A final stamp was put on the Rivals 100 prospect ranking for 2013 and it confirms what we all have known for quite some time.
Notre Dame’s recruiting class is good.
Of the top 100 players in the country, the Irish have accepted the commitment of five players, including three of the top 30. One other name still in consideration is five-star defensive lineman Eddie Vanderdoes.
Here are the Irish recruits that made the rankings:
No. 3 -- Jaylon Smith, OLB: Smith is the highest ranked player the Irish have landed since Jimmy Clausen. While he doesn’t fit the traditional mold of a ‘Dog’ linebacker in the Irish’s 3-4 system, he’s too good of an athlete to keep off the field.
No. 19 -- Greg Bryant, RB: Replacing Cierre Wood and Theo Riddick should be easier to stomach with Bryant. A nice mix of power, speed, and versatility, it’ll be interesting to see how quickly Bryant can fight his way into the mix.
No. 30 -- Max Redfield, DB: The third five-star prospect of the class, Redfield looks like a ballhawk in center field. He’s not the most physically imposing player in the secondary, but he’s a true athlete and adds some more length and athleticism.
No. 60 -- Steve Elmer, OT: Already on campus, we’ll get our first look at Elmer this spring. There doesn’t seem to be a glaring need at tackle, but Elmer will have the staff’s eye for 15 sessions this spring, a nice jump start for his career.
No. 74 -- John Montelus, OG: A great interior line prospect, Montelus will be add another big body to the inside. At a position where there are question marks at guard and center, and Chris Watt graduating after this season, Montelus is an important player at a position of need.
Of the uncommitted players still on the board, the Irish are in the best shape with Vanderdoes, who will be on campus this weekend. The Irish have chased Mackensie Alexander, the No. 42 prospect, for a long time, but appear to have cooled on Alexander, a feeling that seems mutual. Cornerback Priest Willis has also had his name connected to the Irish in the past, but that ship appears to have sailed as well.
And now to the fish that got away. Vernon Hargreaves III was an early target of the Irish, with Tony Alford working hard on Hargreaves. At No. 2, the Irish clearly saw something in the elite cornerback, who played very well on the All-Star circuit. Laquon Treadwell was another prospect the Irish just couldn’t get in the game with either, as the No. 5 player in the country has decided to go to Ole Miss, a surprise to many Michigan fans that thought they had the inside track for the Illinois star. Al-Quadin Muhammad (#49) looked likely to pledge to the Irish but various reports have academics getting in the way.
Seeing Alex Anzalone pick up a fifth-star didn’t fee very good for Irish fans, with Anzalone’s eleventh hour defection putting a dent in the linebacking corps of the Irish. Also of note was fellow five-star Dorian Johnson, an offensive lineman from Pennsylvania who ran out of spots with the Irish even with a family connection to Scott Booker. Johnson is the No. 31 ranked player in the country and the top offensive lineman.
One final prospect to watch? USC commit Ty Isaac, who some believe will still end up with the Irish in the end.