Notre Dame Football's Biggest Recruiting Needs in 2013 and 2014

By most accounts, National Signing Day was a disappointment for Notre Dame in 2012. To paraphrase Bill Parcells, they got enough groceries to cook a dinner but forgot some key ingredients.

The Irish won’t reach the college football version of a checkout lane again until next February. When they do, their class should be significantly improved, both in numbers and fulfilling needs.

As the classes of 2013 and 2014 become more squarely on the radar, Notre Dame must avoid a repeat of 2012. Two things are working in its favor. The Irish will have more scholarships with which to work and they already have 12 commitments in the 2013 class.

Even with the ability to potentially sign at least 20 players next year, the overall limit of 85 scholarships will limit which positions receive the most attention. From least important to most, let’s look at where the Irish need to focus their recruiting efforts to complete the 2013 class and begin developing the 2014 class.

7. Quarterback

Ideally, you want to take a quarterback every year. However, Notre Dame has four quarterbacks on its roster, all of which will still have eligibility in 2013.

Southpaw Malik Zaire, currently ranked the No. 111 overall player in the country by Rivals, also arrives next year. How much emphasis the Irish place on landing a quarterback in 2014 will be determined by which of the current quarterbacks are still on the roster after this season.

With the luxury of red-shirting freshmen quarterbacks, this isn’t a pressing need despite being the most important position on the field. Expect Notre Dame to zero in on one or two quarterbacks in the 2014 class. If the Irish get one, great. If not, it won’t be a back-breaker.

6. Offensive Line

Although Ronnie Stanley should be great and Mark Harrell has plenty of upside, the offensive line wasn’t a strong point in this year’s class. The Irish have made up for that in a big way to this point in the 2013 class, currently with five commitments from offensive linemen, four of whom are rated as 4-star recruits by Rivals.

Both centers, Braxston Cave and Mike Golic Jr., will be gone after 2012, but the only other significant loss could be tackle Zack Martin, who will likely forgo a fifth season and enter the NFL Draft.

None of the five 2013 recruits have experience at center, but either Harrell or 2011 recruit Matt Hegarty will be groomed to take over for Cave in 2013. The Irish are done up front in the 2013 class and can afford to reach at this position in 2014.

5. Running Back

Adding William Mahone and KeiVarae Russell, in addition to shifting George Atkinson III to the backfield, stabilizes a position that was rather thin during this past season. The importance of having two capable running backs was evident this year with the production of Cierre Wood and Jonas Gray, but there’s plenty of youth and depth at the position.

Theo Riddick will be the only senior at the position on the 2012 roster (Wood is eligible for a fifth year), so this isn’t a major concern for 2013. Passing entirely on a running back next year is possible. Doing so would make it a major priority in 2014, but the coaching staff does have some breathing room here.

4. Defensive Line

The keystones of the 2011 class were the defensive line. The Irish followed that up by landing a pair of elite tackles in this year’s class in Sheldon Day and Jarron Jones, and they appear to have finally stabilized the position that has been a weakness for much of the past two decades.

Another 2012 signee, linebacker Romeo Okwara, could play defensive end as well.

The Irish would like to add another defensive end or two along with Columbus, Ohio’s Jacob Matuska to develop in 2013 in case Stephon Tuitt leaves school early after that season. Isaac Rochell of McDonough, Ga., could be the next to pledge to Brian Kelly.

In terms of numbers, it should be a small defensive line class in 2013, but this will be a critical need in 2014.

3. Wide Receiver/Tight End

Kelly likes to have seven capable receivers for his offense to run the way he would like it. That won’t be happening in 2012.

Rising junior T.J. Jones and 2011 signee DaVaris Daniels are the only returning players with any big-play potential. Robby Toma should be an effective slot receiver, but he has limited ability and departs after 2012.

The Irish were able to land Chris Brown, Davonte Neal and Justin Ferguson in this year’s class. Ferguson is the most polished, while Brown and Neal have track-star speed.

Ben Koyack and Alex Welch should share time at tight end in 2013 after Tyler Eifert moves on, with freshman-to-be Mike Heuerman in a developmental role. There is no Michael Floyd-type recruit that has either signed with or committed to Notre Dame, so expect the Irish to try to reel in a big one in the next two classes.

2. Defensive Back

The Irish are fairly well-off at safety with Elijah Shumate and Nicky Baratti coming on board in the fall. Losing Jamoris Slaughter and Zeke Motta after next season won’t help, but Eilar Hardy should be back at 100 percent after a knee injury cost him the 2011 season. Austin Collinsworth gives the Irish a tough and intelligent back-up for the next two years.

Cornerback is a different story. The Tee Shepard experiment ended quickly, and there are still plenty of questions about rising juniors Bennett Jackson and Lo Wood, as well as sophomores Josh Atkinson and Jalen Brown.

The Irish took some chances at this position, and it came back to bite them. Notre Dame has commitments from two cornerbacks in the 2013 class: Galloway, N.J.’s Rashad Kinlaw and Washington, D.C.’s Devin Butler. Adding a third by February would be a plus, while safety again becomes a crucial position in 2014, along with more depth at cornerback.

1. Linebacker

The Manti Te’o era will have one final act in 2012, but then the Irish will have a major void to fill in the middle of their defense. Jarrett Grace, a 2011 recruit, has star potential at the position and is likely the heir apparent to Te’o at the Mike position.

Dan Fox and Carlo Calabrese, who will likely again platoon at the Will position. Both could return in 2013, but Notre Dame will need some depth at both inside linebacker positions.

The outside linebacker position appears strong at the top with sophomores Ishaq Williams and Ben Councell, but Notre Dame will be lacking depth at two critical positions in the coming years. Landing 2013 five-star recruit Jaylon Smith from Fort Wayne, Ind., is a must.

The Irish are struggling to find a good fit for the Dog linebacker. Smith is that and so much more. Expect a decision from Smith prior to the start of the season.

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