Sports

Fencing: DeSmet aims for second NCAA championship

Hunter Bivin

HUNTER BIVIN Offensive Lineman 6'6" • 290 Apollo High School Owensboro, Ky. Ranked as one of the top tackles in the country, Hunter Bivin committed to Notre Dame in March, selecting the Irish over Florida, Ohio State and Oklahoma, among others. With his 6-foot-6, 290-pound frame, Bivin has the ability to overpower his opponents with raw strength. Although he struggles with his footwork at times, he displayed good agility and technique at the Under Armour All-American Bowl in January. Bivin largely lined up as a left tackle in high school but demonstrated the ability to play different positions on the line. He even saw some snaps at center, a rarity for a player of his size. Bivin projects to play inside at Notre Dame. Bivin still needs to put on more weight and strength, but he could find himself in mop-up duty as early as next season.

Hockey: Frosty relations

Mike Heuerman

Mike Heuerman Tight End 6'4" • 220 Barron Collier High School Naples, Fla. Brian Kelly and the Irish managed to snag tight end Mike Heuerman from the clutches of Urban Meyer and Ohio State. The four-star tight end from Barron Collier High School in Naples, Fla., cited tradition and the campus community as reasons for choosing Notre Dame over Ohio State, LSU and several other schools. Heuerman stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 220 pounds. He is already a talented and dominant blocker with the potential to do even more damage on the outside once he fills out his tall frame. He plays smart and adjusts quickly when blocking. Heuerman also runs a swift 4.69-second 40-yard dash. That speed coupled with his height will make him a big challenge to cover and a formidable receiving threat.  

Recruits adopt 'Mob' mentality

The 24 incoming players who make up the Irish class of 2013 hail from as far east as Massachusetts and as far west as California. But despite being separated by distance, the group has been united for months under one defining moniker.

Tarean Folston

TareanFolston Running Back 5'9" • 190 Cocoa High School Cocoa, Fla. TareanFolston is the faster of Notre Dame's two running back recruits from the Sunshine State, and his 4.48-second speed in the 40-yard dash will be an asset in the Irish spread running game. And as fast as Folston is, he's even quicker in his cuts. Where other shifty players may "jump cut" around would-be tacklers, Folston drives into every move, coming out of a cut with more momentum than he had going into it. He can string out plays and beat other players to the edge, or at a moment's notice decisively drive into a hole, where he does not shy away from contact. With his elite quickness and skills both running and receiving the football, Folston should join upperclassmen like George Atkinson III and Davonte' Neal as versatile, explosive weapons in the Irish offense.

Isaac Rochell

Isaac Rochell Defensive End 6'4" • 250 Eagles Landing Christian Academy McDonough, Ga. Isaac Rochell played both offensive and defensive line in high school but will join the Irish ranks as a defensive end. Rochell received offers from the likes of Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Oklahoma but committed to the Irish in June and will add considerable depth to the defensive line. ESPN rates him as a four-star prospect and the 13th best defensive end in the country. The 250-pounder has a knack for getting in the backfield and is relentless in pursuing the quarterback. He recorded seven sacks and 24 tackles for loss during his junior year. Rochell already has the speed and size to compete in college but can still add bulk to improve his strength.  

Allen: 2012 momentum carries into 2013 (Feb. 7)

Recruiting is a college football fan's most dangerous game.

Kelly introduces class of 24 signed recruits

Irish coach Brian Kelly arrived at the Signing Day press conference looking relaxed after a tumultuous month that included a blowout loss to Alabama, a flirtation with the Philadelphia Eagles and the MantiTe'o controversy.

Jaylon Smith

Jaylon Smith Outside Linebacker 6'3" • 212 Bishop Luers High School Fort Wayne, Ind. Rated the No. 7 overall prospect in the country by ESPN, Jaylon Smith is widely considered the top outside linebacker prospect in the nation. The extremely athletic Smith has both the speed to cover receivers and the block-shedding ability to pressure the quarterback, and he could play either the cat or dog linebacker position in Irish defensive coordinator Bob Diaco's scheme. Irish coach Brian Kelly said Wednesday that Smith will challenge for playing time at the dog position.Smith is a good tackler but could also add muscle to his frame to increase his strength.Smith, the only Indiana signee for the Irish in the 2013 class, won a state championship all four years of high school at Fort Wayne's Bishop Luers. Though he also played running back for the Knights, he projects solely as a defensive player at Notre Dame.

Max Redfield

Max Redfield Safety 6'2" • 181 Mission Viejo High School Mission Viejo, Calif. Max Redfield, a 6-foot-2 athlete out of Mission Viejo, Calif., has promising size that profiles well at the safety position. The former USC commit pledged to join Notre Dame at the Under Armour All-American Game on Jan. 4 in Tampa, Fla. The No. 23 overall player in the nation according to ESPN, Redfield has the speed and quickness to make plays in pass coverage as well as the size and strength to step up into the box and defend the run. Redfield could play receiver at the collegiate level as well and, as a result, he has solid ball skills for a defensive back. Though already very polished, Redfield still has a high ceiling.

Greg Bryant

Greg Bryant Running Back 5'11" • 197 American Heritage School Boca-Delray Delray Beach, Fla. Greg Bryant is one of the highest-ranked recruits in this year's class, and fills almost all of the criteria for an elite young back. The 5-foot-11-inch, 197-pound Bryant has an ideal body for the grind of college football and makes full use of it. He can pound through arm tackles inside and has the vision to turn two-yard gains into first downs. And while Bryant is comfortable running inside, he should not be pigeonholed as a power runner. With a combination of vision and moves, Bryant is elusive enough to evade linebackers and fast enough to break open big plays when he reaches the second level. With the graduation of seniors Cierre Wood and Theo Riddick, the well-rounded Bryant could challenge George Atkinson III and Amir Carlisle for carries this fall.  

Torii Hunter Jr.

TORII HUNTER JR. Receiver 6'0" • 172 Prosper High School Prosper, Texas Torii Hunter, Jr. seems to have inherited his father's Gold Glove-caliber hands along with his name. The wide receiver out of Prosper (Texas) High School can make just about any catch, whether he's stuck in traffic or wide open in the end zone. Once he gets the ball in his hands he's adept at finding the gaps and outrunning his opponents, but he doesn't shy away from contact - although primarily an offensive player, his high school highlights include a bone-jarring tackle. Hunter committed to Notre Dame in September, but it might be a while before Irish fans get to see him in action. He suffered a gruesome broken leg a month ago during one-on-one drills before the Army All-American bowl and still has five to seven months of recovery before he can play again.

Steve Elmer

Steve Elmer Offensive Tackle 6'6" • 305 Midland High School Midland, Mich. Steve Elmer is a dominant force on the field. In high school he played both defensive line and left tackle and made a difference on both sides of the ball. The collective force of his 6-foot-6-inch, 300-pound body is nearly impossible to overcome on the high school level and profiles well at the major collegiate level. His size and strength allow him to make holes for his quarterback and running backs by sheer force. He doesn't just stop the other team from getting to the quarterback, he tends to push them back several feet or more. Elmer projects as a stout offensive tackle for the Irish and has a high ceiling.

John Montelus

John Montelus Offensive Lineman 6'5" • 314 Everett High School Everett, Mass.

Hartnett: The case for the Classic (Feb. 7)

Eddie Vanderdoes

Eddie Vanderdoes Defensive Lineman 6'3" • 310 Placer High School Auburn, Calif. Rated as the No. 10 player in the country by ESPN, Eddie Vanderdoes is a physical force who profiles as the type of top defensive line talent Notre Dame has attracted in the past few years. At 6-foot-3 and 310 pounds, Vanderdoes has the quickness and pass-rush ability to play defensive end to go along with the size and power to play inside in any defensive scheme. A former USC commit, Vanderdoes became interested in the Irish late in the recruiting process and chose to go to Notre Dame over UCLA and Alabama. Vanderdoes, who hails from Auburn, Calif., will push current Notre Dame sophomores Jarron Jones and Sheldon Day for playing time along the defensive line and is widely expected to be able to make an early impact.

Expert lauds incoming recruiting class

Notre Dame built on its landmark 2012 season Wednesday as it received the National Letters of Intent for 24 recruits making up its 2013 recruiting class. The group includes nine members of the elite ESPN150 and is ranked as the No. 4 class in the country by ESPN, trailing only Florida, Ohio State and Alabama.

SMC Basketball: Poor shooting doom Belles

Doug Randolph

Doug Randolph Linebacker 6'3" • 221 Woodberry Forest High School Woodberry Forest, Va. A four-star recruit from Virginia, outside linebacker Doug Randolph's game centers on his strength and athleticism. He is a quick, resilient pass rusher whose agility allows him to maneuver in between offensive linemen in pursuit of the quarterback. Randolph plays hard from whistle to whistle, bursting off the line at the snap and not stopping until he takes down the ball carrier. With his strength, Randolph often pushes through blocks and double teams, capping off the play with a tackle for loss. Randolph also spent time on the other side of the ball as a tight end. Aided by his powerful build and steady hands, Randolph is most effective with mid- to long-range passes and as an alert blocker for his backs.