Notre Dame Football Recruiting: Which Studs Will Have Irish in BCS Picture?

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish haven't been to a BCS bowl game since losing 41-14 in the 2007 Sugar Bowl, but head coach Brian Kelly has the team headed in the right direction thanks to stellar recruiting classes. 

Some inconsistencies on offense prevented the Fighting Irish from truly shining this past season, but there is no doubt that the future is bright. 

As an independent, Notre Dame's scheduling is far different from other BCS contenders, but with new top-notch recruits coming in for 2012, the Fighting Irish will have the talent to beat whatever team is in their path. 

With that said, here are three recruits that will help bring the Fighting Irish back in the BCS picture. 

Gunner Kiel, QB 

A week ago Notre Dame fans thought they had a race between three guys for the starting quarterback job, but then Kiel spurned the LSU Tigers and opted to remain in-state to play for the Fighting Irish. 

Since Kiel is enrolling early, he'll have plenty of time to learn the system that Kelly runs, which will help him compete for the job during spring practice. 

Listed at 6'4", 220 pounds, Kiel is going to be the starter at Notre Dame someday. It remains to be seen when that will be, but he definitely has the skills to win it for next season. What's more, because he is the top QB recruit, other talented players are likely to join him. 

Kiel is only going to improve during his days at Notre Dame, and with his strong arm and great football intelligence, the Fighting Irish will be in good hands moving forward. 

Arik Armstead, DE 

Armstead has yet to announce his final choice, but Notre Dame is in the top four. Should the Fighting Irish be able to land one of the nation's most coveted recruits, the defense will get a huge boost for 2012 and beyond. 

Notre Dame is competing against Cal, Oregon and Auburn for Armstead's services, so getting him won't be easy. He's already decommitted from USC and has been leaving people guessing for months as to where he might end up. 

Listed at 6'8", 280 pounds, Armstead is only going to get bigger and stronger once he hits college. He has the skills to play on the defensive line as well as on the offensive line. 

It all depends on where the coaches want to put him at, but it will likely be the defensive line. Armstead is a monster up front, and he is a recruit that the Fighting Irish desperately need to help get back to the BCS in the near future. 

Good news for Notre Dame fans though, as Whitney Blaine of Scout.com reports that, "the high-profile nature of the Gunnel Kiel news impressed Arik."  

Stefon Diggs, ATH 

This might be the most difficult recruit to get for Notre Dame, but he would certainly become the most important one if Fighting Irish were able to get him. 

Diggs has no leader right now. He plans to wait until after National Signing Day to pick a school, and the Fighting Irish would love to have him. 

According to Derek Tyson of ESPN, the schools Diggs is considering are Notre Dame, Florida, Cal, Auburn, USC, Maryland, Ohio State and Virginia. 

That's a lot of schools to compete with, but because Diggs has such exceptional offensive skills, the Fighting Irish cannot give up on their pursuit of him. 

Diggs can play either running back or wide receiver, and he's likely to be used in both positions wherever he goes, as well as the return game. Much like a Percy Harvin or De'Anthony Thomas, Diggs will be a difference-maker upon his arrival, and that is why Notre Dame needs him so bad. 

With Michael Floyd headed off to the NFL, the Fighting Irish need an explosive offensive playmaker, and Diggs can definitely be that guy.