The 2008 Recruiting Class of Notre Dame

7th Feb 2008

 

Charlie Weis has performed another miracle, finishing with arguably the number one recruiting class in the country. This is the head coach of a Notre Dame team that finished 3-9 in 2007, one of the worst in school history. Somehow, somehow, Weis was able to convince 23 of the nation’s top players to sign a Letter of Intent to attend the University of Notre Dame.

According to Rivals.com, Scout.com, and Tom Lemming of CSTV, the 2008 Signing Class of the Fighting Irish is second best, behind only Alabama. Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide have signed 32 players thus far, compared to Notre Dame’s 23. That is the reasoning behind the Irish being number two. Alabama managed to get more players, but in the end Notre Dame has a higher average star ranking according to all three major sources.

The biggest accomplishment for Weis and staff was not only signing top talent, but filling the holes in the depth chart to a great extent. The defense will have much greater depth in all aspects with the addition of 11 players on that side of the ball. Five of those are defensive lineman, three linebackers, and three defensive backs. The Irish defense should be stacked considering the success of the young players that saw time last season, such as freshman-All-American Brian Smith.

The 3-9 season was often blamed on the play of Notre Dame’s offensive line. The O-Line struggled throughout the entire season, allowing more sacks than almost any other team in College Football. Charlie’s attempted to solve this problem by adding four of the country’s best offensive lineman in this 2008 Recruiting Class. This means that the fight for a starting spot on the line will become much more competitive, resulting in the positive development of each player.

Quite possibly the most impressive addition to the Irish squad is the collection of specialty receivers. Thanks to Weis, Rob Ianello and others, Notre Dame received LOI’s from three big time receivers. One with incredible speed, one with big play potential, one with overall talent, three with bright futures. Duval Kamara and Golden Tate were among the freshman receivers last year who saw action and these three will have the chance to see the field as well. There will most definitely be tough competition for playing time as a receiver next season.

One the most fascinating and intriguing things that I have read the past couple months through commitments, All-American games, and such, is about how close this class is. They have already created strong friendships and have talked to one another almost every day since they first chose Notre Dame. Each player supported one another and worked together to get even more student-athletes to attend the University. Along with this, education is important to every one of these players and is among the top reasons why each of them chose Charlie Weis and the Irish. They are all classy and respectful young men who will help revive the winning tradition at Notre Dame.

Only one commitment lost, a top five class, 23 talented athletes, all after a 3-9 season. I can’t tell you enough how remarkable that is. It’s unbelievable how Charlie Weis, Corwin Brown, Rob Ianello, and the rest of the staff were able to pull off something as prodigious as this. This is why Charlie Weis received the contract extension he did. This is why Notre Dame will always be the most prestigious program in college football. So without further ado, I present the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football Signing Class of 2008.

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Robert Blanton is a 6′1″, 177 pound defensive back out of Matthews, North Carolina. He played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas and performed very well. The only trouble he had was against his new teammate Michael Floyd. As a senior in High School, Robert picked off seven interceptions and recorded a very high 128 tackles. Although, he had even more tackles in his junior year with 147 and seven interceptions again. He is a four star caliber player according to both Rivals and Scout. He is very athletic but definitely needs to put on some weight and add more muscle. There is a possibility that he could see some playing time freshman year as maybe a defensive back and/or on special teams.

 

Braxston Cave is a 6′4″, 295 pound offensive lineman/center from Mishawaka, Indiana. He participated in the Under Armour All-America Game in Orlando. Braxston is considered one of the strongest kids in the entire nation this 2008 Class. He is also considered a four star player on both Rivals and Scout, as well as one of the top centers in the country. He uses his strength to bully opposing lineman over and has good footwork as well. He could definitely see some playing time next year due to his size and strength. If he can learn the system quickly and adapt to the college level, he will see the field as a freshman.

 

Lane Clelland is a 6′5″, 270 pound offensive tackle from Owings Mills, Maryland. He as well was named to the US Army All-American Bowl as a player on the East Side. Lane is a four star caliber player according to Rivals.com and a three according to Scout.com. He is one of the best players to come out of Maryland this year and a great pickup for the Irish. Clelland is very explosive and aggressive, not afraid to mix it up. However, he most likely won’t make an immediate impact for Notre Dame but has a promising future ahead of him. The offensive line is looking strong for the next couple of years with the talent that is coming in.

 

Dayne Crist is a 6′5″, 228 pound quarterback out of Sherman Oaks, California. Many consider Dayne the top player from this year’s Irish class and Rivals and Scout agree. He is a five star quarterback on both websites and one of the top twenty players of 2008 according to most recruit rankings. Crist threw a couple touchdown passes at the US Army All-American Bowl, including one to new teammate, Michael Floyd. He has known starting Quarterback Jimmy Clausen for a long time, which will most certainly create some friendly competition between the two. Many believe that Crist could challenge for some playing time next fall, but I think that Clausen will be fully healthy and be able to show his full potential. Crist may not play until late in his Notre Dame career, but he is very, very talented.

 

Sean Cwynar is a 6′4″, 284 pound defensive tackle from Woodstock, Illinois. Sean played in the US Army All-American Bowl as well and was considered one of the best players in the Chicago area. Scout and Rivals gave him four stars because of his intensity, size, and effort. He is one of those players that never gives up on the play and does everything in his power to make something happen. As a senior, Sean tallied 93 tackles and 12 sacks for Marian Central Catholic. He will probably see little field time next year but will make a great impact at some point in the future. Another great pickup for Notre Dame.

 

Joseph Fauria is a 6′8″, 250 pound tight end from Encino, California. He didn’t attend either of the All-American games because he wanted to focus on basketball. He’s obviously an extremely tall athlete, but the downside, he isn’t the fastest or quickest tight end. He should definitely be a threat in the red zone and could see some early playing time because of that. Joseph is a four star caliber player according to both Scout and Rivals and one of two tight ends in this years class. As a senior, Fauria had 35 receptions for 516 yards and eight touchdowns. I look forward to seeing him tower over everyone on the field.

 

Steven Filer is a 6′3″, 220 pound inside linebacker from Chicago, Illinois. He was selected as a US Army All-American Bowl game player and named the 2007 Gatorade Player of the Year in Illinois. As a senior, Steve had 107 tackles, 7 sacks, and 1 interception which got him four stars on Scout and Rivals. He has a very quick first step and is a big, big hitter. His aggressiveness and size will be sure to lay some people out on the college level. I see Filer getting some playing time in his first year at Notre Dame but not as much as some of the other players of this class. He is going to be fun to watch, I can guarantee that.

 

Darius Fleming is a 6′3″, 230 pound outside linebacker from Chicago, Illinois. He was chosen to play in the US Army All-American Bowl game and performed exceptionally well. He recorded 69 tackles and 10 sacks as a Senior at St. Rita High School. Scout and Rivals gave him four stars and Scout even considered him the second best outside linebacker in the nation. He is very athletic, quick, and fast and also has a good first step. It’s going to be difficult for Fleming to play a lot as a freshman because of Kerry Neal and Brian Smith, but I think he will see reasonable time on the field. Fleming is one of the most talented recruits of this class and if he works hard enough, could contend for time.

 

Michael Floyd is a 6′3″, 195 pound wide receiver from St. Paul, Minnesota. He is going to be the most explosive receiver on the team next year as a freshman. He received five stars from Rivals and Scout and is one of the top receivers in the nation. He is a huge downfield threat with great hands and acceleration. He had an incredible game at the US Army All-American Bowl where he had over 100 yards and two touchdowns. I’m so excited to see this kid on the field and guarantee he will see a lot of time as a freshman. He needs to work on his route-running but there is no doubt that he will be a great target for Jimmy Clausen. He could also return kicks and/or punts for Notre Dame, considering his experience in high school.

 

Mike Golic Jr. is a 6′5″, 260 pound offensive lineman/center from West Hartford, Connecticut. He is the son of former Notre Dame star Mike Golic and played in the US Army All-American Bowl game. Golic Jr. received three stars from Rivals and Scout. Many consider him a little small for the offensive line but at the game he showed that he can play with the big boys. He does need to put on some more weight/muscle before he will be able to play. Mike most likely won’t play much or at all his freshman year but does have the tenacity and footwork to see action later one. If he can get a little bigger, he will have a successful career at Notre Dame.

 

John Goodman is a 6′4″, 192 pound wide receiver from Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was chosen to participate in the US Army All-American Bowl game and showed off his speed there. He doesn’t have the fastest forty time, but he has field speed which is more important. He’s quick off the line and because of this, is considered a downfield threat. John needs to put on some muscle in order to compete on the college level. Scout gave him four stars while Rivals gave him three. He played quarterback in High School, but is a great athlete and will move to receiver. Goodman could see a little playing time in the fall if he is able to bulk up and work hard.

 

Jonas Gray is a 5′10″, 213 pound running back out of Detroit, Michigan. He was selected to the US Army All-American Bowl game and named to the Parade All-America team. Rivals and Scout gave him four stars because of his power and ability to break tackles. He rushed for an unbelievable 2,485 yards and 31 touchdowns his senior season for Country Day High School. It’s most certainly going to be tough for him to play as a freshman because of the depth at that position currently, but you never know. He is such a powerful runner and you can never have enough talented running backs.

 

Ethan Johnson is a 6′4″, 266 pound defensive end from Portland, Oregon. He’s another US Army All-American Bowl game selection but couldn’t attend because of an injury. That didn’t hold him back though because Scout gave him a five star ranking, Rivals a four. He is among the best defensive ends of this class in the country and could have an immediate impact if the injury isn’t a problem. He has great technique, a quick first step, and would be best on the strongside. Johnson is going to be an outstanding player for the Irish because of his will and effort he gives day in and day out. I look forward to seeing Ethan in action.

 

Kapron Lewis-Moore is a 6′4″, 225 pound defensive end from Weatherford, Texas. He was the last commitment to the Irish and a surprise signing after he had committed to Texas A&M. Rivals gave him a four star rating while Scout assigned him a three star. KLM had five sacks and fifty tackles his junior season at Weatherford High School. He most likely won’t see time early in his career at Notre Dame but will eventually get his chance to play for Corwin Brown and the Irish defense.

 

Dan McCarthy is a 6′2″, 190 pound safety from Youngstown, Ohio. His brother Kyle McCarthy currently plays for the Fighting Irish also as a safety and will be a senior next season. Dan however was injured his senior season in high school and recently had successful surgery on his neck. He played both quarterback and defensive back for Cardinal Mooney High School. He will be redshirted his freshman year and play for the Irish in 2009. Rivals and Scout both gave him four stars because of his athleticism and tackling ability.

 

Anthony McDonald is a 6′3″, 220 pound insider linebacker out of Sherman Oaks, California. He played for the same high school team as Dayne Crist and has great fundamentals. Rivals and Scout each gave him four stars because of his tackling technique and explosion. He also participated in the US Army All-American Bowl game on the West team with many other Irish recruits. Anthony could see some playing time his freshman year at Notre Dame because of his overall talent as a linebacker.

 

Brandon Newman is a 6′1″, 300 pound defensive tackle from Louisville, Kentucky. He was chosen as a US Army All-American and impressed a lot of people in the practices. Rivals and Scout game him four stars each because of his overall athleticism. He has great speed and quickness for a man of his size and played exceptionally well in High School. Brandon may see a little bit of time as a first year player for the Irish because he is a such a big boy.

 

David Posluszny is a 6′0″, 206 pound outside linebacker from Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. He is the brother of Paul Posluszny who had a phenomenal career at Penn State and currently plays for the Buffalo Bills. Many expected David to follow his brothers foot steps, but he ended up choosing Charlie Weis and South Bend. He received three stars from Scout and Rivals and also played on the offensive side of the ball in High School because of his athletic ability. He most likely won’t see any time as a freshman but if he turns out like his brother, he has a promosing future.

 

Trevor Robinson is a a 6′6″, 304 pound offensive guard out of Omaha, Nebraska. He had first committed to Nebraska but after visiting South Bend, he changed his mind. Trevor was invited to the US Army All-American bowl game and showed how large he was compared to the other players there. Rivals and Scout gave him four stars a piece because of obviously his size and strength. He enrolled early at Notre Dame and could see a decent amount of playing time because of this. A great pickup for the Irish.

 

Kyle Rudolph is a 6′6″, 229 pound tight end from Cincinnati, Ohio. He was one of ND’s earliest recruits and the number one tight end of 2008 in the nation according to Rivals and Scout. Both sites gave him five stars because this kid is the complete package. Considering the suspension of Will Yeatman, Kyle could challenge for the starting spot in the fall. He has great hands, size, blocking ablitity, and will most definitely be an impact player for Charlie Weis early on. He could put on a little more muscle, but either way I’m very excited to see what this kid can do for the Irish offense as a blocker and a receiver.

 

Jamoris Slaughter is a 6′1″, 185 pound safety from Stone Mountain, Georgia. He played in the Under Armour All-American game in Orlando and was given four stars from both Rivals.com and Scout.com. He’s a hard, aggressive hitter who has great quickness and awareness. He recorded 56 tackles and three interceptions his senior year at Tucker High School. Jamoris is great in coverage and should have a very successful career. He will most likely see very little playing time as a freshman in Corwin Brown’s defense, but should be a reliable backup for the Irish.

 

Deion Walker is a 6′4″, 286 pound wide receiver from Christchurch, Virginia. He was invited to the Under Armour All-American game and made his decision there. After Gerell Robinson committed to Arizona State on the same day, the Irish desperately needed Walker. Deion is a four star caliber player according to Scout and Rivals. He has has great height, speed, and hands and could be a true star for the Irish. He was injured for most of his senior season of High School but has fully recovered and could see the field next year. I can just see it now. Clausen throwing a ball to the corner of the endzone and Walker jumping up pulling it down similar to Rhema McKnight who was two inches shorter. Deion is one of three receivers in this class, creating a strong receiving core for the Fighting Irish.

 

Hafis Williams is a 6′3″, 285 pound defensive tackle out of Elizabeth, New Jersey. Rivals.com and Scout.com both gave him three stars and Rivals named him a Junior All-American after his third season in High School. He finished his senior year with 78 tackles despite being double and even triple teamed on the line. He has great strength, benching 340 pounds and squatting 405. He will probably not see any playing time in Corwin Brown’s defense as a freshman, although he is a very hard worker, so you never know.

 

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