Notre Dame Football Recruiting: How Davonte Neal Will Save Fighting Irish

Well, when all was said and done, 5-star recruit Davonte Neal decided to sign with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

And if he can play up to his potential, Neal will be a boon for Brian Kelly's football team.

Inna Lazarev of FOX Sports and Scout.com tweeted the news on Tuesday:

"

Neal is signed, sealed and delivered to Notre Dame! The fax is in and Davonte is currently on the phone with Coach Kelly.

— Inna Lazarev (@InnaLazarev) February 21, 2012"

After Michael Floyd entered the 2012 NFL draft, the Fighting Irish were left with a gaping hole at the No. 1 wideout spot. Yes, junior Tyler Eifert racked up 803 yards and five touchdowns last season, but he doesn't figure to adequately fill Floyd's shoes.

Neal will most likely be a return man from the start for the Fighting Irish, with the potential to be their No. 1 receiver down the line. His speed and fluidity could make him a dangerous game-changer at the next level.

The timing of this is also crucial for Notre Dame. After picking up quarterback recruit Gunner Kiel, the third-best QB in the class according to ESPNU, the Fighting Irish could see Neal blossom just as their highly-coveted new quarterback does. That figures to make the program's offense catch up to its defense down the road.

Receiver Justin Ferguson from Flanagan High School in Florida could also become a nice receiver for the Fighting Irish, giving them depth at the position.

Notre Dame allowed opponents to score just 20.7 points per game last season, good for 24th in the nation. Despite having Floyd on their side, their quarterback situation hurt them. They scored 29.2 points per game in 2011, 49th in the country.

The quarterback situation doesn't figure to be any better this season, but there is some hope that sophomore Andrew Hendrix will make some strides as Kiel develops.

Regardless, I could see Neal eventually working his way into the starting squad as the season progresses. There is no questioning his athletic ability and potential for game-shifting plays.

Neal could become the Fighting Irish's next Michael Floyd.