Notre Dame adds 17 to 2012 football roster

(Notre Dame’s press release on the Irish’s 2012 recruiting class.)

One transfer student and 16 high school seniors will have their names added to the University of Notre Dame football roster in 2012.

The 16 student-athletes who signed National Letters of Intent represent 13 states – three from Indiana, two from North Carolina, plus one each from California, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

As listed by group, Notre Dame adds 10 skill players, four power players, one big skill player and one specialist. As listed by position, Notre Dame adds five defensive backs, two wide receivers, two defensive linemen, two offensive linemen, two running backs, one linebacker, one long snapper and one quarterback.

Four of the 17 players – transfer running back Amir Carlisle and early-enrollee freshmen defensive lineman Sheldon Day, quarterback Gunner Kiel and defensive back Tee Shepard – enrolled at the University in January and are taking classes. They will participate in Notre Dame’s spring football practices that begin March 21. The other 13 players have signed national letters of intent and will arrive on campus by June 18 for the start of summer school.

Among the 16 players that will be freshmen for the Irish this fall are:

- Four who were selected for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio: DL Jarron Jones, QB Gunner Kiel, RB KeiVarae Russell and DB Elijah Shumate.

- Five who played in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl in Phoenix: DL Sheldon Day, WR Justin Ferguson, OL Mark Harrell, DB Tee Shepard and OL Ronnie Stanley.

- Nine members of the SuperPrep All-America Team: QB Gunner Kiel, RB KeiVarae Russell, WR Chris Brown, OL Ronnie Stanley, DL Jarron Jones, DL Sheldon Day, DB Tee Shepard, DB Elijah Shumate and DB C.J. Prosise.

- Three members of the SuperPrep Elite 50: QB Gunner Kiel (10^th), DB Tee Shepard (22^nd) and DB Elijah Shumate (37^th).

- Eight members of the MaxPreps Top 200: QB Gunner Kiel (second), DL Jarron Jones (22^nd), DB Tee Shepard (39^th), OL Ronnie Stanley (116^th), DL Sheldon Day (119^th), DB Elijah Shumate (149^th), WR Justin Ferguson (175^th) and RB KeiVarae Russell (183^rd).

- Five members of the ESPNU 150: QB Gunner Kiel (52^nd), WR Justin Ferguson (85^th), DB Tee Shepard (90^th), DL Jarron Jones (102^nd) and DL Sheldon Day (143^rd).

- Eight members of the Rivals.com 250: QB Gunner Kiel (20^th), DB Tee Shepard (76^th), DB Elijah Shumate (113^th), RB KeiVarae Russell (124^th), OL Ronnie Stanley (176^th), RB Will Mahone (197^th), DL Jarron Jones (199^th) and DL Sheldon Day (244^th).

- Nine members of the Scout.com Top 300: QB Gunner Kiel (38^th), DB Tee Shepard (39^th), DL Sheldon Day (50^th), DB Elijah Shumate (55^th), OL Ronnie Stanley (66^th), RB Will Mahone (201^st), RB KeiVarae Russell (207^th), DL Jarron Jones (229^th) and DB CJ Prosise (276^th).

- Seven members of the 247Sports Top 247: QB Gunner Kiel (24^th), DB Tee Shepard (50^th), DL Sheldon Day (81^st), DB Elijah Shumate (103^rd), DL Jarron Jones (107^th), RB KeiVarae Russell (122^nd) and OL Ronnie Stanley (145^th).

- One recipient of their state’s respective Mr. Football player of the year awards: QB Gunner Kiel (Indiana).

- One Gatorade State Football Player of the Year: QB Gunner Kiel (Indiana).

- Three members of Tacoma News Tribune Western 100: RB KeiVarae Russell, DB Tee Shepard and OL Ronnie Stanley.