Notre Dame Football Recruiting: Gunner Kiel and Biggest Coups for Brian Kelly - Bleacher Report

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team may not have secured any 5-Star recruits thus far, but head coach Brian Kelly has stockpiled some impressive talent, particularly the ESPNU 150's No. 2 quarterback in Gunner Kiel.

Kiel, a native of Indiana, decided to stay in his home state after previously choosing LSU. If he pans out as expected, then the Irish could return to prominence in the near future. Including Kiel, here are three top recruits who will help Notre Dame return to national power status.

QB Gunner Kiel

After much waffling, Kiel decided to sign with Notre Dame, and I'm sure Kelly couldn't be any happier. While Tommy Rees figures to start in the immediate future, Kiel has all the tools and measurables to be an elite college quarterback. Essentially all of the top programs in the nation were in on Kiel, so for Kelly to convince him to stay at home, it was certainly a major win for Notre Dame.

It seems like the Irish have had an endless cycle of top quarterback recruits over the past several years such as Brady Quinn, Jimmy Clausen, Dayne Crist and now Kiel. Some have worked out and others haven't, but most would consider Kiel to be the best pure passer in the draft. Kelly is a great offensive coach, so if Kiel lives up to his billing then the Irish are in for a lot of success over the next few years.

WR Justin Ferguson

With wide receiver Michael Floyd moving on to the NFL, Notre Dame's once vast array of offensive weapons is currently a bit thin. One player who could challenge for playing time immediately is 4-Star recruit wide receiver Justin Ferguson. Like Floyd, Ferguson is big bodied at 6'1" and 205 lbs, so he figures to be a matchup problem for opposing defenses.

Which player will have the biggest effect on Notre Dame's future?

Which player will have the biggest effect on Notre Dame's future?

• Gunner Kiel

• Justin Ferguson

• Jarron Jones

• Total votes: 57

Gunner Kiel will need a go-to target whenever he assumes the starting role at Notre Dame, and Ferguson is a good bet to be that guy. Aside from how good Ferguson is likely to be in his own right, Kelly stole him out of Florida right out from under the noses of Florida, Florida State and Miami. Ferguson has SEC size and speed, but he'll be bringing it to Notre Dame.

OT Jarron Jones

Since Notre Dame figures to have a pass-happy offense down the line with Kiel at quarterback, finding a future blindside protector was a must for Kelly. He looks to have found a potentially great one in Jarron Jones of Rochester, N.Y. Jones ranks as New York State's second-best recruit according to the ESPNU 150, so nabbing him out of Big East country was a great recruiting job by Kelly.

Sometimes it can be tough to project how an offensive lineman will develop, but Jones has prototypical size at 6'6" and 295 lbs, and by all accounts he has great athleticism as well. Although Jones may not be as sexy of a signing as Kiel or Ferguson, he could play just as big of a role in how Notre Dame fares in the future.