
TORII HUNTER, JR. (LOI RECEIVED)
Prosper, Texas/Prosper
6-1, 175/4.50
Rankings
ISD: ****
Rivals: ***
Scout: ***
247: ****
ESPN: ****
Comments: The U.S. Army All-American had 71 catches for 1,235 yards (17.4 reception) and 14 touchdowns in 2012. He was named MVP of The Opening in July. The talented wide receiver suffered a devastating leg injury down in San Antonio preparing for the All-American game. The Prosper standout has already had surgery and is currently rehabilitating. Hunter, Jr. committed to Notre Dame over offers from schools like Arkansas, Iowa, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Utah and West Virginia among several others.
Prosper Head Coach Kent Scott: “He does some phenomenal things with regard to catching the football…He’s a 4.5 forty guy on an Accutrack. He’s 6-1, he’s got big hands, he runs good routes. He’s extremely coachable. He’s an extremely sharp, intelligent young man.
“You’re not going to find one any better. He’s the type of guy you’d want to be the face of your program. He’s been a leadership council member here at our program since he was a freshman.”
Mele: Hunter is a slot/possession receiver with big play capability. He can run, catch in traffic, and go deep. He’s also a smart football player who’s not a robot that runs exactly what’s called in the huddle for the sake of running what’s called in the huddle. He’ll adjust a route, settle into an open area, or just plain get open whenever and however he has to. He’s football player through and through. He was selected the MVP of the seven-on-seven tourney at The Opening last summer against some of the best, if not the best, talent in the country. There’s not much more to say after that.
Click for Mele’s full evaluation.
TIGHT END
DURHAM SMYTHE (LOI RECEIVED)
Belton, Texas/Belton
6-6, 230
Rankings
ISD: ****
Rivals: ***
Scout: ***
247: ****
ESPN: ****
Comments: The product from the Lone Star State committed to Texas early on in the recruiting process, but started having second thoughts, which opened the way for the Irish. Smythe picked Notre Dame over his other finalists, Stanford and Michigan. He also had offers from schools like Baylor, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech among several others.
Belton Offensive Coordinator David Brewer: “He’s got the best hands on the team, he runs great routes. I think Coach Kelly is recruiting him because he’s the type of guy you can do a lot of different formations with and he’s one of those personnel guys you don’t have to take off the field.
“You can put him in tight and he can block. You can leave him in the slot and he can run like a receiver. You can motion him in the backfield and use him the way these guys are using tight ends like you used to do with fullbacks. There are a lot of different things you can do with him.”
Mele: Smythe is a great fit as a tight end in Notre Dame’s offensive scheme. He’s a tall kid with good hands who runs good routes and can play multiple positions within the offense. He’s also a good blocker who brings a high level of physicality to the position. He really seems to match the profile of what head coach Brian Kelly and offensive coordinator Chuck Martin are looking for out of their tight ends. With the amount of tight ends Notre Dame is using in their offensive sets he will provide instant’s depth and definitely get on the field by his second year in the program.
Click for Mele’s full evaluation.
OFFENSIVE LINE
HUNTER BIVIN (LOI RECEIVED)
Owensboro, Ky./Apollo
6-7, 290
Rankings
ISD: ****
Rivals: ****
Scout: ****
247: ****
ESPN: ****
Comments: The Under Armour All-American played tackle for Apollo this season, but played center in Orlando. Though there were some mistakes, the Kentucky product more than held his own and even impressed. The lifelong Notre Dame fan committed to the Irish over offers from schools like Auburn, Clemson, Florida, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Wisconsin among several others.
Former Apollo Assistant Coach Billy Cooper: “His feet are phenomenal for one. You go watch him play a basketball game, his feet underneath the basket are unreal. It’s uncanny how well he moves, how fluid he moves.
“His feet are where he needs to be. His upper-body strength is great. He punches well when he gets outside on the corner, setting the pocket. He’s tough and he’s nasty. You interview him and he’s like a baby cake...but you get him on the football field and put those pads on and he’s like another person. The good ones have that.”
Mele: Bivin has the tools and ability to make Irish fans very happy he came to South Bend. That being said, he’s still very raw and needs Harry Heistand to clean up a few things technique-wise. He also needs to develop a nasty streak of finishing blocks. He may end up at guard when it’s all said and done because he has trouble with speed rushers. He’s huge though and with the right attitude adjustment and proper coaching he could be a two or three-year starter.
Click for Mele’s full evaluation.
MIKE McGLINCHEY (LOI RECEIVED)
Philadelphia, Pa./Penn Charter
6-9, 275
Rankings
ISD: ****
Rivals: ****
Scout: ****
247: ****
ESPN: ****
Comments: The Semper Fi All-American committed to Notre Dame last March over offers from schools like Boston College, Florida, Florida State, Iowa, Michigan, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin among others. The athletic big man quickly formed a great relationship with Irish head coach Harry Hiestand. McGlinchey is the cousin of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan.
Penn Charter Head Coach Jeff Humble: “I think they got a very athletic…tackle that certainly has the motor to play at that level. Otherwise, Notre Dame wouldn’t have offered him along with the other 22 schools. From that perspective, I think Mike will be a great fit and the last name McGlinchey always helps, being Irish Catholic. I think they got a really nice player. He’s a very intelligent kid. He’s a hard-working kid and I don’t think anybody would be disappointed.”
“He’s so big, I don’t know if you could move him inside to guard or center, but he’s certainly your prototypical left tackle and that’s where I see him. He has the intelligence and the work ethic to play in any system as far as I’m concerned.”
Mele: McGlinchey is a heck of a pickup for Brian Kelly and the Irish. He has big time size and big time athleticism. His quickness will allow him to fit right in with the zone schemes Notre Dame runs and he’ll be an asset in pass blocking as well. His natural spot is tackle and he should be assigned to protecting the quarterback’s blindside. He plays with a ton of effort and you can tell on film he’s going to give you everything he has on every play.
Click for Mele’s full evaluation.
COLIN McGOVERN (LOI RECEIVED)
New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln Way-West
6-6, 300
Rankings
ISD: ****
Rivals: ***
Scout: ****
247: ****
ESPN: ****
Comments: The Under-Armour All-American suffered a severe knee injury in 2012 and is currently rehabilitating, but he plans on being ready by the summer. McGovern committed to Notre Dame over offers from schools like Alabama, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State, Tennessee, Washington and Wisconsin among several others.
Lincoln Way-West Head Coach Mark VanderKooi: “Colin has a great drive and he tries hard at everything he does," he said. "He understands that if you want to achieve your goals, you're going to have to work hard. He gives a great effort year-round.
“Colin does a great job of not only leading by example, but he also knows when to speak up. It's not that he gets in anyone's face, but he does a good job of keeping his teammates upbeat and encouraged. It's very important to him for his teammates to be successful as well.”
Mele: McGovern has the ability and size that every college looks for and being from the Chicago area it’s good to see Notre Dame securing some of the top Illinois talent. He can run block and is a great finisher in that regard. He has a quick pass set with good hand placement and works to keep leverage throughout the block. He needs to get stronger and meaner though and most likely will not impact the two-deep until this sophomore year.
Click for Mele’s full evaluation.
JOHN MONTELUS (LOI RECEIVED)
Everett, Mass./Everett
6-5, 295
Rankings
ISD: ****
Rivals: ****
Scout: ****
247: ****
ESPN: ****
Comments: The U.S. Army All-American was a dominant force all year and helped lead Everett to its third straight state championship in 2012. Montelus committed to Notre Dame over offers from schools like Boston College, Connecticut, Florida, LSU, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio State, Virginia and West Virginia among several others.
Everett Head Coach John Dibiaso: “He’s got tremendous size and quickness for a guy that big. He’s only 17 years old, so he’s still physically growing. For us, he was a fantastic pass blocker. He played left tackle for us and I think in three years, he gave up one sack.
“I think his potential is limitless. He started as a sophomore when he was only 14 years old, so he’s still young. He first started playing football that year because he was too big to play youth football. I think he’s still developing. His ceiling is incredibly high.”
Mele: Montelus is a big boy with plenty of athleticism. He is a tremendous pass protector. He moves well and can run better than most kids his size. He has nice footwork that keeps that big body of his in front of the smaller players he faces. He needs a little work with his run blocking. He has to get his pad level down if he wants to consistently move the bigger players he’ll soon be up against. He has a bright future though and will be a starter in South Bend down the road.
