Potential Fits for 4-Star DE Robert Beal After Decommitting from Notre Dame

Notre Dame's low-turnover ratio when it comes to recruiting was a story that few talked about with the 2016 class. The Fighting Irish, according to the Chicago Tribune, last had a pledge decommit in 2015, when safety Prentice McKinney flipped from Notre Dame to North Carolina. McKinney ultimately signed with Oklahoma.

For the first time in 13 months, Notre Dame had to deal with a player decommitting. Norcross, Georgia, 4-star defensive end Robert Beal reportedly parted ways with the program, and Notre Dame lost its only defensive pledge of the 2017 class.

The good news for Notre Dame is that the 2017 recruiting cycle is still very early. There's a chance for the Irish to ultimately win Beal back. Additionally, Beal has a grandmother who lives in South Bend, Indiana, per Scout.com's Anna Hickey, which played a role in his decision to commit on Nov. 1.

For the rest of the recruiting world, Beal's availability is beyond newsworthy. At 6'4" and 230 pounds, Beal is a speedy defensive end who is an outstanding pass-rusher. He is currently ranked the nation's No. 3 weak-side defensive end and the No. 39 player overall in the 2017 class.

According to Steve Wiltfong, director of recruiting for 247Sports.com, there may be "six or seven guys per class nationwide" with Beal's upside. Beal currently has 23 reported offers—and the race to land him once again is on.

Beal visited Georgia Tech last week and will visit Florida State this weekend, according to NDInsider.com. Three schools to keep an eye on are Georgia, Florida State and Alabama.

Georgia is the home-state school. One of his primary contacts when he first received his offer from Alabama was Kirby Smart. Now that Smart is the new head coach at Georgia, the Bulldogs should be considered a long-term contender. Beal had Georgia at the top of his list after receiving a scholarship offer in May, according to 247Sports.com's Kipp Adams.

This weekend will be the perfect opportunity for Florida State to leave a lasting impression. While Beal camped at Florida State over the summer, a visit to explore the campus and get to know more of the coaches and players will be beneficial to both Beal and the Seminoles.

Right now, it's hard for many recruits to turn Alabama down. After winning a national championship and finishing with the nation's top-ranked recruiting class for the sixth consecutive year, Alabama is red-hot. It doesn't hurt that the Crimson Tide's 2017 class currently is ranked No. 2 in the composite team rankings behind Ohio State.

Other schools looking to land Beal's commitment include Michigan, Clemson, Ohio State, Texas, Florida, UCLA and North Carolina, among others. Next February is a long way from now, which means the opportunity to land Beal is wide-open for multiple programs—including some that have yet to offer.

Beal will be a big-time get for one lucky school. His strength, explosiveness and overall football savvy will immediately help the program of his choice.

Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles