It's national signing day, and 23 players have signed their national letters of intent to play football for Notre Dame.
Notre Dame adds six defensive linemen, four defensive backs, four linebackers, three offensive linemen, two wide receivers, one quarterback, one running back, one tight end and one kicker/punter.
Defensive ends Aaron Lynch and Ishaq Williams, QB Everett Golson, lineman Brad Carrico and K/P Kyle Bridza are already in school, enrolling early in the spring semester, and are eligible to participate in spring practice.
Aaron Lynch
DE
High School: Island Coast (Cape Coral, Fla.)
Height: 6-foot-6.
Weight: 251 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.69 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 305 pounds.
Senior Stats: Had 16 sacks and 29 tackles for loss.
Other Schools: Florida State and Florida.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Real.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: The day I really had a great talk with coach Kelly.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: The way they tore up my state team.
Notable: Lynch originally committed to ND in July before switching to FSU in November. He flipped back to the Irish last month.
Anthony Rabasa
OLB/DE
High School: Columbus (Miami)
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 220 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.7 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 295 pounds.
Senior Stats: Had 40 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 9.5 tackles for loss, 14 QB hurries, two forced fumbles and two fumbles recovered.
Other Schools: Oregon, LSU, Florida and Florida State.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Genius.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: The tradition is outstanding, and not like any other school. ... I could not let the opportunity go.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: Exciting. I am at a sports bar in Miami with my family, and all my friends have on University of Miami gear. Everyone in the bar is UM. We score two touchdowns. By halftime, I didn't see anybody. It was awesome.
Ben Councell
OLB/DE
High School: A.C. Reynolds (Asheville, N.C.)
Height: 6-foot-6.
Weight: 225 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.49 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 315 pounds.
Senior Stats: Recorded 141 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries (both returned for touchdowns) and two blocked kicks.
Other Schools: South Carolina, Georgia Tech and North Carolina.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Devoted.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: When I got to meet other recruits (on a December visit) and we got to bond with each other and you could see they brought in a certain type of player.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: Was seeing how much they improved since the beginning of the season. It was cool to see what the coaches said.
Notable: Councell also plays lacrosse.
Ben Koyack
TE
High School: Oil City (Pa.).
Height: 6-foot-5.
Weight: 240 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.65 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 280 pounds.
Senior Stats: Caught 62 passes for 1,031 yards and scored 12 touchdowns.
Other Schools: Penn State, Ohio State and West Virginia.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Motivational.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: After the spring game.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: The program is definitely on the rise.
Notable: Koyack won first place in the state track and field meet in the javelin.
Brad Carrico
DE/OL
High School: Coffman (Dublin, Ohio)
Height: 6-foot-6.
Weight: 275 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.9 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 350 pounds.
Senior Stats: Recorded 74 tackles and eight sacks as a junior. Moved to offensive line as senior and then back to defense after seven games due to a sprained MCL and had 13 tackles and one sack.
Other Schools: Michigan, Michigan State and West Virginia.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Intense.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: The moment they offered me.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: Notre Dame is back. We are coming back. That was just the start of it.
Notable: Carrico began his high school career as a quarterback.
Cam McDaniel
RB
High School: Coppell (Texas)
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 190 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.4 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 260 pounds.
Senior Stats: Rushed for 1,584 yards and 31 TDs, averaging 6.8 per carry. Caught 25 passes for 331 yards and two TDs, averaged 47.6 yards on five punt returns.
Other Schools: Stanford, Iowa, Iowa State and Minnesota.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Excellent.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: When coach Kelly came to my school and offered me.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: That coach Kelly had gotten things on a roll and he was basically building that excellence all over.
Notable: McDaniel loves to hunt and fish.
Chase Hounshell
OL/DL
High School: Lake Catholic (Kirtland, Ohio)
Height: 6-foot-6.
Weight: 265 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.8 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 335 pounds.
Senior Stats: Recorded 60 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and 12 pass break-ups.
Other Schools: Florida.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Intense.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: When coach Kelly came to my house and basically told me I was a perfect fit for Notre Dame, and that moment I realized I was.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: Impressed.
Notable: Hounshell's older brother, Chad, is an offensive lineman at Central Florida.
Conor Hanratty
OL
High School: New Canaan (Conn.)
Height: 6-foot-5.
Weight: 290 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 5.4 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 320 pounds.
Senior Stats: Allowed one sack in three years while playing in a spread offense that threw often.
Other Schools: Cal, Boston College and Wisconsin.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Enthusiastic.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: When I went to the campus for the spring game.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: The performance shows how promising the future is.
Notable: Is the son of former Notre Dame All-American and Pittsburgh Steelers QB Terry Hanratty.
DaVaris Daniels
WR
High School: Vernon Hills (Ill.)
Height: 6-foot-3.
Weight: 180 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.44 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 310 pounds.
Senior Stats: Caught 23 passes for 513 yards and five TDs, rushed 59 times for 637 yards and 10 TDs, completed 11 of 23 passes for 173 yards and one TD, returned seven punts for 214 yards and two TDs, returned five kickoffs for 93 yards, had six interceptions for 143 yards and one TD, blocked one field goal and returned it for a TD, made 20 tackles.
Other Schools: Miami.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Energetic.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: When they hired coach Kelly.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: You gotta work.
Notable: Daniels' father, Phillip, plays for the Washington Redskinsr. Daniels has a 42-inch vertical jump.
Eilar Hardy
DB
High School: Pickerington (Ohio) Central.
Height: 6-foot.
Weight: 180 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.5 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 250 pounds.
Senior Stats: Returned one interception for a TD, had 62 tackles, 30 carries, 340 yards and seven TDs.
Other Schools: Michigan State, Washington, Kentucky and Arizona.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Exciting, great guy.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: After I took my second visit (in June). After that, I couldn't pass it up.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: I know (coach Brian) Kelly has it going in the right direction, and I can't wait to be a part of this.
Notable: Kelly recruited Hardy when he was the head coach at Cincinnati.
Everett Golson
QB
High School: Myrtle Beach (S.C.)
Height: 6-foot.
Weight: 170 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.7 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 230 pounds.
Senior Stats: Passes for 1,770 yards and 25 TDs despite missing eight games because of an ankle injury.
Other Schools: North Carolina.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Straight-forward.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: When I left on my official visit.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: Just them going into (that game) and winning put a stamp on the program.
Notable: Golson plans to join the Irish basketball team next season.
George Atkinson III
ATH
High School: Granada (Livermore, Calif.).
Height: 6-foot-2.
Weight: 195 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.4 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 290 pounds.
Senior Stats: Ran for 1,669 yards and 17 TDs, had 678 receiving yards with six TDs, recorded 23 tackles with one interception.
Other Schools: Oregeon, Miami, Alabama and USC.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Determined.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: When I stepped on the campus.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: The lasting impression was we're going to turn this place around.
Notable: Atkinson, the son of former Oakland Raider George Atkinson II, will be joined at ND by twin brother Josh.
Ishaq Williams
OLB/DE
High School: Lincoln (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Height: 6-foot-6.
Weight: 220 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.5 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 305 pounds.
Senior Stats: Recorded eight sacks in helping team to New York Public Schools Athletic League title game.
Other Schools: Penn State and Syracuse.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Energetic.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: When coach Diaco came to my house at 4:30 in the morning.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: We're just going to get better.
Notable: Williams comes from the same high school as current NBA players Sebastian Telfair and Lance Stephenson. Former NBA star Stephon Marbury also attended Lincoln.
Jalen Brown
CB
High School: Lincoln MacArthur (Irving, Texas)
Height: 6-foot-1.
Weight: 185 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.4 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 265 pounds.
Senior Stats: Made 24 tackles, had three pass break-ups.
Other Schools: Texas A&M and Nebraska.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Awesome.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: In the summertime, I had a great bond with the coaches and felt comfortable and I knew.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: That we would have high expectations next year and we would be great in the future.
Notable: Brown was born in Louisiana and lived there until age 5.
Jarrett Grace
LB
High School: Colerain (Cincinnati)
Height: 6-foot-4.
Weight: 240 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.65 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 335 pounds.
Senior Stats: Had 69 tackles and four sacks.
Other Schools: Cincinnati.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Charismatic.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: The moment they offered me, Jan. 7, 2010.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: That they are well on their way to becoming an elite national program again.
Notable: Grace is a four-year starter in basketball.
Josh Atkinson
CB
High School: Granada (Livermore, Calif.).
Height: 6-foot.
Weight: 180 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.47 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 285 pounds.
Senior Stats: Recorded 20 tackles and 11 pass breakups.
Other Schools: Washington, USC, Utah and Oregon State.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Competitive.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: When I took my official visit.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: We're going to be good.
Notable: Atkinson will play in Wednesday's Team USA vs. The World Game.
Kyle Brindza
K/P
High School: Plymouth (Canton, Mich.)
Height: 6-foot-2½.
Weight: 220 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.7 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 315 pounds.
Senior Stats: Averaged 44.9 yards per punt, made 19 of 26 field goals, including 6 of 9 from 50-plus, and 64 of 72 kickoffs were touchbacks. Helped his team to a second-place finish in the state.
Other Schools: Michigan and Vanderbilt.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Fierce.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: When I was born.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: BCS caliber next year.
Notable: Brindza, who also plays soccer, was born with clubfoot, a common birth defect in which the foot is positioned at an angle to the ankle. The surgery to correct it placed him in a cast the first two years of his life.
Matt Hegarty
OL
High School: Aztec (N.M.)
Height: 6-foot-5.
Weight: 287 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 5.1 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 300 pounds.
Senior Stats: Had 81 pancake blocks and allowed no sacks in 368 pass attempts.
Other Schools: Texas, Stanford and USC.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Disciplined.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: Visiting the campus for the first time and seeing the vision of the potential with the new staff.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: Momentum for the offseason to continue the winning and build a powerhouse again.
Matthias Farley
CB
High School: Christian (Charlotte, N.C.)
Height: 6-foot.
Weight: 200 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.4 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 310 pounds.
Senior Stats: Caught 40 passes for 700 yards. Had one interception, two pass break-ups and 45 tackles.
Other Schools: Wisconsin, North Carolina State and UCLA.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Winner.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: The second they called me honestly.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: It was a glimpse of the future. Things clicked so well and everyone bought into coach Kelly's system and the team is playing really, really well together, and that shows.
Notable: Farley played soccer in high school before joining the football team his junior year.
Tony Springmann
DE
High School: Bishop Dwenger (Fort Wayne, Ind.)
Height: 6-foot-7.
Weight: 265 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.8 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 315 pounds.
Senior Stats: Had 82 tackles, four sacks and one touchdown in helping Dwenger to a second-place finish in Indiana Class 4A.
Other Schools: Stanford and Michigan State.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Intense.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: When I was 10 years old and went to the first game there I remember.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: Notre Dame is back.
Notable: Springmann comes from the same high school as current Irish players John Goodman and Tyler Eifert.
DE
High School: Island Coast (Cape Coral, Fla.)
Height: 6-foot-6.
Weight: 251 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.69 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 305 pounds.
Senior Stats: Had 16 sacks and 29 tackles for loss.
Other Schools: Florida State and Florida.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Real.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: The day I really had a great talk with coach Kelly.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: The way they tore up my state team.
Notable: Lynch originally committed to ND in July before switching to FSU in November. He flipped back to the Irish last month.
Anthony Rabasa
OLB/DE
High School: Columbus (Miami)
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 220 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.7 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 295 pounds.
Senior Stats: Had 40 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 9.5 tackles for loss, 14 QB hurries, two forced fumbles and two fumbles recovered.
Other Schools: Oregon, LSU, Florida and Florida State.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Genius.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: The tradition is outstanding, and not like any other school. ... I could not let the opportunity go.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: Exciting. I am at a sports bar in Miami with my family, and all my friends have on University of Miami gear. Everyone in the bar is UM. We score two touchdowns. By halftime, I didn't see anybody. It was awesome.
Ben Councell
OLB/DE
High School: A.C. Reynolds (Asheville, N.C.)
Height: 6-foot-6.
Weight: 225 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.49 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 315 pounds.
Senior Stats: Recorded 141 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries (both returned for touchdowns) and two blocked kicks.
Other Schools: South Carolina, Georgia Tech and North Carolina.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Devoted.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: When I got to meet other recruits (on a December visit) and we got to bond with each other and you could see they brought in a certain type of player.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: Was seeing how much they improved since the beginning of the season. It was cool to see what the coaches said.
Notable: Councell also plays lacrosse.
Ben Koyack
TE
High School: Oil City (Pa.).
Height: 6-foot-5.
Weight: 240 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.65 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 280 pounds.
Senior Stats: Caught 62 passes for 1,031 yards and scored 12 touchdowns.
Other Schools: Penn State, Ohio State and West Virginia.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Motivational.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: After the spring game.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: The program is definitely on the rise.
Notable: Koyack won first place in the state track and field meet in the javelin.
Brad Carrico
DE/OL
High School: Coffman (Dublin, Ohio)
Height: 6-foot-6.
Weight: 275 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.9 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 350 pounds.
Senior Stats: Recorded 74 tackles and eight sacks as a junior. Moved to offensive line as senior and then back to defense after seven games due to a sprained MCL and had 13 tackles and one sack.
Other Schools: Michigan, Michigan State and West Virginia.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Intense.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: The moment they offered me.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: Notre Dame is back. We are coming back. That was just the start of it.
Notable: Carrico began his high school career as a quarterback.
Cam McDaniel
RB
High School: Coppell (Texas)
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 190 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.4 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 260 pounds.
Senior Stats: Rushed for 1,584 yards and 31 TDs, averaging 6.8 per carry. Caught 25 passes for 331 yards and two TDs, averaged 47.6 yards on five punt returns.
Other Schools: Stanford, Iowa, Iowa State and Minnesota.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Excellent.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: When coach Kelly came to my school and offered me.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: That coach Kelly had gotten things on a roll and he was basically building that excellence all over.
Notable: McDaniel loves to hunt and fish.
Chase Hounshell
OL/DL
High School: Lake Catholic (Kirtland, Ohio)
Height: 6-foot-6.
Weight: 265 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.8 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 335 pounds.
Senior Stats: Recorded 60 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and 12 pass break-ups.
Other Schools: Florida.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Intense.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: When coach Kelly came to my house and basically told me I was a perfect fit for Notre Dame, and that moment I realized I was.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: Impressed.
Notable: Hounshell's older brother, Chad, is an offensive lineman at Central Florida.
Conor Hanratty
OL
High School: New Canaan (Conn.)
Height: 6-foot-5.
Weight: 290 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 5.4 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 320 pounds.
Senior Stats: Allowed one sack in three years while playing in a spread offense that threw often.
Other Schools: Cal, Boston College and Wisconsin.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Enthusiastic.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: When I went to the campus for the spring game.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: The performance shows how promising the future is.
Notable: Is the son of former Notre Dame All-American and Pittsburgh Steelers QB Terry Hanratty.
DaVaris Daniels
WR
High School: Vernon Hills (Ill.)
Height: 6-foot-3.
Weight: 180 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.44 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 310 pounds.
Senior Stats: Caught 23 passes for 513 yards and five TDs, rushed 59 times for 637 yards and 10 TDs, completed 11 of 23 passes for 173 yards and one TD, returned seven punts for 214 yards and two TDs, returned five kickoffs for 93 yards, had six interceptions for 143 yards and one TD, blocked one field goal and returned it for a TD, made 20 tackles.
Other Schools: Miami.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Energetic.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: When they hired coach Kelly.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: You gotta work.
Notable: Daniels' father, Phillip, plays for the Washington Redskinsr. Daniels has a 42-inch vertical jump.
Eilar Hardy
DB
High School: Pickerington (Ohio) Central.
Height: 6-foot.
Weight: 180 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.5 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 250 pounds.
Senior Stats: Returned one interception for a TD, had 62 tackles, 30 carries, 340 yards and seven TDs.
Other Schools: Michigan State, Washington, Kentucky and Arizona.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Exciting, great guy.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: After I took my second visit (in June). After that, I couldn't pass it up.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: I know (coach Brian) Kelly has it going in the right direction, and I can't wait to be a part of this.
Notable: Kelly recruited Hardy when he was the head coach at Cincinnati.
Everett Golson
QB
High School: Myrtle Beach (S.C.)
Height: 6-foot.
Weight: 170 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.7 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 230 pounds.
Senior Stats: Passes for 1,770 yards and 25 TDs despite missing eight games because of an ankle injury.
Other Schools: North Carolina.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Straight-forward.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: When I left on my official visit.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: Just them going into (that game) and winning put a stamp on the program.
Notable: Golson plans to join the Irish basketball team next season.
George Atkinson III
ATH
High School: Granada (Livermore, Calif.).
Height: 6-foot-2.
Weight: 195 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.4 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 290 pounds.
Senior Stats: Ran for 1,669 yards and 17 TDs, had 678 receiving yards with six TDs, recorded 23 tackles with one interception.
Other Schools: Oregeon, Miami, Alabama and USC.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Determined.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: When I stepped on the campus.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: The lasting impression was we're going to turn this place around.
Notable: Atkinson, the son of former Oakland Raider George Atkinson II, will be joined at ND by twin brother Josh.
Ishaq Williams
OLB/DE
High School: Lincoln (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Height: 6-foot-6.
Weight: 220 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.5 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 305 pounds.
Senior Stats: Recorded eight sacks in helping team to New York Public Schools Athletic League title game.
Other Schools: Penn State and Syracuse.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Energetic.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: When coach Diaco came to my house at 4:30 in the morning.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: We're just going to get better.
Notable: Williams comes from the same high school as current NBA players Sebastian Telfair and Lance Stephenson. Former NBA star Stephon Marbury also attended Lincoln.
Jalen Brown
CB
High School: Lincoln MacArthur (Irving, Texas)
Height: 6-foot-1.
Weight: 185 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.4 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 265 pounds.
Senior Stats: Made 24 tackles, had three pass break-ups.
Other Schools: Texas A&M and Nebraska.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Awesome.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: In the summertime, I had a great bond with the coaches and felt comfortable and I knew.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: That we would have high expectations next year and we would be great in the future.
Notable: Brown was born in Louisiana and lived there until age 5.
Jarrett Grace
LB
High School: Colerain (Cincinnati)
Height: 6-foot-4.
Weight: 240 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.65 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 335 pounds.
Senior Stats: Had 69 tackles and four sacks.
Other Schools: Cincinnati.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Charismatic.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: The moment they offered me, Jan. 7, 2010.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: That they are well on their way to becoming an elite national program again.
Notable: Grace is a four-year starter in basketball.
Josh Atkinson
CB
High School: Granada (Livermore, Calif.).
Height: 6-foot.
Weight: 180 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.47 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 285 pounds.
Senior Stats: Recorded 20 tackles and 11 pass breakups.
Other Schools: Washington, USC, Utah and Oregon State.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Competitive.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: When I took my official visit.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: We're going to be good.
Notable: Atkinson will play in Wednesday's Team USA vs. The World Game.
Kyle Brindza
K/P
High School: Plymouth (Canton, Mich.)
Height: 6-foot-2½.
Weight: 220 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.7 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 315 pounds.
Senior Stats: Averaged 44.9 yards per punt, made 19 of 26 field goals, including 6 of 9 from 50-plus, and 64 of 72 kickoffs were touchbacks. Helped his team to a second-place finish in the state.
Other Schools: Michigan and Vanderbilt.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Fierce.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: When I was born.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: BCS caliber next year.
Notable: Brindza, who also plays soccer, was born with clubfoot, a common birth defect in which the foot is positioned at an angle to the ankle. The surgery to correct it placed him in a cast the first two years of his life.
Matt Hegarty
OL
High School: Aztec (N.M.)
Height: 6-foot-5.
Weight: 287 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 5.1 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 300 pounds.
Senior Stats: Had 81 pancake blocks and allowed no sacks in 368 pass attempts.
Other Schools: Texas, Stanford and USC.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Disciplined.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: Visiting the campus for the first time and seeing the vision of the potential with the new staff.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: Momentum for the offseason to continue the winning and build a powerhouse again.
Matthias Farley
CB
High School: Christian (Charlotte, N.C.)
Height: 6-foot.
Weight: 200 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.4 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 310 pounds.
Senior Stats: Caught 40 passes for 700 yards. Had one interception, two pass break-ups and 45 tackles.
Other Schools: Wisconsin, North Carolina State and UCLA.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Winner.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: The second they called me honestly.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: It was a glimpse of the future. Things clicked so well and everyone bought into coach Kelly's system and the team is playing really, really well together, and that shows.
Notable: Farley played soccer in high school before joining the football team his junior year.
Tony Springmann
DE
High School: Bishop Dwenger (Fort Wayne, Ind.)
Height: 6-foot-7.
Weight: 265 pounds.
40-Yard Dash: 4.8 seconds.
Bench Press Max: 315 pounds.
Senior Stats: Had 82 tackles, four sacks and one touchdown in helping Dwenger to a second-place finish in Indiana Class 4A.
Other Schools: Stanford and Michigan State.
One Word To Describe Coach Kelly: Intense.
The Moment I Knew I Wanted To Be Irish: When I was 10 years old and went to the first game there I remember.
The Lasting Impression The Sun Bowl Left On Me: Notre Dame is back.
Notable: Springmann comes from the same high school as current Irish players John Goodman and Tyler Eifert.
Stephon Tuitt
DE
High School: Monroe Area (Monroe, GA)
Height: 6-foot-5.
Weight: 270 pounds.
Notable: Ranked second on Rivals strong-side defensive end list and 22nd overall. Led Monroe Area High School in Monroe, Ga., to 11-2 record and third-round appearance in the Georgia Class AAA state playoffs during senior season in 2010, after Monroe Area had finished a combined 0-20 the previous two seasons.
Troy Niklas
TE/DL
High School: Servite (Fullerton, CA)
Height: 6-foot-7.
Weight: 240 pounds.
Notable: Los Angeles Times lineman of the year as senior in 2010, helped Servite to 2009 California state title, rated 215th among all prospects nationally on Rivals.com 250 list.
Nick Martin
OL
High School: Bishop Chatard (Fort Wayne, IN)
Height: 6-foot-4.
Weight: 270 pounds.
Notable: First-team Indiana all-state pick on Associated Press Class 3A team as offensive lineman, helped Bishop Chatard to 2010 Indiana Class 3A state title, rated second-best Class 3A defensive player in Indianapolis area in preseason listings by Indianapolis Star, named to Indiana Football Coaches Association Top 50 all-state team as one of 10 offensive linemen.
High School: Bishop Chatard (Fort Wayne, IN)
Height: 6-foot-4.
Weight: 270 pounds.
Notable: First-team Indiana all-state pick on Associated Press Class 3A team as offensive lineman, helped Bishop Chatard to 2010 Indiana Class 3A state title, rated second-best Class 3A defensive player in Indianapolis area in preseason listings by Indianapolis Star, named to Indiana Football Coaches Association Top 50 all-state team as one of 10 offensive linemen.
Stay with WSBT and wsbt.com for updates throughout the day. We'll hear hear from head coach Brian Kelly tonight on WSBT news at 6.
