They’re all in. All 16 Letters Of Intent for the 2012 incoming recruiting class of Notre Dame have been signed, faxed, and approved. Actually, it was only 13 as 3 of them are already enrolled- but you get my point.
Welcome to the sixth annual Subway Domer’s Recruiting Spectacular. Every year is a different challenge, a different story, triumphs, and heartbreaking defeat. This year, is of course, no different. This was supposed to be the year to fortify the roster, but instead, Notre Dame stubbed its toe a few times. It was something none of saw coming back in the spring of last year, but by the end of fall… it was well underway.
My apologies for the lateness of this post. It was insane at SDHQ and you’re all just lucky I got this done j/k. I wish I could have had more fun and made this more fun for y’all, as i usually do- but it was just one of those NSD’s. I’ll get more into my overall thoughts in the podcast embedded at the end of the article, or you can download it from iTunes. Let’s turn our attention to the kids that are signed, sealed, and delivered:
Tee Shepard
Cornerback
Fresno, California
HT: 6’1″
WT: 180
Rivals: 4****
Scout: 5*****
24/7: 4****
Tee was an absolute “must get” in this class. Notre Dame needed a lot of help in the defensive backfield, and Shepard was number one on their board. Tee was the first to commit to Notre Dame in this class, and had said numerous times that Notre Dame was his dream school. Once he made that quick commitment, I think a lot of Irish fans may have took him for granted. That is, of course, until rumors swirled and we found out that Tee was seriously looking at USC. Irish fans were scrambling like crazy trying to find out what they could about the recruitment. In the end, Tee stayed true to his pledge that he was, “married to Notre Dame.”
Grade: A+
Jersey: #1
Gunner Kiel
Quarterback
Columbus, Indiana
HT: 6’4″
WT: 220
Rivals: 5*****
Scout: 5*****
24/7: 5*****
Gunner Kiel was no lock to come to Notre Dame. Yes, his uncle Blair played for the Irish and his Hoosier roots were going to help- but maybe just a little. Kiel committed to Indiana and basically shocked the world. His brother was a quarterback for the Hoosiers, and Coach Wilson recruited Kiel while he was at Oklahoma. It kind of made sense, if you put those factors together. Then, Kiel decommitted from IU and right away, he took a visit to Notre Dame for the USC game. We thought a commitment was shortly in the works. In fact, it got even quieter from the Kiel camp as he made visits to LSU and Vanderbilt. His recruitment was at a fever pitch around Christmas- and then he committed to LSU and was set to early enroll. Fast forward a few weeks, and Twitter went apeshit as Kiel didn’t show up to LSU to start classes. In the end, Gunner enrolled at Notre Dame for many reasons. None of them really matter now. He’s Irish.
Grade: A+
Jersey: #1
Sheldon Day
Defensive Tackle
Indianapolis, Indiana
HT: 6’2″
WT: 275
Rivals: 4****
Scout: 5*****
24/7: 4****
Getting a highly rated player from Indiana is not unusual. After last years success, getting a highly rated defensive lineman is not that unusual. Getting a player from Warren Central- any player at all… is unusual. Day is the first commitment from that high school that I can ever remember for Notre Dame. Warren Central is a powerhouse in the state of Indiana, yet most of their top talent leaves the state. Not this time. Not this player. Sheldon Day fell in love with Notre Dame and everything that the school and the football program had to offer. Day had offers from Arkansas, LSU, Tennessee, and Florida. Why does that matter? SEC schools, SEC schools that specialize in having some of the best defensive lines in the country, wanted this kid. Let that sink in.
Grade: A
Jersey: #91
Mark Harrell
Offensive Line
Charlotte, North Carolina
HT: 6’5″
WT: 270
Rivals: 3***
Scout: 3***
24/7: 3***
Mark Harrell is the second tight end that Brian Kelly has recruited to Notre Dame as an offensive lineman. You know what?… I’m cool with that. Harrell has a good frame, and he is fairly athletic. Although usually you would see a tight end like player end up at one of the tackle spots, I think ND end up putting Mark at guard. Harrell is a good pick up, and will add depth to the line. He is almost assured a redshirt for his freshman year, and we may not see any action from him until 2014. I’m cool with that.
Grade: B-
Jersey: #68
Romeo Okwara
Outside Linebacker
Charlotte, North Carolina
HT: 6’4″
WT: 240
Rivals: 3***
Scout: 3***
24/7: 4****
Young blood. Romeo Okwara will not be 17 until June. That’s right, he’s 16 years old. At 16 he is 6’4″ 240 pounds. Although he may start out at linebacker for the Irish, biology would tell us that he will eventually grow into a defensive end. Romeo was a hot recruit, and was offered all up and down the east coast and in the south. He comes from the same school as Irish linebacker Prince Shembo, and he is originally from Nigeria. He moved to the US in the 6th grade. YYYEEEEEEESSSSSS. The Nigerian Nightmare can live on!
Grade: B+
Jersey: #35
Chris Brown
Wide Receiver
Hanahan, South Carolina
HT: 6’2″
WT: 175
Rivals: 3***
Scout: 3***
24/7: 3***
Brian Kelly compared Brown to a “3rd round steal of the NFL Draft.” His combination of size, speed, and explosiveness is exactly what Notre Dame is looking for at the wide receiver position. Brown is one of the best triple-jumpers in the country, and that’s an event that trains the athlete to be explosive and dynamic. Brown didn’t go to any camps, and some of the recruiting services stated that they never did see Brown play a live game. That 3 star rating is starting to make sense. With the late defection of Deontay Greenberry, Chris Brown will be looking even more like a guy that has to come to camp this summer with the mindset of finding a place at the table with our returning receivers. If Steve Spurrier wanted him, which he did very badly, than i want him just as badly. Guess what? We got him.
Grade: B
Jersey: #2
Justin Ferguson
Wide Receiver
Pembroke Pines, Florida
HT: 6’2″
WT: 205
Rivals: 3***
Scout: 3***
24/7: 3***
Justin Ferguson is one of those players that people can’t agree on. Is he an instant impact kind of guy? Maybe, or maybe not. See… I told you. Ferguson was one of the earlier commitments in this class and by all rights, was a very good get for Notre dame. Ferguson turned down offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Miami… you get the point. These schools value speed and toughness above all else, and yet, Justin has his speed questioned by some. To me, that’s just insanity. He will need some polishing of his game, but considering Notre Dame’s depth issues at the position, he (along with Brown) will be expected to come in and compete right away.
Grade: C+
Jersey: #85
CJ Prosise
Safety
Petersburgh, Virginia
HT: 6’0″
WT: 205
Rivals: 3***
Scout: 4****
24/7: 3***
How much does Prosise bring to the table, precisely? Not only did Notre Dame pick up a much needed playmaking safety, but they also got themselves a return specialist. I mean, he has to be a specialist. In his senior year alone, Prosise to 7 returns to the house for a touchdown. Five of those were on kicks. I just have a feeling that he is one of those kids from the coast, whether it be in Virginia or Maryland or whatever; that kind of slips through the cracks a bit. Underrated. A surprise waiting to explode. Good feelings all around.
Grade: B-
Jersey: #33
Elijah Shumate
Safety
East Orange, New Jersey
HT: 6’1″
WT: 205
Rivals: 4****
Scout: 4****
24/7: 4****
Holding offers from all over the country, Shumate had his pick of just about any school to attend. That school, of course, became Notre Dame when Shumate chose the irish at the Army All-American bowl in San Antonio. It wasn’t much of a surprise then, but maybe it should have been. Don Bosco is kind of like New Jerseys version of Indiana’s Warren Central for Notre Dame. For one reason or another, they go elsewhere. Be glad- be very, very glad that Shumate saw the light. Notre Dame has whiffed on a large number of highly ranked safety prospects over the past few years, and this was as much of a “must get” as any player or position on the roster. After the 2012 season Notre dame was looking to be quite thin at DB. Shumate thickens the p(l)ot.
Grade: A
Jersey: #29
Nick Baratti
Safety
Tomball, Texas
HT: 6’2″
WT: 200
Rivals: 3***
Scout: 3***
24/7: 3***
If you looked up “team player” in a dictionary- you guessed it; Baratti would be included in the entry. Baratti was willing to play any position that he was needed in high school, and in 2011, he played 5 different positions in one game. As a high school quarterback Baratti was of the “athletic” mold. Basically, this is an athlete. Nick fits the mold of a Harrison Smith, not just because he is a white safety playing for Notre Dame, but because of his athleticism and his leadership. Although I would like to see Nick redshirted, I’d bet that he makes quite the impression on special teams early. I wouldn’t put anything past him.
Grade: B-
Jersey: #22
Jarron Jones
Defensive End
Rochester, New York
HT: 6’6″
WT: 298
Rivals: 4****
Scout: 4****
24/7: 4****
Jarron Jones has seen his stock drop a little bit in the eyes of the recruiting services for one insignificant reason or another. Never the less, he is one of Notre Dame’s most valuable and intriguing members of this class. Jones will start his career on the defensive line, and he has been on record as wanting to be on defense. However, there is some flexibility with Jarron as he actually projects (according to those recruiting services) better along the offensive line. If you are a disciple of Brian Kelly’s philosophy of “Skill, Big Skill, and Power” as the only real ways to evaluate talent, than obviously this “Power” player will be used in the best manner. With, bad manners. (Nailed it).
Grade: A-
Jersey: #94
William Mahone
Running Back
Austintown, Ohio
HT: 6’0″
WT: 210
Rivals: 4****
Scout: 4****
24/7: 4****
Notre Dame was in some serious need of some running backs in this class, and not just those guys that could be a running back or slot receiver. I’m talking about a PURE, X-RATED, TOUGH AS RHINO BALLS- running back. William Mahone is that type of back. He is one of my favorite recruits in this class, but it’s for a funny reason. Think about it… He comes from THAT part of Ohio, is a running back, and wears #13… Maurice Clarett 2.0??? Maybe, but without the baggage. However, Mahone could be called upon as a freshman, just as Mo was at Ohio State, to help “lighten the load.” An intriguing prospect with a lot of potential.
Grade: A-
Jersey: #32 (but maybe #13???)
KeiVarae Russell
Running Back
Everett, Washington
HT: 6’0″
WT: 177
Rivals: 4****
Scout: 4****
24/7: 4****
OK, hear you go… ATHLETE. Russell is a running back; however, he has that skill set to cross over to the slot. Honestly, I was never even close to being confident that Russell was ever going to commit to Notre Dame. Russell was wanted all over the west coast by just about every Pac-12 school and more. Here is another player with some explosive play, and will be in the mix in the summer to help contribute.
Grade: A-
Jersey: #10
Ronnie Stanley
Offensive Line
Las Vegas, Nevada
HT: 6’6″
WT: 285
Rivals: 4****
Scout: 4****
24/7: 4****
Ronnie Stanley is a big dude. Real big. Stanley has a future at left tackle as his athleticism goes hand in hand with his size. Bishop Gorman is a powerhouse in Nevada, and has produced quite a bit of talent to the college ranks over the years, but the only player in my recent memory was Jashaad Gaines (a safety prospect that ended up leaving Notre Dame for personal reasons). At any rate, take a good look at Ronnie now, as i suspect he will redshirt and then battle for a starting spot either in 2013 or 2014.
Grade: A
Jersey: #75
Scott Daly
Long Snapper
Downers Grove, Illinois
HT: 6’3″
WT: 245
Rivals: 2**
Scout: 2**
24/7: 2**
I’m really not sure what to say about Daly. He is a long snapper. He snaps balls real long. Any more than that? Well, if it counts for anything… he was rated as the #1 long snapper in the country. I understand the groans from some people about taking a long snapper in on scholarship, and i do have some fun with it too… but the truth is, is that we need kids like this. Notre Dame’s walk-on program is not nearly as good as the rest of the good teams in the country. The pool of talent is smaller. I’ll take Daly all day long- but only once every 3 years please.
Grade: A+
Jersey: Whatever he gets
John Turner
Safety
Indianapolis, Indiana
HT: 6’0″
WT: 206
Rivals: 3***
Scout: 3***
24/7: 3***
I know what you’re thinking. In fact, I think that you think that I am thinking the same thing. If you think I don’t like this pick-up, than think again. In a class that includes 4 safeties, John Turner is the lowest rated of them all. So why 4? Because Notre Dame has done a poor job over the last 3 years of recruiting this position. I don’t really think of Turner as an extra, but he kind of is- and that’s a good thing. Turner could use some development at the position, and all signs point to that happening. So you see, I’m super pumped about a kid who will probably redshirt, and then be a special-teamer for a few years after that before we throw him on the field in real game situations. I’ll take that; then again… maybe he surprises us all.
Grade: C
Jersey: #4
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There cold still be an addition to this class in Davonte Neal. He would help this class out a TON in the “meeting the needs” department, especially after the loss of Greenberry. Also, ESPNU counts Amir Carlilse in this recruiting class, and why not? Sounds as good to me as the actual pick-up of Amir himself.
Here is how the Team Recruiting rankings shook out. (Still could be better with Neal):
Rivals: #22
Scout: #18
24/7: #16
ESPNU: #10
MaxPreps: #17
As mentioned, here is the podcast to wrap this WHOLE thing up:
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