Notre Dame Football Recruiting 2012: How the Irish Plan to Use Davonte Neal

Once the circus of Davonte Neal's recruitment came to a much desired end, the focus shifted to how exactly head coach Brian Kelly plans to use the 4-star prospect out of Scottsdale, Ariz.

Neal certainly fits the bill of a hybrid running back/slot receiver, the type of athlete Brian Kelly has been desperately seeking since his first day on the job. 

CBS Sports Network recruiting analyst Tom Lemming said that Neal is a tremendous get for Notre Dame.

"He's exceptional in the open field," Lemming said. "This is perfect for Brian Kelly's offense."

Possessing the ability to make things happen in space is an integral part of Kelly's spread offense, so Irish fans should expect to see Neal on the field right away.

Paired with George Atkinson III, the two will combine to form quite an explosive duo not only in the return game, but on the offensive side of the football as well.

The addition of Neal to the Irish's 2012 class also helps offset the loss of Deontay Greenberry, who flipped his commitment to the University of Houston on the morning of National Signing Day.

Greenberry's defection leads me to believe that Neal will be used primarily as a receiver in 2012, particularly in the slot, where the Irish are quite thin. Robby Toma is the only proven slot receiver on the roster, as Matthias Farley redshirted the 2011 season and may be a better fit at cornerback.

One look at Neal's highlight reel, and you'll see exactly why landing the 5'10", 175-pound athlete out of Chaparral High School was a major coup for Brian Kelly and Co.

Neal's versatility is what made him such a highly sought-after recruit. His ability as a running back goes without question, but it's his willingness to do whatever it takes to win is truly admirable.

Neal even took snaps in the wildcat formation and left opposing defenses in the dust.

The great news for the Irish is that Neal is a quality route-runner, something that is of tremendous importance on the collegiate level.

Neal has shown that he's comfortable running a variety of routes, including the fly, curl and drag, all common in the spread offense.

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly is ecstatic about having landed the versatile playmaker.

"

Deciding on a college is one of the toughest decisions a young player
makes in his life. We are very pleased with Davonte's
decision to attend Notre Dame.

"