Notre Dame Football Recruiting: Biggest Needs for Brian Kelly and the Irish

Brian Kelly has done nothing but make the Notre Dame Fighting Irish a better football program since taking over in South Bend in the winter of 2010.

A pair of 8-5 records weren't necessarily the goal, but Kelly has assembled a nice group of young players to make a run with in the next few years.

The Irish got the national signing day frenzy kicked off early when Gunner Kiel, who had previously committed to Indiana and LSU, finally settled in South Bend and began taking classes as an early enrollee.

The drama didn't end there, or even on signing day for that matter, as the Irish ultimately landed vaunted ESPNU 5-Star athlete Davonte Neal after he skipped his own press conference nearly three weeks after signing day.

Now the Irish ready for a season in which they have yet another quarterback controversy with as many as four guys who can line up under center.

While the quarterback position looks to be set beyond this season, there are holes this team will have to fill by next February.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Even with the late addition of Neal, the loss of Deontay Greenberry on signing day really hurt the Irish. They did land Justin Ferguson and Chris Brown, but none had the star potential of Greenberry.

Even with the potential experience those two gain this year, only T.J. Jones and DaVaris Daniels have legitimate big-play potential.

Neal could play any number of positions, assuming he arrives on campus on time and ready to play, so expect Kelly and the Irish to be out in force for more weapons again next year. Remember, Kelly needs a lot of weapons—capable weapons at that—in his offense.

The Irish will lose Tyler Eifert after this year and will more than likely start Ben Koyack the following year, but they'll need another tight end for the future out of next year's class as well.

Defensive Back

The emphasis here is definitely put on the cornerback position. The Irish did land Tee Shepard and got him into class as an early enrollee (and they'll need him), but they missed out on two guys they should have landed this year—Yuri Wright and Brian Poole—and cannot let that happen again.

They have some young talent as two rising juniors, Bennett Jackson and Lo Wood, will be the starters, but they cannot be sure in what they have with Jalen Brown and Josh Atkinson.

Cornerback is simply too important a position in today's game for the Irish to lack legitimate depth. 

Safety is not as much a need, but they can still add some depth. The 2012 class could turn out as many as four safeties, though.

Offensive Line

The Irish have players in place for this season and likely 2013, but they need to address players who could become starters by 2014. Landing offensive line talent that can immediately step in and play at the collegiate level both mentally and physically doesn't happen all that often.

In terms of long-term linemen, the Irish need to get after more than a few in next year's class.

The 2013 class, according to ESPN, currently has three commits: WR James Onwualu, TE Jacob Matuska, OL Steve Elmer.

Look for Kelly to continue his push in the coming months once spring practice wraps.