SPORTSCRACK

NOTRE DAME RECRUITING UPDATE
As we all know Notre Dame has had past struggles, or shall I say deficiencies in recruiting because of the strict academics and the incompetent coaching. But since Charlie Weis, aka God of the Fupa, stepped back on to the Notre Dame campus he has made a world of difference with the on-the-field performance as well as recruiting star athletes off of it. Let's review what the Irish have landed so far in the 2008 class and the possibilities of others to join the fold soon.

QUARTERBACK
Commitments: Dayne Crist
Others offered and status: None. Charlie Weis wrapped up his recruiting for quarterback early when he secured the commitment of Dayne Crist in the spring. The Irish again won a recruiting war for the second consecutive year for a California QB whom USC had also made their #1 target. Crist is an Elite 11 member who at 6'5 and 220 lbs should be ready to step in and compete physically as a freshman in 2008. With Demetrius Jones, Evan Sharpley, and Jimmy Clausen all on scholarship for at least the next two seasons there was only one spot open for a QB and Crist got it. The Irish have expressed interest in #1 recruit Terrelle Pryor but Weis has reportedly told him he would be recruited strictly as a wide receiver.

RUNNINGBACKS
Commitments: None
Others offered and status: Sam McGuffie, Darrell Scott, Carlton Thomas, and Ryan Williams have all been offered. Not a huge concern for most Irish fans since the Irish brought into two great ones in Armando Allen and Robert Hughes last year, I still think Notre Dame needs to get a difference maker at RB every year if they want to be an elite team. For instance you don't see USC and Texas turning down backs. McGuffie reportedly is interested in making a visit to Notre Dame but is seen as a longshot at best with home state Texas A&M the favorite and Michigan also in the running. Scott is consistently ranked the top runningback in the nation but has no significant interest in the Irish at this point. Thomas appears to be the best chance for an Irish commitment. The Florida back has narrowed his schools to five with ND still in it but stiff competition from both Auburn and West Virginia is not a positive sign. Williams is a darkhorse candidate who is being recruited by almost every SEC school but as a defensive back. I think he will stay in the South.

WIDE RECEIVERS
Commitments: John Goodman
Others offered and status: Jonathan Baldwin, Brice Butler, and Michael Floyd. The Irish need to get two of these three after losing out on Arrelious Benn and Greg Little last year. Baldwin would be a perfect fit in the Irish offense. At 6'6, he has the height that most Irish fans want to see similar to Maurice Stovall and Jeff Samardzija. Pitt is going really hard for Baldwin but I think the opportunity to play for the Irish is going to be too hard to turn down especially with the type of offense Charlie Weis runs. Butler is considered the most "college-ready" of the three but is a longshot with USC and FSU (dad played there under Bowden) the clear leaders at this point with an announcement expected to come soon. Floyd has been on the Irish coaching staff and fan's radar for a long time and with good reason. A product of a Notre Dame breeding ground called St. Paul's Cretin-Derham HS in Minnesota, Floyd should be announcing soon for the Irish as he has made numerous visits to campus in the past two years. With Goodman already on board, it would be a dream come true for most Irish faithful if they can secure both Baldwin and Floyd. Do I think they can do it? Yes.

TIGHT ENDS
Commitments: Kyle Rudolph and Joseph Fauria
Others offered and status: None. The Irish will never have a problem recruiting this position as long as Weis is there. Rudolph is ranked the best player overall to have committed to the Irish and is the #1 tight end in the country. Fauria is a top ten overall tight end out of California who will get better as he fills out. Keeping with Weis' philosophy of 2-1-2-1 recruiting of tight ends, don't expect Weis to recruit more than one guy next year for the position.

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
Commitments: Braxston Cave, Lane Clelland, and Mike Golic
Others offered and status: Trevor Robinson is committed to Nebraska but is having second thoughts and today stated he is going to visit both Notre Dame and Michigan. A Nebraska native, Robinson has already visited Notre Dame's campus 5 times and was down to the Irish and Cornhuskers before making his decision a few months back. Another visit is a really good sign for the Irish whom are expected to take no more than five on the offensive line. Matt Patchan is the most highly recruited offensive lineman on the board and I think despite all the efforts to pull him out of state he will stay and go to FSU. Art Forst is out of New Jersey and I believe he will stay on the East Coast when all is said and done. Kenneth Page is a longshot out of South Carolina but if he makes a visit to campus all that could change. The offensive line is looking good right now with Cave, Clelland, and Golic already on board. If the Irish can convince Robinson to switch commitments it could be the final nail in the coffin of a stacked and talented Irish squad on the offensive side of the ball.

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN
Commitments: Sean Cwynar, Omar Hunter, Ethan Johnson, Brandon Newman, and Hafis Williams.
Others offered and status: The Irish needed defensive lineman worst than Johnny Drama needed a break in Hollywood and both seem to have come to fruition. The Irish have always had a tough time recruiting stud d-lineman but all has changed since Rick Minter was fired and Corwin Brown was brought in as his replacement. All four of the guys the Irish have already gotten to commit will compete for immediate playing time as soon as they reach campus. The remaining jewel of the defensive line still available is DT Marcus Forston out of Miami. The Irish have told him they will hold a spot for him until National Signing Day and the rumor is the race is between Miami and Notre Dame. It should get interesting and if it involves Miami it could get dirty. If the Irish can manage to steal Forston out of South Florida it would put the finishing touches on their best defensive line class ever.

LINEBACKERS
Commitments: Darius Fleming, David Posluszny, and Anthony McDonald
Others offered and status: Steven Filer and Etienne Sabino are the two best possibilities with Brendan Beal, Shayne Hale, and Arthur Brown all extreme longshots. Sabino has bumped up his visit to Notre Dame in late July because he wants to enroll early and the fact that Notre Dame is running out of room in terms of scholarships. If he commits as many expect the Irish will be getting another stud linebacker but this time out of Florida. Filer is a Chicago boy who has long been rumored to be a heavy Irish lean. He plans on making another visit to Notre Dame soon and is expected to make his announcement before the season starts so he can concentrate on his senior year of high school football. I have had a weird feeling about Filer for a long time and I could see him going somewhere else especially if Sabino commits on the spot. The Irish have told him they will hold a scholarship offer for him...we will see. If the Irish land just one of the two it's a great linebacker class. If they land both it's an unbelievable linebacker class.

DEFENSIVE BACKS
Commitments: Robert Blanton and Jamoris Slaughter
Others offered and status: Dan McCarthy is on the verge as I write this to committing to either Notre Dame or Ohio State. The Ohio prep safety has a brother(Kyle) who plays football at ND and has seen the campus mumerous times while getting acquainted with the coaches. Cornerback TJ Bryant out of Tallahassee is an extreme longshot but is scheduled to visit the campus at the end of the month. Honestly I don't think too many people are concerned with the defensive back talent at Notre Dame anymore. Blanton and Slaughter were two huge gets out of the South already and they have Gary Gray and Harrison Smith both enrolled this summer. By the way I think Smith is going to be an extremely fun player to watch for ND fans. The kid is just a flat out athlete. If the Irish can land McCarthy it will set them up with great safeties for years to come but it's not a must get like a lineman or linebacker is in my opinion for this class.

ATHLETES
Commitments: None
Others offered and status: Jeremy Brown out of Orlando can play either WR or CB and is expected to pick the Irish at the end of the month. His dad apparently is really pulling for the Irish in this one. Will Hill is the #1 athlete in the country and he remains a longshot. Being from Jersey you would think the Irish have a chance to pull him with Weis connections. I wouldn't bet on it.

So in summary the Irish have 17 commitments and are still in the running for a select few who are the elite of the elite thanks to the recruiting prowess of Charlie Weis and his staff(Corwin Brown especially). I think they are going to finish strong going into the fall and secure guys like LB Etienne Sabino, Athlete Jeremy Brown, safety Danny McCarthy, WR's Michael Floyd and Jonathan Baldwin for sure. Throw in LB Steven Filer, OL Trevor Robinson, and DT Marcus Forston and Notre Dame is looking at quite possibly it's best class ever. Either way it should be an interesting 52 days leading up to the season.