Brian Kelly and his staff have done a good job recruiting for next year’s freshman class and I am looking forward to seeing some of these young men in the an Irish uniform even if it is in two years via redshirting. Notre Dame has its share of impressive national recruits who have given their verbal commitment but until February 1st (National Signing Day) commits could changes. Notre Dame also has to make some decisions with those seniors who have a year of eligibility left all of which will change the number of incoming freshman players the Irish will take in. With that being said Brian Kelly and his crew are still securing their current commits and maybe more importantly chasing players who have not committed or our soft commits elsewhere.
Of the dozens of high school seniors that have Notre Dame on their list of schools they are considering there are only a few I feel we should put the full court press on for and would truly help the program. Unfortunately they may not feel that going to South Bend would be in their best interest. The Irish will have their fair share of players still committing but it is the cream of the crop that Notre Dame needs to continue to secure to continue the return to glory.
Arik Armstead is the nation’s biggest uncommitted high school talent. At 6’8” and 285lbs most services have him ranked as the number one offensive lineman (tackle) if not the number one recruit period. Although everyone is recruiting Arik as an offensive lineman he has made it clear he would like to play defense and I think the Irish would oblige. Once a commit to USC (still in the mix) he re-opened up the process after his older brother Armond who plays for the Trojans had some issues. Armstead took an official visit to South Bend in October. Brian Kelly has enlisted the services of Notre Dame Basketball coach Michael Brey in recruiting Armstead who may love playing basketball more than playing football.
Although the offensive line is set for next year and looks solid with this and next freshman class there are still some guys out there I would love to get. At 6’7” 305lbs Andrus Peat has offers from every big time school in the nation. Peat has Notre Dame low on his interest list and are not in his final four. Notre Dame’s Camps Sports Bowl opponent Florida State is high on Peat’s list (along with USC, Stanford and Nebraska) and a good win over the Seminoles along with some good recruiting by Kerry Cooks could swing the tide. This is more than a long shot but he is that good with that much of an upside he is worth recruiting until the very end. Defensively the Irish will need help sooner than later at the safety and corner positions. Currently the Irish have verbal commits from cornerbacks Ronald Darby and Tee Shepard. The nation’s top defensive back recruit Shaquille Thompson at 6’2” 210lbs could add some needed size to the secondary.
Gunner Kiel or any other quarterback is not necessarily a need (although it is odd not to have any quarterback in each recruiting class) but he has interest and after de-committing from Indiana Notre Dame has put him in their cross hairs and would be a great catch.
