Notre Dame Football: The 5 Most Important Recruits for the Irish's 2016 Season
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The Notre Dame football recruiting engine continues to rev, as the Irish added an 18th commitment to their class of 2016 on Monday.
Running back Deon McIntosh became the latest high school senior to pledge to the Irish for the 2016 season. Notre Dame’s class is slotted as the 13th-best in the nation at 247Sports.
Of those verbal commits and Notre Dame’s remaining targets, who are the five (OK, maybe six) most important recruits for the Irish heading into the 2016 season? We’ll consider the prospects’ overall rankings, plus their potential to make an impact in 2016.
Tommy Kraemer
1 of 5
We’re not necessarily expecting 4-star offensive tackle Tommy Kraemer to waltz onto campus and log significant time as a true freshman.
Rookie offensive linemen often need more seasoning—and size—before they’re ready to contribute for position coach Harry Hiestand.
That being said, Kraemer remains a key player for Notre Dame in 2016. The No. 6 offensive tackle and No. 46 overall prospect in his class, Kraemer is the jewel of this class—he's the only top-100 prospect, according to 247Sports.
And while high-end offensive line recruits such as Quenton Nelson, Alex Bars and Hunter Bivin have redshirted in their first seasons on campus, Irish right guard Steve Elmer, who tallied four starts and played in six other games as a true freshman in 2013, is evidence that linemen can play right away in some cases. Notre Dame will also be filling two spots, including left tackle, on the line next year.
Khalid Kareem
2 of 5
Until October, the Irish class of 2016 was lacking a big-bodied defensive lineman. Farmington, Michigan, native Khalid Kareem changed that when he committed to Notre Dame six days after taking an official visit for the USC game.
The former Alabama and Michigan State verbal is slotted as the No. 9 strong-side defensive end and No. 196 overall prospect in the class. His 6’4”, 260-pound frame resembles that of Irish junior defensive end Isaac Rochell.
Notre Dame must replace two starters on the defensive line next season (Sheldon Day and Romeo Okwara), and perhaps Kareem could maneuver into the two-deep.
Oluwole Betiku
3 of 5
If it weren’t for Romeo Okwara’s recent surge, many Irish fans might still be clamoring for an improved pass rush. Still, Notre Dame hasn’t landed an elite pass-rushing lineman over the last few recruiting cycles.
Class of 2016 weak-side defensive end target Oluwole Betiku fits the mold, though. The Gardena, California, product is the top player at his position and the No. 10 prospect nationally. The 5-star prospect took an official visit to South Bend over the weekend for the Wake Forest game.
“It was awesome, great environment, great people around, great coaching staff,” Betiku told Irish247’s Tom Loy. “The academics were on point. Everything about the visit was awesome.”
Betiku told Loy he doesn’t have a ranking or list of schools at this stage.
“But like I said, Notre Dame is a great program,” Betiku told Loy. “That’s why I came on this trip. I enjoyed my trip. It was better than I expected it to be.”
Betiku decommitted from UCLA in late October and has since visited Texas A&M and USC, in addition to Notre Dame.
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Daelin Hayes
4 of 5
Like Betiku, outside linebacker/defensive end Daelin Hayes is a top target for the Irish. The 6’4”, 235-pounder from Michigan is listed as the No. 8 outside ‘backer and No. 113 overall prospect in the country.
Hayes announced he is canceling his scheduled official visits to LSU and Oregon and focusing on his top three schools: Notre Dame, Ohio State and Michigan State. Five days after decommitting from USC in mid-October, Hayes was on campus in South Bend for his already scheduled official visit.
Hayes is another athletic defensive target who could provide pass-rushing ability regardless of what position he ends up playing.
D.J. Morgan and Spencer Perry
5 of 5
Notre Dame has continued to chase safeties over the last few recruiting cycles, and the Irish have had their positional depth tested this season amid injuries and the targeting ejection/suspension for Elijah Shumate.
While some safeties remain on Notre Dame’s 2016 board, the Irish have already copped verbal commitments from D.J. Morgan and Spencer Perry.
Junior Max Redfield and sophomore Drue Tranquill headline Notre Dame’s returning safeties for 2016. Kelly has said that fifth-year graduate transfer Avery Sebastian (foot) is a sixth-year candidate, and Notre Dame won’t use him for merely special teams work in 2015. Even with true freshman safeties Mykelti Williams and Nicco Fertitta in the mix moving forward, there’s opportunity for Morgan, Perry and any other potential incoming safeties to make an immediate impact.
Unless otherwise noted, all recruiting stats and information courtesy of 247Sports.com and all quotes obtained firsthand. Star ratings reflect 247Sports composite rankings.
Mike Monaco is the lead Notre Dame writer for Bleacher Report. Follow @MikeMonaco on Twitter.
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