Looking Back: Class of 2003 Part 1

The 2003 recruiting class for Notre Dame was one of the best this decade. After Notre Dame won 10 games in Ty Willingham's first year, the recruits flocked to Notre Dame. Many of these players are in the pros or are about to be drafted in the 2008 NFL Draft. This class led Notre Dame to two BCS Bowl games. This class was one of the most productive since Lou Holtz left.

Victor Abiamiri/DE/*****: Victor Abiamiri was one of the most dominant defensive ends in recent Notre Dame history. He improved every year and was the anchor of the Notre Dame defensive line in Weis' first two years. He had 18.5 sacks and 91 tackles in his last two years. Abiamiri was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2nd round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He had 7 tackles and 2 quarterback hurries. Abiamiri has been stuck behind Trent Cole, Juqua Thomas, and Jevon Kearse. He was also being recruited by Maryland, Miami, Michigan, North Carolina, and Stanford.

Chase Anastasio/WR/***: Anastasio was a rarely used receiver for Notre Dame. Most of his action came on special teams. He had 3 catches in four years for Notre Dame and gained 36 yards. He turned down an opportunity to play a fifth year at Notre Dame in 2007, ending his football career. He was the #21 ranked wide receiver for 2003 and was being recruited by Ohio State, Stanford, Virginia, and Virginia Tech.

Nick Borseti/LB/***: Borseti, like Anastasio, never really amounted to anything at Notre Dame. He only had 26 tackles for Notre Dame and never started a game. He was the 58th ranked middle linebacker and was being recruited by Penn State, Syracuse, Virginia, and Boston College.

Joe Brockington/LB/***: Brockington became a major contributor in 2007 in his fifth year for Notre Dame. He made the transition to inside linebacker almost seamlessly, recording 56 tackles and one sack. He had 3 more tackles in 2006, but it is mentionable that he played a different position in 2007 yet experienced almost no dropoff like the majority of the rest of the team. He was not invited to the NFL Combine, but he still could be drafted this coming April. He was also being recruited by Boston College, Georgia Tech, Maryland, and Michigan.

John Carlson/TE/***: Carlson has been a big-time performer for the Irish since Anthony Fasano's departure after the 2005 season. He caught 87 passes for 1006 yards and 7 touchdowns over the last two years. He led Notre Dame in receptions last year and was Clausen's preferred target. Carlson will be drafted in the middle of the 2008 NFL Draft, and he was also being recruited by Minnesota and Stanford.

Isaiah Gardner/CB/***: Gardner is the biggest no-name on this list. He transferred to Maryland after one year at Notre Dame and recorded 147 tackles and 3 interceptions for the Terps. He was also being recruited by Oklahoma, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Michigan, and Michigan State.

Check back later for future parts...

Pick A Number Between 1 and 99

That's what 23 new Domers will be asked to do in a week when they sign their Letters of Intent. There are, for now, 22 scholarship players and one preferred walk-on with a memorable name. This will change if Milton Knox or Keith Wells get a scholarship offer and commit, but I do not think that will happen in my opinion. So for now, a choice will be made in one week. A decision that will change the outlook on the Notre Dame football team. One that will change the next four years. Their jersey numbers.

Dayne Crist-Crist is a quarterback, so the number will most likely be between 1 and 20. Crist is a big (6-5, 228), talented QB. His high school number is number 10. He's supposed to be the next Brady Quinn. Give him his number. #10.

Jonas Gray-Gray is a running back, so 20 to 49 sounds like the logical choices. However, we've seen Darius Walker and Ryan Grant wear single digits, so he could as well. His high school number is 24, which is taken. I say he follows in the footsteps of Julius Jones. #22.

Michael Floyd-Floyd is the most talented wide receiver to commit to Notre Dame since Randy Moss. Hopefully Floyd stays out of trouble over the next week so he can come to Notre Dame. Since I doubt that will be a problem, He needs a number. He will probably choose a number in the 80s. His current number is 80, but Richard Jackson has his hands on that one. Expectations aren't important. He'll follow in the footsteps of the last Notre Dame Heisman winner. #81.

John Goodman-Goodman is an option quarterback from the Midwest. He will not be a quarterback at Notre Dame, but he will be required to provide big plays. Someone just like that left and had a good Senior Bowl. Take Zibby's number. #9.

Deion Walker-Notre Dame's latest addition is a very fast wide receiver with a 40 time almost at 4.4. He wears number one in high school, but DJ Hord sports that number at Notre Dame. Walker should take a normal wide receiver number. This number is known for being what Alan Page sported. Make it a number that is usually reserved for tight ends. #88.

Kyle Rudolph-Rudolph is big (6-7) and he is fast (4.7). He will be used in the passing game for the next 4 years, and he hopes to follow in the footsteps of great Irish tight ends like Dave Casper, Ken MacAfee, and Anthony Fasano. He is a great receiver. People who bought John Carlson jerseys should be able to inherit a new jersey by graduation. #89.

Joseph Fauria-Fauria is a giant. Rivals has him listed at 6-8, and he is 250 pounds. He will be a great blocker in the Jumbo pack immediately. Notre Dame has two blocking tight ends (Fauria and Mike Ragone) and two receiving tight ends (Rudolph and Will Yeatman). Fauria wears 85 at Carmelite, but that is taken by Sam Vos. Bump it up one. #86.

Trevor Robinson-The firing of Bill Callahan may have been the best move for the Irish. With him getting the boot, Trevor Robinson and Jonas Gray switched their commitments to Notre Dame. Robinson has worn 78 in high school. There won't be much change. #78

Lane Clelland-Lane Clelland is the mystery lineman. He didn't dominate an All-American game like Braxton Cave. He didn't switch commitments like T-Rob. He doesn't have a famous dad like Mike Golic. However, Clelland is a great guard who is extremely physical. He wears 76 in high school. Andrew Nuss wears 76 at Notre Dame, so Clelland will get will get a new number. He should follow in the footsteps of Ryan Harris. #68

Mike Golic, Jr.-When an All-American recruit has junior in his name, you know he has good genes. His uncle, Bob Golic, was one of the best defensive players Notre Dame had in the 70s. Golic can't follow in his relatives' footsteps because Eric Olsen has 55, so Golic should pick up a number close to it. #57

Braxton Cave-Cave dominated the ESPN Under Armour All-American game. With his performance, he gave Dan Wenger some serious competition for the starting center spot. Cave wears 73 at Penn. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. #73

Sean Cwynar-Cwynar will be coming to South Bend early this year. He will be at Notre Dame for spring practices, giving him a real chance to start at defensive end. He wears 77 at Marion Central, but Mike Turkovich has 77 at Notre Dame. Cwynar should just take the only open offensive lineman number in the 70s. #79

Brandon Newman-Newman is huge. He is right around 300 pounds, and he is very strong. He could be one of the most powerful defensive tackles Notre Dame has had in a while. Newman wears 51 at Pleasure Ridge Park, but Dan Wenger has that one. Newman is a big man, so he needs a big number. #99

Hafis Williams-Williams may have to step up in 2008. Ian Williams is the only returning nose tackle, so Williams may be called on to make big plays. He wears 79 at Elizabeth, but Sean Cwynar already has that. Williams should follow Newman's route. #98

Ethan Johnson-Johnson is a very athletic defensive end. He could be the X-factor on this defense if he can come in and make big plays like Trevor Laws did. He wears 9 at Lincoln. John Goodman will take that number, so he can take a defensive lineman's number. #92

Steve Filer-Filer is a big-time local recruit. He goes to Mount Carmel High School, where he wears 44. Asaph Schwapp has that one, so he can go up a bit. #46

Anthony McDonald-Not much will change with Anthony McDonald. He sticks together with his teammate Dayne Crist. His school will have the same name. He will even have the same number. #54

Darius Fleming-Fleming could be breaking a lot of sack-related records by the end of his time at Notre Dame. Fleming is built perfectly for the pass rushing outside linebackers in the 3-4. He may have to improve at pass coverage, but that shouldn't be a big issue this year. He wears 90 at St. Rita, but that number is called for. He should go with a more linebacker-friendly number. #52

David Posluszny-The younger Posluszny definitely has good genes, much like Mike Golic and Dan McCarthy, two other 2008 recruits. Hopefully he inherited his brother's run stopping ability. He is a great pass defender, which may be a major asset for this team. He wears 31 at Hopewell, but that number is not available. Try higher. #37

Dan McCarthy-It's going to be a brotherly reunion at Notre Dame when Dan plays with his brother Kyle. However, Dan has had multiple injuries this year, and he will most likely get a redshirt. However, he still gets a jersey number. He may want to keep his old one (15), which is a wise decision. #15

Jamoris Slaughter-Slaughter, like McCarthy, has had injury problems. His knee should be fixed come summer, but he may not play next year, especially with all of the returning corners. However, he still needs a number. His number 8 is taken, so he should settle with a close number. #16

Robert Blanton-Blanton has the best chance out of any secondary player in this class. He is a great athlete, and he may have a chance to get some playing time in front of Gary Gray to get in the dime position. He shouldn't change much, including his number. #12

Now here is the preferred walk-on.

Some of you might know who it is.

Some of you may not.

He has a famous dad who was involved with a Notre Dame championship team.

He had a great pro career and his jersey is common among Notre Dame fans.

Here it is.

*drum roll*

Nate Montana-Another Montana. That's awesome. Now, he has to take his dad's number. It has to be done. #3

That would be the coolest thing ever for the son of the most famous Notre Dame sports player to wear his dad's number. Expectations normally don't apply to preferred walk-ons, so there may not be much pressure on him to recreate what his dad did. Either way, he HAS to choose this number.

The Omar Hunter Saga

Now it is known. Notre Dame defensive line recruit Omar Hunter of Buford, Georgia is going to take a trip to Gainesville. This has come as a big blow and shock to Irish fans. Hunter has expressed almost the entire year on how solid his verbal was to Notre Dame. Now, he may leave to go play under, of all people, Urban Meyer, the former Notre Dame assistant coach who passed up on the Irish in 2005, a big surprise to everyone around the program. Meyer has been the king of negative recruiting. He is a recruit-stealer with poor tactics. Of course, this means war.

Omar Hunter has been one of the most promising recruits in this phenomenal 2012 class. He was recruited to play defensive tackle or nose guard in Notre Dame's 3-4 defense, but now says he wants better weather and to be closer to home. He is considering Florida and Southern Cal now.

Buford High School went undefeated this season and won the Georgia state championship. Southern Cal seems to be unlikely because of his desire to be close to home, so Georgia and Notre Dame are his final 2.

Wherever he goes, he will be a stud. The question is for how long. At Notre Dame, Dwight Stephenson and Trevor Laws, the tackles for the 2007 squad, have both graduated and Justin Brown has one year left. At Florida, there are four freshman defensive tackles and two freshman defensive ends. At Notre Dame, he would possibly be a starter or at least in the rotation from day one. At Florida, he would probably not be a starter until at least his junior year.

There are many bad things to say about Charlie Weis and Notre Dame, but poor recruiting is not one. Weis and Corwin Brown are going to figure out a game plan for Hunter. Weis, Brown, Polian, and Ianello are going to make a visit to Buford, or else Hunter's scholarship will be given to Mike Martin, a Michigan commit who does not want to play under Rodriguez it appears, or Masengo Kabongo (awesome name, I know) of Maryland. Maybe it is a little hypocritical when 2 Notre Dame recruits were committed to Nebraska earlier, and ND looks to be putting a full court press on Michigan recruits, but Meyer and his staff have been known to negative recruit and visit them almost to the point of stalking.

My take on this situation: Notre Dame had a lot of decommits last year. Greg Little and Arrelious Benn come to mind. The Irish can't afford to lose recruits. Hunter, however, will stay Irish. He has been too solid on Notre Dame to suddenly change. Don't worry Irish fans, he's ours. Urbie, go pester other teams and recruits. You are dead to us Notre Dame fans.

Hunter is still going to be part of the Irish recruiting class. Notre Dame fans can worry about Deion Walker now.