John Walters

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Notre Dame football is not giving up talent for Lent. The Irish welcomed 23 players on national signing day in a class that is considered among the top five nationally. Below we present a brief introduction to all these future Fighting Irish. Plus a 24th, a walk-on, whose dad had a decent career as a Domer and beyond.

BRADY QUINN DIVISION: Can start by end of September

Michael Floyd, WR, St. Paul, Minn.
6-3, 200
Two-time Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year is a self-motivated speedster with size. Only used one hand to catch passes during practice as a senior in an effort to improve. Averages 24 ppg in basketball for Cretin-Derham Hall.

Charlie says: "I'm not sure he wouldn't be Mr. Basketball (Minnesota) if he just played basketball."

Kyle Rudolph, TE, Cincinnati, Ohio
6-7, 235
Destined to continue the line of NFL tight ends that included Dave Casper, Ken MacAfee, Mark Bavaro, Anthony Fasano and John Carlson. Gifted athlete who also set his high school's career rebounds record.

Charlie says: "Kyle is All-Everything."

Ethan Johnson, DE, Portland, Ore.
6-4, 265
Considered the best pure player in the Pacific Northwest. Could see playing time immediately depending on the status of both Pat Kuntz (not currently enrolled) and Darrell Hand (medical condition). Missed most of senior season with knee injury, and is currently on his high school's swim team to help rehab it.

Charlie says: "Ethan came here and came and went to camp, and he fell in love with the place, and we fell in love with him."

Dayne Crist, QB, Sherman Oaks, Calif.
6-5, 225
"A lot of people were taken aback when I committed," Crist told the Chicago Tribune. "Why would you go there, (Clausen's) a freshman. The more people get to know me, the more they know it really wasn't that crazy of a decision."

Charlie says: "He threw 16 touchdowns and one interception (last season). I told him that would be okay if he kept that ratio."

Trevor Robinson, OG, Elkhorn, Neb.
6-5, 304
Appeared headed to the Huskers until the coaching situation came unglued. Already enrolled at Notre Dame and taking classes. Considered by some to be the best offensive guard in the country.

Charlie says: "He doesn't look like a freshman when you see him walking around."

ROBERT HUGHES DIVISION: Can contribute by end of season

Sean Cwynar, DL, Woodstock, Ill.
6-4, 283
Won inaugural Mr. Football award in Illinois. His high school roster was the same size as this incoming freshman class. Also served as his team's placekicker. Already enrolled and taking classes at Notre Dame.

Charlie says: Here's a guy who was Mr. Football in the State of Illinois. My other guys from Illinois are kind of mad at that one.

Steve Filer, LB, Chicago
6-2, 230
Irish keeping valve open on the Chicago defense pipeline that has brought them All-Americans such as Chris Zorich, Bryant Young and Tom Zbikowski. Filer was Gatorade Player of the Year in Illinois.

Charlie says: With Steven, he's got size and athleticism to play inside or outside.

Deion Walker, WR, Christchurch, Va.
6-3, 185
Late commit--January 5-- is named for Deion Sanders. His dad was the offensive coordinator at his high school. One recruiting service lists him as the 3rd-best receiver in the nation.

Charlie says: "This kid has got great potential."

Darius Fleming, LB, Chicago
6-4, 220
Accomplished bowler who has rolled a 279. Like Filer, a product of the Chicago Catholic League (St. Rita's). Helped lead team to Class 7A state championship.

Charlie says: "He's an outside pass rusher. I mean, he's going to bring a lot of edge pressure for us."

Robert Blanton, DB, Matthews, N.C.
6-1, 175
Athletic type who hits like a safety and can cover like a corner. Participates in his school's JROTC program.

Charlie says: " This year he had 94 tackles, five interceptions, and he also blocked six kicks, and that did not go unnoticed by our staff."

Braxston Cave, C, Mishawaka, Ind.
6-3, 292
Local product who attends same high school as former Irish and NFL O-lineman Mike Rosenthal. Most instrumental member of this class in terms of creating unity. Can compete as back-up center right away with departure of John Sullivan.

Charlie says: " I mean, Braxston Cave, his mom, I don't know how many pasta dinners she's made, but it seems like every time everyone comes in town, they're all hanging at Braxston's house."

Jonas Gray, RB, Beverly Hills, Mich.
5-11, 214
Only player in this class listed under six feet in height. Only running back signed. Gained 2,614 yards as a senior on 341 carries. Had nearly 25 carries per game. Originally leaned toward Nebraska until the coaching upheaval.

Charlie says: "He's another one of those guys that you guys are going to love because he's another one of those infectious personality types. I mean, he's calling our coaches up last night, making sure everything is going good in recruiting. He's making the phone calls, he's waking coaches up."

Joseph Fauria, TE, Encino, Calif.
6-7, 250
His uncle, Christian Fauria, played for New England Patriots while Weis was on staff there. Met Weis via his uncle when he was a high school frosh at Super Bowl XXIX. Weis, seeing his 6-7, 230 frame at the time, assumed he was a college frosh.

Charlie says: "I'm telling you what, these two tight ends (Rudolph and Fauria) are two tight ends that are going to press to get involved in the mix pretty quickly in their career because they're both big and athletic."

JEFF SAMARDZIJA DIVISION: Give them a year or two

Lane Clelland, OL, Owings Mills, Md.
6-5, 265
Older brother Lance played at Northwestern.

Mike Golic, Jr., OL, West Hartford, Conn.
6-5, 265
Dad is a former Notre Dame team captain who appears each weekday morning on "Mike & Mike" on ESPN2. First player in this class to verbally commit. Did so last spring while on spring break in Italy.

John Goodman, WR, Fort Wayne, Ind.
6-3, 186
Is this Fort Wayne product the second coming of Jeff Samardzija? Played quarterback this season and, according to Weis, believes he could start at that position here, too.

Kapron Lewis-Moore, DE, Weatherford, Texas
6-4, 230
Late addition who originally committed to Texas A&M. Talented basketball player who is currently averaging a double-double.

Dan McCarthy, DB, Youngstown, Ohio
6-2, 190
Gatorade Ohio Player of the Year who led Cardinal Mooney to state title playing both quarterback and safety. Younger brother of current Irish safety Kyle McCarthy.

Anthony McDonald, LB, Sherman Oaks, Calif.
6-3, 220
High school teammate of Dayne Crist. Dad, Mike, played at Southern Cal and as a long snapper in the NFL.

Brandon Newman, DL, Louisville, Ky.
6-1, 305
Had terrific game at Army All-American Bowl. Big body that Irish desperately need in defensive interior.

David Posluszny, LB, Aliquippa, Pa.
6-2, 214
Younger brother of former Butkus Award winner and current Buffalo Bill Paul Posluszny. Missed eleven games in last two years due to injury.

Jamoris Slaughter, DB, Tucker, Ga.
6-1, 180
First player to officially fax in his acceptance. Like Blanton, a versatile DB who can play any position in the secondary.

Hafis Williams, DT, Elizabeth, NJ
6-4, 295
Played not far from where Weis was raised and coached high school ball himself. Part of a state championship team his junior year.

And finally….there's walk-on quarterback Nathan Montana, whose dad, Joe, played a little football here in the mid-Seventies.

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