Signing Day: Notre Dame's Class 10th Nationally, Heavy On Linemen
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Notre Dame football has signed a recruiting class heavy on defensive linemen and linebackers, and it was rated 10th nationally by Rivals.com.
The Fighting Irish are trying to fill the hole left by linemen Louis Nix III and Stephon Tuitt leaving with a year of eligibility left to enter the NFL draft and the graduation of three starting linebackers.
Coach Brian Kelly said building depth in the front seven was the focus of the recruiting class of 23 that includes six defensive linebackers and five defensive linemen. The signings include defensive lineman Daniel Cage of Cincinnati, who committed to the Irish on Wednesday after previously committing to Michigan State.
The Irish also signed four offensive linemen in a class Kelly said helps build depth to the Irish roster.
Another headliner for Notre Dame is quarterback DeShone Kizer, a four-star recruit by Rivals.com who is from Toledo, Ohio.
Here's the list of Notre Dame's signees, with name, position, height, weight, school and hometown:
Alex Bars, ol, 6-6, 290, Montgomery Bell Academy, Nashville, Tenn.
Grant Blankenship, dl, 6-6, 264, The Colony (Texas) HS
Jonathan Bonner, lb, 6-3, 245, Parkway Central, Chesterfield, Mo.
Justin Brent, wr, 6-1, 204, Speedway (Ind.) HS
Jimmy Byrne, ol, 6-4, 285, St. Ignatius HS, Cleveland
Daniel Cage, dl, 6-2, 305, Winton Woods HS, Cincinnati
Jay Hayes, dl, 6-4, 275, Poly Prep Country Day, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Kolin Hill, lb, 6-2, 220, Samuel Clemens HS, Schertz, Texas
Corey Holmes, wr, 6-2, 176, St. Thomas Aquinas HS, Pembroke Pines, Fla.
DeShone Kizer, qb, 6-5, 212, Toledo (Ohio) Central Catholic HS
Tyler Luatua, te, 6-3, 241, La Mirada HS, Paramount, Calif.
Greer Martini, lb, 6-3, 225, Woodberry Forest (Va.) HS, Cary, N.C.
Peter Mokwuah, dl, 6-4, 315, St. Joseph by the Sea, Staten Island, N.Y.
Nyles Morgan, lb, 6-2, 223, Crete-Monee HS, Crete, Ill.
Sam Mustipher, ol, 6-3, 294, Good Counsel HS, Olney, Md.
Quenton Nelson, ol, 6-5, 302, Red Bank Catholic HS, Holmdel, N.J.
Tyler Newsome, p/k, 6-3, 190, Carrollton (Ga.) HS
Nile Sikes, lb, 6-2, 220, Montini Catholic HS, Lombard, Ill.
Drue Tranquill, db, 6-2, 210, Carroll HS, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Andrew Trumbetti, dl, 6-3, 260, Northern Valley Region HS, Demarest, N.J.
Nick Watkins, db, 6-1, 190, Bishop Dunne Catholic HS, Dallas
Nic Weishar, te, 6-4, 215, Marist HS, Midlothian, Ill.
Jhonathon Williams, dl, 6-5, 230, Berrien Springs HS, Benton Harbor, Mich.
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