Notre Dame Football: Analyzing the 5-Star Recruits Considering Notre Dame

While recruiting is far from an exact science, attracting the attention of the most elite high school players in the nation should be a difficult task when you win just 32 of 63 games over the past five season. That has not been the case this spring and summer for Notre Dame, which is headed for at least a top 10 and possibly a top five class when National Signing Day rolls around in February.

The Fighting Irish currently have 17 verbal commitments in the 2013 class. The magic number to sign appears to be 22 or 23. The question now becomes, can the Irish add another 5-star prospect to help complete one of its best classes ever?

Currently, five players ranked as a 5-star by one of the five major recruiting reporting outlets (24/7, ESPN, MaxPreps, Rivals and Scout) are considering Notre Dame. Read on to learn about these five blue chips and where the Irish stand in their respective recruitments.

Mackensie Alexander

Position: Cornerback

School: Immokalee High School (Immokalee, Fla.)

Size: 5'11", 175 pounds

5-Star Designations: ESPN

While still a long way from a final decision, the former Tennessee commitment Alexander would be a major catch for a program in desperate need of defensive back help. Despite hailing from a small town just 20 miles southeast of Fort Myers and right in Miami (FL)'s backyard, Alexander is exploring his options.

Arkansas, Clemson, Kentucky and Tennessee are all on his radar in addition to the Irish and Hurricanes. He has a good frame for a Bob Diaco cornerback and could certainly make an instant impact in 2013 in a depleted secondary. Getting Alexander to campus for the Sept. 22 night game against Michigan would give the Irish a golden opportunity to climb to the top of his list. 

Robert Foster

Position: Wide Receiver

School: Central Valley (Monaca, Pa.)

Size: 6'3", 170 pounds

5-Star Designations: MaxPreps, Scout

Although he lives just outside of Pittsburgh, Foster appears destined to leave the Keystone State for college. Notre Dame has cooled a bit with the tall, lanky receiver. He's shown significant interest in SEC heavyweights Alabama, Florida and Tennessee, as well as Michigan State, Ohio State and West Virginia.

Notre Dame has two receiver commitments with high potential, but neither have the polish and readiness to contribute early of Foster. The Irish have ground to make up here, needing to sew up an official visit from Foster at some point in the fall.

Vernon Hargreaves III

Position: Cornerback

School: Wharton (Tampa, Fla.)

Size: 5'11", 185 pounds

5-Star Designations: 24/7, ESPN, MaxPreps, Rivals, Scout

The crown jewel left on Notre Dame's board is Hargreaves III. Fortunately for the Irish, their top recruiter, Tony Alford, is Hargreaves' lead recruiter. He seems to be more of a sure thing than Alexander, and can also make plays with the ball in his hand.

Hargreaves III recently pared down his list to five teams: Clemson, Florida, Miami, Notre Dame and Vanderbilt. He was on campus earlier this month, and the Irish hope to get him back to South Bend this fall. What Jaylon Smith will do to the Notre Dame linebacking corps, Hargreaves III can do the same to its secondary. 

Laquon Treadwell

Position: Wide Receiver

School: Crete Monee (Crete, Ill.)

Size: 6'3", 183 pounds

5-Star Designations: MaxPreps

Location is a major selling point for the Irish with Treadwell, who lives less than two hours from campus in the suburbs of Chicago. Treadwell's unofficial leader appears to be Michigan, which although running out of spots, will gladly make room for Treadwell.

Like Foster, Notre Dame is fighting to remain in contention for a player who caught 18 touchdowns as a junior in 2011. Treadwell is extremely polished at finding the football and making difficult caches.

He would be Notre Dame's biggest get at wide receiver since Michael Floyd in 2008.

Priest Willis

Position: Cornerback

School: Marcos de Niza (Tempe, Ariz.)

Size: 6'2", 200 pounds

5-Star Designations: 24/7, Scout

A tall, physical cornerback, Willis seems like a perfect match for how Notre Dame likes its cornerbacks to play. The Irish have had some success in the Phoenix area of late, winning a lengthy battle with Arizona for Davonte Neal this past February.

Willis isn't the most natural cornerback from a technique perspective, but has the strong tackling skills similar to those of recently-departed Irish cornerback Gary Gray. Willis is considering both Arizona schools, as well as LSU, Nebraska and UCLA.

He'll be on campus for the Michigan game and may be the one "must-get" prospect left on the Irish board.