NDFB Hoopla

On the heels of National Signing Day, the latest and greatest Notre Dame headlines:

• Irish senior defensive tackle Ian Williams participated in the 2011 Senior Bowl for the North squad, where he impressed with five tackles and one sack.

• Notre Dame welcomed its recruiting class of 2011. Notre Dame signed 23 players from 14 states. Find the official presser at und.com. NDFB gives special recognition to defensive lineman Brad Carrico who was the first in his class to commit to Brian Kelly almost a year ago. Not to mention, Carrico enrolled early at Notre Dame - you have to love and admire his passion for ND.
  

• In the team standings, Notre Dame finished #1 per MaxPreps, #7 per 247sports, #8 per Scout, #9 per Rivals, #9 per ESPN, and #11 per Sporting News.
  

• Signing Day surprises went good and bad for the Irish. The Irish lost a commitment from defensive back Bennett Okotcha to Oklahoma, but gained a commitment from defensive end/tight end Troy Niklas, who picked the Irish over USC.
  

• Speaking of recruiting switches, Notre Dame landed five players that were at one point or another committed to another school: Stephon Tuitt (Georgia Tech), Chase Hounshell (Florida), Aaron Lynch (Florida State), Nick Martin (Kentucky), Everett Golson (North Carolina). Notre Dame saw four prior verbal commitments sign with other schools: Bennett Okotcha (Oklahoma), Jordan Prestwood (Florida State), Justice Hayes (Michigan), and Clay Burton (Florida).
  

• As the Irish usher in a new crop of talent, the door closes on the recruiting class of 2007. ESPN re-evaluated the class of 2007, creating an All-American team based on college success. Notre Dame had two players on that list: WR Golden Tate and LB Brian Smith.
  

• Head Coach Brian Kelly recently announced that WR Bennett Jackson would be switching positions to defensive back. That gives the Irish seven DBs on scholarship: starters Gary Gray and Robert Blanton, sophomores Lo Wood and Jackson, and freshman Eilar Hardy, Jalen Brown, and Josh Atkinson.
  

• In a rare moment of weakness, Notre Dame canceled classes on Wednesday due to weather for the first time in over a decade. For the full report, see this Observer article.