Notre Dame Football Recruiting: Top Offensive & Defensive Commitments & Targets

With the college football season finally over, these next few months will be focused on recruiting. Where will some of the top players in the country end up, and which teams will fill their needs with future stars?

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish already have one of the most talented teams in the country and one of the top recruiting classes this year. But you can always do better and want more for your program.

Here are some of the top players already committed and some that the Irish are still chasing.

Committed: S Ellijah Shumate

Shumate is a big boy at 6'0", 200 pounds and has the ability to play linebacker or even cornerback.

He's a very physical player who has become great at shedding blocks at the line of scrimmage. He isn't afraid to get his hands dirty and can become a ball hawk if he's used properly in the right defense.

Now, the question is, do the Irish have way too much talent in their secondary? It's another great pickup for Notre Dame, but the secondary may be getting a bit overcrowded.

Uncommitted: WR Dorial Green-Beckham

Green-Beckham a an extremely special prospect because he has everything you look for in a wide receiver. He can be physical and out-muscle defenders, but he can also turn short passes into big plays. What makes him even scarier is the fact that he's 6'6" and 220 pounds. Imagine trying to cover that.

The top wide receiver prospect is heavily considering schools like Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri, but Notre Dame still has an offer on the table. 

Uncommitted: OT Arik Armstead

Arik Armstead is likely the top offensive lineman in this year's class. He has great size at 6'8", 275 pounds and is very explosive. He always has great control of defenders and rarely ever gets beat as he tosses them around like toys.

Armstead has a bright future at offensive tackle, and whichever team picks him up will be very lucky.

He's still considering Notre Dame, along with schools like California, USC and Alabama. This would be a huge pick-up for the Irish considering they already have three talented offensive tackles they could him to.

Committed: CB Tee Shepard

Tee Shepard is one of the top cornerbacks in the country, but he has the size to play the safety position at 6'3", 172 pounds. He has great ball skills and is a lock down corner, as he shuts down nearly every receiver he's matched up with. He's a playmaker on the defensive side of the ball that the Irish have really had enough of the last couple of seasons.

With the secondary taking a hit after this season, this was a gigantic pick-up for the Irish.

Both: CB Ronald Darby

Ronald Darby made an early commitment to Notre Dame, but he recently backed out and is exploring more of his options. The Irish are still very much in the race to still get him, but schools like Florida State, Ohio State, Clemson and LSU are also on his radar.

Darby is the top cornerback prospect in the country and one of the fastest players in this year's class. He'll likely make an impact right away with whatever school he decides and could even be a factor in the return game with his blazing speed.

Notre Dame must do whatever they can to get that commitment from Darby, especially with the secondary needing so much help.

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers college football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail]