Notre Dame hasn’t stopped chasing 2012 prospects. But that doesn’t stop the recruiting carousel for spinning, as the lifeblood of college football -- not to mention a multi-million dollar internet industry -- continues to churn as college programs turn the page to a new year’s worth of recruits.
Nothing signals that more than the new release of the Rivals100 list for the class of 2013. Sure, we’re 363 days from Signing Day, but that hasn’t stopped Rivals, still the gold standard for talent evaluation, from releasing their top 100 juniors in the country. And as you’d expect, Notre Dame has identified quite a few players on the list.
(Disclaimer: After spending about 16 hours a week ago following every twist and turn in a pretty interesting Signing Day, forgive me if I’m not 100 percent passionate about this group of players just yet.)
Let’s take a run through the top 100 players in the country and highlight some of the players we’ll likely be talking about for the next 12 months...
RIVALS100 FOR 2013
COMMITTED: No. 49 -- Steve Elmer, OT: Midland, Michigan -- Elmer is the Irish’s lone 2013 recruiting commitment and one of the nation’s top offensive tackles. He’s planning on enrolling early next year and will ideally anchor a recruiting class filled with multiple offensive linemen.
No. 4 -- Kendall Fuller, CB: Olney, Maryland -- After being unable to hold on to the commitment of Maryland’s best cornerback in the 2012 class, the Irish are right back after Fuller. Kendall has two brothers playing for Frank Beamer at Virginia Tech, but lists the Irish in his top schools.
No. 5 -- Su’a Cravens, DB: Murrieta, California -- Mike Denbrock has already built a relationship with one of the nation’s most sought after defensive backs, who has plenty of options already. After pulling Tee Shepard out of Fresno, let’s see if Denbrock can pull another blue-chipper out of Southern California.
No. 10 -- Vernon Hargreaves III, CB: Tampa, Florida -- Hargreaves picked up an offer from the Irish in the fall, after watching the team his father coaches, the USF Bulls, beat the Irish. Tony Alford is likely the recruiter on Hargreaves case, and even with offers from all the major Florida programs and Ohio State, Hargreaves has ND among his favorites.
No. 11 -- Tyrone Swoopes, QB: Whitewright, Texas -- At six-foot-five, 220-pounds, and with recruiting tape that shows dazzling running ability, it’d be fun to see what the Irish could do with an athlete like Swoopes.
No. 15 -- E.J. Levenberry Jr., OLB: Woodbridge, Virginia -- The Irish are one of many top programs chasing one of the nation’s top linebackers. He’s a big linebacker that looks comfortable in both space and rushing the passer.
No. 17 -- Michael Hutchings, LB: Concord, California -- Another blue-chip player out of California powerhouse De La Salle, most of the Pac-12 is after Hutchings. The Irish offered recently and are in Hutchings’ top five.
No. 18 -- Ty Isaac, RB: Joliet, Illinois -- If you’re looking for a skill player that’s in the Irish’s crosshairs, look no further than Isaac. One of the top prospects in the Chicagoland area, Isaac has already been on campus multiple times and has long held an Irish offer. Chuck Martin is on the case, and absolutely needs to reel Isaac in. A nationally offered player that’s as close to a must-get recruit as there is.
No. 22 -- Adam Breneman, TE: Camp Hill, Pennsylvania -- Breneman was identified as the Irish’s No. 1 tight end prospect in the class of 2013. They weren’t alone. The potential five-star player will likely have the Nittany Lions in this battle to the end. A good test case for Scott Booker, who Rivals lists as Breneman’s primary recruiter.
No. 23 -- Greg Bryant, RB: Delray Beach, Florida -- Bryant has offers from Alabama, Ohio State, and just about every other major program in the country. Add Notre Dame to that list. Another Tony Alford project.
No. 26 -- Robert Foster, WR: Monaca, Pennsylvania -- Raised plenty of eyebrows at the Army All-American combine with an impressive performance. Notre Dame listed among his top programs, but plenty of big fish are also chasing him.
No. 27 -- Ethan Pocic, OT: Lemont, Illinois -- Another big offensive line prospect from a state that the Irish consider their backyard. Pocic earned an offer from the Irish at camp last summer and plans on being on campus again soon.
No. 28 -- Eli Woodard, CB: Voorhees, New Jersey -- Woodard got his first scholarship offer from Notre Dame last summer at camp, and has since done nothing but impress. Bob Diaco is his primary recruiter, and he’ll need to be at his best if they’re going to out-duel Ohio State.
No. 30 -- Max Redfield, DB: Mission Viejo, California -- Playing out of one of Orange County’s premiere high schools, Redfield already has offers from both UCLA and USC, with the Irish also in play. He’s already said he plans on taking an official visit to South Bend, but the Irish would love to get him to campus even sooner.
No. 31 -- Laquon Treadwell, WR: Crete, Illinois -- Another Illinois product, Treadwell and Brian Kelly spoke last week, reconfirming the Irish’s interest in the lanky wide receiver. He’s a guy that could likely walk in and play quickly.
No. 32 -- Leon McQuay, DB: Seffner, Florida -- Another premiere athlete, McQuay also sports a better than 4.0 grade-point-average, making him an attractive target. Holding an Irish offer from the spring, McQuay has the Irish in his top five.
No. 34 -- Jaylon Smith, LB: Fort Wayne, Indiana -- Another guy that should be atop Notre Dame’s recruiting lists. Has a brother that’s a running back at Ohio State, so the Irish will likely be fighting another battle with Urban Meyer.
No. 36 -- Trey Johnson, LB: Lawrenceville, Georgia -- Already committed to Auburn, the Irish likely will continue to fight for a visit from this elite inside linebacking prospect.
No. 38 -- Antonio Conner, DB: Batesville, Mississippi -- Notre Dame doesn’t pull too many players out of Mississippi, but there’s mutual interest here. He’s got prototype size at safety and has the offers to prove his ability.
No. 39 -- Marcell Harris, DB: Groveland, Florida -- Another defensive back that has an Irish offer. Has the big three Florida schools chasing him as well.
No. 43 -- Henry Poggi, DL: Baltimore, Maryland -- A front-seven player that’s got elite offers, Poggi caught the Irish’s victory over Maryland at FedEx Field last year.
No. 50 -- Garrett Sickels, LB: Little Silver, New Jersey -- A great list of offers for this New Jersey native with a really good profile for an outside linebacker in the Irish system. Looks like an impressive athlete.
No. 59 -- Ahmad Fulwood, WR: Jacksonville, Florida -- Fulwood has had an Irish offer since before his junior season and has the elite of college football chasing the 6-4 speedster. He expressed interest in visiting South Bend, but hasn’t gotten to campus yet.
No. 60 -- Kyle Bosch, OT: Wheaton, Illinois -- The Irish were slow to offer Bosch, but that changed when Harry Hiestand connected with the Illinois native after coming aboard. Notre Dame should be in this until the end.
No. 85 -- Jaynard Bostwick, DL: Port Saint Lucie, Florida -- Bostwick is likely a defensive end in Notre Dame’s system with the chance to slide inside depending on the front. He’s talked about setting up a visit at Notre Dame after being offered by the Irish in December.
No. 90 -- Ryan Green, RB: St. Petersburg, Florida -- Green was in South Bend for the Irish’s dominating win over Air Force. He’ll likely have Notre Dame in the running for his services until the end, but will also weigh offers from the power Florida schools and other powers as well.
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For those keeping track, that’s 26 players from Rivals’ debut list -- 14 of the top 30 players in the country -- that have scholarship offers from the Irish. Notre Dame has also offered a dozen more players that they’ve evaluated as better fits for their program.
It might be tough sledding for the Irish to close the deal on a majority of these recruits, but at the very least, you get to dispel the notion that the Irish don’t have access to the best talent in the country. With an early start on most of these players, Notre Dame will push to get as many to campus as soon as possible, building up a familiarity with the school that will be better than simply getting one-shot on an official visit weekend.