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  • This Dec. 7, 2011 file photo shows Gunner Kiel, from Columbus East, posing for a photo in Indianapolis. The prized quarterback recruit is joining Notre Dame. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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February 1, 2012

Irish ink crop of blue-chip recruits

Columbus East star QB Kiel is one of three in-state players headed to South Bend

By DAVID VANTRESS THE GOSHEN NEWS

SOUTH BEND —  With a 17-player 2012 recruiting class acnnounced on Tuesday, Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly feels he and his staff have gone a long way toward addressing the team’s most pressing needs.

“Last year our need base relative to our class was centered around the power position,” Kelly said. “I thought we did a great job of addressing that. This year was about that skill level, and especially at the defensive backfield and the wide receiver position, and we feel like we have addressed those needs.”

One of the most prized recruits in this year’s class is an in-state player, Columbus East standout QB Gunner Kiel.

“(Kiel) fits in very well to our offense, somebody that is familiar with the spread, moves his feet very well,” Kelly said. “He really has been impressive to our strength and conditioning staff in his workouts, moves his feet very, very well and has a great focus.”

Kiel originally committed to Indiana University, but decommitted from the Hoosiers recently and then committed to LSU. A few weeks ago, he decommitted from the Tigers and verbally committed to the Irish.

On Tuesday, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Kiel — Indiana’s Mr. Football 2011 — made it official, signing his letter of intent.

Kiel, alone with three other Irish recruits — 5-foot-10, 180-pound USC transfer running back Amir Carlisle; 6-foot-2, 275-pound defensive lineman Shelton Day of Warren Central and wide reciever Tee Shepard of Fresno, Calif. (Washington Union) — are already on the Notre Dame campus, registering and beginning classes in January.

The 2012 class includes recruits from 13 states: three from Indiana;   two   from  North Carolina; and one each from California, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

The remaining recruits are:

• Nick Baratti, DB, 6-2, 200, Tomball, Texas (Klein Oak);

• Chris Brown, WR, 6-2, 175, Hannahan, S.C. (Hanahan);

• Scott Daly, LS, 6-3, 245, Downers Grove, Ill. (South);

• Justin Ferguson, WR, 6-2, 205,Pembroke Pines, Fla. (Flanagan);

• Mark Harrell, OL, 6-5, 270, Charlotte, N.C. (Catholic);

• Jarron Jones, DL, 6-6, 298, Rochester, N.Y. (Aquinas Institute);

• Mill Mahone, RB, 6-0, 210, Austintown, Ohio (Fitch);

• Romeo Okwara, OLB, 6-4, 240, Charlotte, N.C. (Ardrey Kell);

• C.J. Prosise, DB, 6-0, 205, Petersburg, Va. (Woodberry Forrest);

• KeiVarae Russell, RB, 6-0, 177, Everett, Wash. (Mariner);

• Elijah Shumate, DB, 6-1, 205, East Orange, N.J. (Don Bosco Prep);

• Ronnie Stanley, OL, 6-6, 285, Las Vegas, Nev. (Bishop Gorman);

• John Turner, DB, 6-0, 206, Indianapolis (Indianapolis Cathedral);

All of the incoming freshmen — whatever their position — get the same basic message from the Irish staff, Kelly said.

“You better be ready to compete,” Kelly said. “Whether you’re a QB, DB or OL, don’t come to Notre Dame, unless you want to compete.”

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