Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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his letter of intent on Feb. 21, but he was well worth the wait. While breaking down the film of a re- cruit there are always areas that will need improvement in order to bring the overall ability of the player to the proper level. This two-time Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year is one of the few whose flaws are not readily apparent. He is able to play ei- ther side of the football, but he's projected to start off his collegiate career at the slot position. Given the situation at cornerback, an unknown area at this point with no re- turning starters, Neal could get on the field the earliest at that position. His ability on special teams and blazing speed should allow him to turn heads early. Shumate only needed to see South Bend one time before knowing that it would be his future home, and he turned town some heavyweights to choose the Irish. Con- sidering the numbers game at the safety position, one of the first-year players will be expected to step up and contribute, if needed. The U.S. Army All-American looks to be the best candidate to do so out of the four-man haul. He's known for be- ing a hard worker and comes from a great high school program. Both assets will help in getting him on the field early, including a shot on special teams with his open-field tackling ability. ON THE FENCE (3): WR Chris Brown, LS Scott Daly and DB C.J. Prosise Brown, a two-time state champion in the triple jump, possesses the tools to contrib- ute early for Notre Dame. He may have had a limited senior season due to shoul- der surgery, but he came back strong in the final half of his senior campaign with multiple star performances. Kelly referred to him as the "steal of the draft" on National Signing Day, and his explosiveness paired with his willingness to compete could find a role for him early, at least on special teams. Daly, who is considered to be the best long snapper nationally in his class, knew Notre Dame was the right fit after he re- ceived the offer. College coaches don't ex- tend scholarships at his position unless an early impact is expected, and he'll be com- peting with senior Jordan Cowart upon his arrival in South Bend. Prosise may have trouble cracking the depth chart early as a safety with veterans like Jamoris Slaughter, Zeke Motta and Austin Collinsworth on the roster, but his return ability on special teams is unde- niable. Whether it's on punts or kickoff returns, he has a special quality that could put him in a position to have an early im- pact. He's also skilled defender that can cover ground in coverage, and his tackling ability could find him a role closer to the line of scrimmage. Kiel, DB Nick Baratti, WR Justin Ferguson, OL Mark Harrell, DL Jarron Jones, RB Will Mahone, LB Romeo Okwara, RB KeiVarae Russell, OL Ronnie Stanley and DB John Turner PROBABLY PRESERVE ELIGIBILITY (10): QB Gunner The chances seem less likely for these players to use a year of eligibility based on the current depth chart, barring injuries at positions that may be more depleted. Blue & Gold Illustrated will revisit this list in the preseason edition after we've had a chance to watch the team during fall camp. ✦ JUNE/JULY 2012 49