Four roster additions (below)...
All attention has been directed toward the four newest members of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team, but yet, there are still 15 days until National Signing Day on Thursday, February 2.
ESPNU 150's #2 ranked QB Gunner Kiel (6'4, 220 lbs.) DL Sheldon Day (6'2, 286 lbs.), DB Tee Shepard (6'1, 186 lbs.) and RB Amir Carlisle (5'10, 180 lbs.) have all made early-enrollment committments to the University of Notre Dame to continue their academic and athletic careers.
Gunner Kiel (Columbus, IN/Columbus East), is the more highly touted of the four. He is the 2011 Indiana Mr. Football and Gatorade Indiana Player of the Year. This is all brand new news of Gunner's enrollment on campus in South Bend. Before the start of his senior season in 2011, he had committed to play for new head coach Kevin Wilson at Indiana University, where older brother Dusty started his college career. After de-committing to Indiana, Kiel recently spurned National Runner-Up LSU to enroll at Notre Dame today (Tuesday, January 17).
Sheldon Day (Indianapolis, IN/Warren Central) is a 2nd team All-American as chosen by Sports Illustrated. Was named the Indianapolis Star Super Team Player of the Year and the 2011 Indiana Mr. Football Runner-up to future teammate Gunner Kiel. Day helped Warren Central to a high national ranking and was 11-1, with their only loss coming in the 5A Sectional 9 championship game at eventual 5A State Champion Carmel.
Tee Shepard (Fresno, CA/Washington Union) is rated the 3rd best cornerback by scout.com and the 36-ranked player in the nation by maxpreps.com and scout Tom Lemming. After he transferred high schools, Shepard was required to sit out his senior season.
Amir Carlisle (Santa Clara, CA/Kings Academy/USC) has recently transferred to Notre Dame from the University of Southern California, one of the Irish's biggest rivals. He will be a great addition to the offensive backfield. Carlisle saw spotty playing time in 8 games during the 2011 season for the Trojans, so it is unsure if he'll be eligible for the start of the 2012 season. He came to USC as a Parade magazine and Super Prep All-American, gaining 2,110 and scoring 28 TD's as a senior at Kings Academy in Santa Clara. He finished his Kings Academy with 5,108 rushing yards and 73 rushing TD's in just 28 high school games.
2012 outlook for who the Irish have coming back...
OFFENSE
Quarterback
Tommy Rees (JR)
Andrew Hendrix (SO)
Everett Golson (SO)
Gunner Kiel (FR)
Running Back
Cierre Wood (SR)
Theo Riddick (SR)
George Atkinson III (SO)
Amir Carlisle (FR)
Cam McDaniel (SO)
Wide Receiver (Flanker)
Deontay Greenberry (FR)
John Goodman (5th)
Wide Receiver (Split End)
T.J. Jones (JR)
Daniel Smith (JR)
Luke Massa (JR)
Wide Receiver (Slot)
Robby Toma (SR)
DeVaris Daniels (SO)
Tight End
Tyler Eifert (SR)
Ben Koyack (SO)
Alex Welch (JR)
Left Tackle
Zach Martin (SR)
Nick Martin (SO)
Left Guard
Chris Watt (SR)
Tate Nichols (JR)
Center
Braxton Cave (5th)
Mike Golic, Jr. (5th)
Right Guard
Conor Hanratty (SO)
Brad Carrico (SO)
Right Tackle
Christian Lombard (JR)
Jordan Prestwood (SO)
Punter
Ben Turk (SR)
Kicker
Kyle Brindza - kickoffs (SO)
Nick Tausch - PAT/FG (SR)
Punt Returner
Theo Riddick (SR)
Kick Returner
George Atkinson III (SO)
DEFENSE
Defensive End
Stephon Tuitt (SO)
Kapron Lewis-Moore (5th)
Nose Tackle
Louis Nix III (SO)
Sheldon Day (FR)
Sean Cwyner (SR)
Defensive End
Aaron Lynch (SO)
Kona Schwenke (JR)
Outside Linebacker
Prince Shembo (JR)
Danny Spond (JR)
Troy Niklas (SO)
Inside Linebacker
Manti Te'o (SR)
Kendall Moore (JR)
Inside Linebacker
Carlo Calabrese (SR)
Dan Fox (SR)
Outside Linebacker
Ishaq Williams (SO)
Ben Councell (SO)
Cornerback
Bennett Jackson (JR)
Tee Shepard (FR)
Josh Atkinson (SO)
Strong Safety
Jamoris Slaughter (5th)
Austin Collinsworth (JR)
Free Safety
Zeke Motta (SR)
Dan McCarthy (5th)
Cornerback
Lo Wood (JR)
Jalen Brown (SO)
