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Notre Dame football nabs huge commit from 4-star DL

By Greg Hadley

Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver R.J. Shelton (12) runs the ball against Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive back Nick Coleman (24) during the second half a game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver R.J. Shelton (12) runs the ball against Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive back Nick Coleman (24) during the second half a game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /
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With the addition of defensive lineman Donovan Jeter this past week, Notre Dame football proved it is still a top destination despite a rocky start to 2016.

High school kids are fickle. That’s no surprise. And when it comes to recruiting, that can be a blessing and a curse. Recent results may carry an outsized influence, and legacies can be less important than playing time.

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So when Notre Dame football flopped on national TV on one of its biggest recruiting weekends on the year against Michigan State, the inevitable question was: How badly would the loss hurt the Irish on the recruiting trail?

So far, not much at all.

Four-star defensive lineman Donovan Jeter committed to the Irish on Monday after watching firsthand the beatdown Michigan State’s run game laid on ND’s defense.

Jeter is a talented prospect who could do a lot of great things for Notre Dame. At 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, he already has more length than most of the current defensive linemen, though he could stand to add some bulk to his frame, especially if he’s going to play defensive tackle.

If he stays at defensive end, he could develop into a Romeo Okwara-type terror on the edge. He has a lot of power but enough speed to seal the outside of the line.

But as good as Jeter is as a player, the reason his commitment is really huge is the fact that he did not let one loss, which has caused so much angst and self-doubt among the Notre Dame fanbase, to impact his decision. That’s a win for Brian Kelly, who has staked himself to stability and continuity here. A small win, to be sure, but a win nonetheless, and Kelly really isn’t in the position to be picky.

The fact that Jeter is also a defensive player is also significant. With all the uncertainty swirling around defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder’s job security, a recruit could be excused for hesitating to commit fully to Notre Dame. After all, the defensive scheme and coach might be completely different in the not-so-distant future, especially if the fanbase has its way. But Jeter obviously believed VanGorder will be around, or at the very least that Kelly will be able to guide the team forward.

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The Irish now have 18 recruits in the class of 2017 and are ranked sixth in the nation, according to 247Sports. And they’re not done. ND is also in the running for five-star recruit Foster Sarell and several others. So clearly Kelly is doing something right on the recruiting trail. The question then becomes how he will translate that into a top product on the field.

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