Notre Dame Football Recruiting: Gunner Kiel and ND's Most Intriguing Newcomers

If Notre Dame has done one thing with their recruiting class in 2012, it's make themselves worth watching. There is so much boom or bust potential in this group, it's not even funny. 

If Notre Dame is going to return to glory in the next four years, this is the core group that will take them there.

Gunner Kiel

As of this moment, Kiel is the only Notre Dame recruit that Rivals lists at five stars. Given the uncertainty that surrounded his recruiting process, there is no way he won't have everyone's eyes on him. 

First, Kiel to Indiana. 

Then, he reneged on that commitment, choosing LSU instead.

Finally, Kiel abandoned the Bayou Bengals and enrolled at Notre Dame. 

As if all of that wasn't enough, Kiel's uncle Blair was a starting quarterback in South Bend during the early 1980's.

All of that means that Kiel has a huge spotlight on himself and will now have to succeed as soon as he takes the field. With a quarterback situation that's anything but stable, that moment could well come sooner rather than later.

Jarron Jones

At 6'7" and 308 pounds, Jones has the massive size to be an impact defensive tackle the moment he steps on campus. As is usually the case with freshmen, Jones' skills will be a little raw, but his size will make him a factor. 

Of the Irish's current group of eight four-star players, Jones is going to be by far the best to watch. At his size, if he learns some of the tricks of the trade, Jones will be a dominant player for four years.

If he plays as a freshman, the only thing Jones needs to do is get his hands up on the line. Doing that will deflect passes and make Notre Dame fans happy. 

Deontay Greenberry

Notre Dame landing Kiel makes Greenberry's signing very interesting. Previously, they lacked a true passing quarterback, but with Kiel that is no longer a problem. 

At 6'3" and 187 pounds, Greenberry has the size to be an impact receiver immediately. But Rivals also lists Greenberry's 40-time as 4.4.

Notre Dame's offense barely cracked the Top 50 in college football last year. The addition of Kiel and Greenberry won't completely make up for the loss of Michael Floyd, but it will go a long way in easing some of that loss.

Follow @mdixon1985