Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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football recruiting stances lists and Academic Progress Reports to recruits. The only measure that wasn't passed during the meeting was a suggestion to create one calendar date when recruiting for all sports can legally begin. That will be explored again next spring by the committee. Power Play Freshmen — Michael Deeb Note: The numbers dictate this as one of the prime needs in 2014, although Doug Randolph could get a look here too. Safeties (9) Senior — Austin Collinsworth (2) Juniors — Matthias Farley (3) and Eilar Hardy (3) Sophomores — Chris Badger (4), Nicky Baratti (3), C.J. Prosise (4), Elijah Shumate (3) and John Turner (4) Freshmen — Max Redfield Note: Collinsworth was sidelined in 2012 because of shoulder and back surgery. Cornerbacks (8) Seniors — Bennett Jackson (1) and Lo Wood (2) Juniors — Josh Atkinson (2) and Jalen Brown (3) Sophomores — KeiVarae Russell (3) Freshmen — Devin Butler, Rashard Kinlaw and Cole Luke Note: Wood is back after sitting out 2012 with a torn Achilles. In his place, Russell became a Freshman All-American. Special Teams (2) Seniors — None Juniors — Punter Kyle Brindza (2) Sophomores — Long snapper Scott Daly (4) Freshman — None Note: The addition of preferred walk-ons Andrew Antognoli (punter) and John Chereson (kicker) was a boost. You would think that after signing a full complement of five offensive linemen this February, that area of the team won't be a critical need for the 2014 recruiting cycle. Think again. "We were probably in the red line in terms of critical need," head coach Brian Kelly said of needing to sign five or six offensive linemen — especially two or three tackles — this February. "Next year it won't be quite in the red line of critical need. It'll move into still a need for us to continue to build on the O-line." That's primarily because the Fighting Irish signed only two offensive linemen in the 2012 class (tackle Ronald Stanley and center Mark Harrell) and three from 2011 with interior figures Conor Hanratty, Matt Hegarty and Nick Martin — with Hegarty having undergone heart surgery this past December. Five offensive linemen over two years means there is some make-up work to do for about two straight years. In 2014, the Irish probably will look to sign four more offensive linemen to go with four defensive linemen — the "Power Positions" in coaching vernacular. "This is going to be centered on the O-line and D-line," Kelly said of the 2014 recruiting priorities. How many scholarships are available to give in 2014 can never be answered because there is no crystal ball on who will return for a fifth year, how