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National Signing Day 2016: Notre Dame football recruiting class

By Dustin Hull

Dec 30, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly prior to the game against the LSU Tigers in the Music City Bowl at LP Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly prior to the game against the LSU Tigers in the Music City Bowl at LP Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Who did the Notre Dame Fighting Irish get in their 2016 recruiting class?

Fresh off signing a new contract extension, head coach Brian Kelly is ready to close out the Notre Dame 2016 recruiting class on a high note. And he’ll have a few chances to do so.

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Their highly aggressive pursuit of five-star wide receiver Demetrius Robinson (a former Alabama commit) could pay dividends, as well as the continuous pressure they’re putting on Oklahoma for linebacker recruit Caleb Kelly. With Jaylon Smith off to the NFL, the would fit a need for Notre Dame sooner rather than later, and that could definitely appeal to the No. 3 outside linebacker.

But whether Notre Dame is able to pick up either of those highly regarded recruits, coach Kelly has put together a top-10 class that starts with incredible talent in the trenches. Notre Dame possesses two of the top-10 offensive tackles in the country, with Tommy Kraemer (3) and Liam Eichenberg (7) having already committed.

These are huge signings for the Fighting Irish considering they’re losing prized left tackle Ronnie Stanley to the NFL along with center Nick Martin. Notre Dame has always had good depth on the line, but these talented incoming freshmen could see playing time before long.

Other future impact players for Notre Dame include wide receivers Javon McKinley and 6’5″ Chase Claypool. If those two four-star wideouts are joined by Robinson, this will likely become one of the most loaded receiving groups in the country.

And it wouldn’t hurt to have the LB Kelly either, as he’d be joining a class that already has Daelin Hayes, the nation’s No. 10 OLB who’s already enrolled in South Bend.

More saturday blitz: Top 10 classes headed into National Signing Day

However, Notre Dame will have stiff competition from the Sooners, who look to be the favorite as signing day rolls on into early evening (8:30 EST) Wednesday for the announcement of where Kelly will play.

Will the Notre Dame recruiting class result in a College Football Playoff berth in the next four years for the Fighting Irish?

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