Notre Dame Recruiting 2015: Who will contribute right away?

Notre Dame recruiting finished strong. Here are five who will be early difference-makers.

Notre Dame football fans are pleased overall with the 2015 recruiting class. But which of the recruits are most critical to the success of the Irish in 2015?

Justin Yoon. That´s right, the recruit with perhaps the least fanfare is high on the list of making a big impact. Kyle Brindza is gone and Yoon needs to step in right away. His leg strength is as strong as any kicker in the 2015 class. His accuracy at the high school level was tremendous. The only question is whether Yoon will be able to handle the pressure at this level. Look for Brian Kelly to get him a few early attempts to get him acclimated.

More from College Football

“It was definitely a confidence booster,” Yoon said according to Scout.com. “I was there for that reason, to prove myself to ND and also to use it as a confidence booster. I’ve never played in front of that many people. The most I ever got was 100 or 150. Being able to play in front of around 25,000 really changed everything in my outlook. My worries, I don’t really have concerns, the only thing I feel worried about is getting into the atmosphere.”

Mikelti Williams. It is no secret that Notre Dame is thin at safety. With Eilar Hardy gone and Nick Barratti´s status in question, the door is wide open for Williams to step in and make an impact right away. An Indiana native, Williams may shine early playing close to home the way Drue Tranquill did for the Irish in 2014 and Jaylon Smith did in 2013. Getting in-state talent has become a priority for Kelly.

¨It was kind of like a thing, you grow up as a kid, you dream about that day, and it came true for me,” Williams told 247 Sports. “It’s a blessing that I’ll play in front of my family and get a great education and play with some great guys he said according to NBC.com.”

Alize Jones. Although Notre Dame has continued to recruit well at tight end, Jones has the special talent necessary to carry on the tradition that Irish fans are accustomed to. He has the strength to line up inside as blocker, and the versatility to move outside as a receiver, similar to Tyler Eifert. He will be too big for defensive backs to handle and too quick for linebackers. Look for Kelly to use him as a blocker on wide receiver screens.
Tom Loy of Irish247 sports described Jones in this way according to Bleacher Report,

“Jones has got plus speed, outstanding hands and great size, and he has a very good understanding of route running. He ran the entire route tree while he was in high school, so that will help him easily translate to the college game. He is very instinctive. There’s just so much to like about him.”

Tevon Coney. At first glance, you might think the inside linebacker position is stacked, especially with the return of Joe Schmidt. But Coney simply has too much ability to keep of the field. He has the quickness to move outside and is reportedly a skillful blitzer.
Should he make the starting three, Kelly could consider moving James Onwualu to safety, where Notre Dame needs some help. Onwualu´s receiver skills could make him a natural safety. He has the power to move in tight to help against the run, and the athleticism and speed to excel in pass coverage. That would be the second position change for Onwualu, but might ultimately be his best path to the NFL.

Dexter Williams. One of the smoothest transitions from high school to college is at running back. Sure, the Irish have two excellent backs already, but Williams has the vision to find the hole and the burst to get through it. He also has the elusiveness to get outside.

With Notre Dame´s offensive line finally cohesive, the running game should produce right away in 2015. The line manhandled LSU and their acclaimed defensive line in the bowl game. Williams should be a beneficiary. He has shown the desire to contribute right away, expressing his desire not to redshirt.

So there you have five players who may make an immediate impact in 2015 for Notre Dame. That´s not to say that others will not. But because of the make up of the current team, these five are likely to get the chance to make a big difference.

Next: What are the greatest tailgating venues in college football?

More from FanSided

Home/College Football