Notre Dame Recruiting: Brian Kelly Lands Michael Floyd, Best WR In FBS

When all is said and done with the 2010 recruiting class, some speculate that Notre dame will finish with a top ten class. One of coach Brian Kelly's top recruits will not help boost the overall number of this class.

In the weeks before the Sun Bowl, Coach Kelly stated that one of his top priorities was recruiting Kyle Rudolph and Michael Floyd for 2011. While some may have smiled at that comment, it was made in all seriousness.

Michael Floyd announced today that he will return to South Bend for his senior season. While this decision may come to a shock to some, to others it seems like the perfect way to end a career at Notre Dame. Floyd has been described as a complex individual so his decision to return has to have been thoroughly thought out.

Floyd stated that when he chose Notre Dame, it was a 40 year decision and not a four year decision. Floyd went on to credit the current coaching staff, "There are many things that I need to improve, but I feel with the coaching staff I have at Notre Dame, I can be the best at this position in this game," Floyd said.

Sometimes when a new coaching staff comes in, and a new offensive scheme is installed, some of the players recruited by the previous regime don't fit into the new system. Kelly's offense has had the opposite effect on Floyd, he has flourished in the new offense. Over his first two seasons Floyd averaged 757 receiving yards, he finished this season with 1025 yards while sitting out the loss to Navy.

While Floyd was the secondary receiver during his first two seasons, with Golden Tate being Jimmy Clausen's main target, his growth both physically and mentally has been hard to miss. Floyd's grasp of Notre Dame's offense was evident from the beginning, when Floyd had seven reception for 86 yards in his third game for the Irish.

Floyd should absolutely flourish in 2011. Physically, he cannot be intimidated and secondly, he will be working with a seasoned quarterback.

There had been speculation that if Floyd left school after his junior year that incoming verbal commit, DaVaris Daniels, 6 foot 3 inches and 190 pounds might be able to step in and become the large, jump ball type receiver that Floyd is. Floyd will be able to take these young recruits under his wing and teach them some of the ins and outs of college football. Coaches do coach, but a nudge from a peer can go a long way.

When the dust settles after this recruiting cycle ends and all the final polls are out, no matter where Notre Dame ends up, one of the best recruits of the 2011 cycle will have already been a Golden Domer for three seasons.