SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- Notre Dame Head Coach Adam Howard announced the program's 2013 recruiting class on Wednesday.

[NDC Signing Day Central]

The class of prospective incoming freshmen marks the program's fifth since being launched in November 2008. It is comprised of players from six states and provinces - in addition to a wellspring of talent culled from the Buckeye State, Notre Dame recruited student-athletes from California, Hawaii, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Ontario, Canada. (Player Profiles)

“Overall, on paper I believe this is our best recruiting class in our five-year history,” said Head Coach Adam Howard. “Our coaches simply outwork their competition, and I couldn't ask for better support from Scott Swain, our Director of Athletics, all the way to the top in [NDC President] Dr. [Andrew P.] Roth. Notre Dame is a special place and this recruiting class just made it even better.”

Notre Dame's new student-athletes join a Falcon program that itself is heading into its "senior" season, its fourth as a varsity program and the only collegiate scholarship football program in metropolitan Cleveland. The class is highlighted by St. Edward quarterback Ryan Fallon, Lake Catholic offensive lineman Evan Grosel, Akron Buchtel defensive lineman Erron Cosey, Lakota East linebacker Jake Chestnut and a cadre of athletic defensive backs.

“To get a player like Ryan Fallon from St. Edward is a huge get for us,” said Howard. “First, he's a fantastic student.  Also, to attract one of the best quarterbacks in Ohio from what everyone considers to be one of the strongest high schools in Cleveland says a lot about where we're headed as a program.”

“We have an all star in Evan Grosel. He is a big physical, athletic lineman who was recruited by just about everyone at this level. In addition to Evan, Michael Koch, Mike Busse, Tyler Butler, Jalen Dandridge and a few others round out the best o-line class we've ever had at NDC.”

“Jake Chestnut was our number one linebacker recruit in this class. He was recruited by D-I schools and several competitor D-II schools, and he is the type of person that will represent Notre Dame College well on the field, in the classroom, and socially.”

“Our defensive backfield was a focus for us, and we were able to increase our speed and athleticism with this class. George Berry, Andon Ware, Erron Enoex, Gary Jaycox, and Anthony Kinney, along with a few others, will compete to make us explosive in the secondary.”

“We improved our special teams by adding a great kicker in Kyle Kaplan, and David Johnson as a long snapper. Mitchell Shegos is one of the most versatile athletes we signed this year. He is a do-it-all type of guy, and I can't wait to witness the impact he will have on our team. Along with Mitch, Dorien Hudson is a fantastic receiver from Cleveland Heights; he's displayed the ability to be special with the ball in his hands.”

In fall 2013, Notre Dame will begin its first season of play as a member of the Mountain East Conference, a new NCAA-II league comprised of institutions in Ohio, West Virginia and Virginia. NDC went 3-8 in 2012, averaging 27.8 points per game and losing three contests midseason by a combined nine points.

Count Adam Howard among those anxious to get fall camp underway: “When I think of this class, I think 'Stay tuned because we are doing great things here at NDC.'”


2013 NOTRE DAME SIGNING-DAY ROSTER

PLAYER		HT	WT	POS	HOMETOWN	PREVIOUS SCHOOL	HS COACH
LAST	FIRST
Aaron	Billy	5-10	190	RB	Youngstown, Ohio	Austintown Fitch HS	Phil Anerrella
Adamson	Justin	6-3	265	OL	Miamisburg, Ohio	Miamisburg HS	Steve Channell
Berry	George	5-10	175	S	Solon, Ohio	Solon HS	Jim McQuaide
Bremer	Kameron	6-2	240	DL	Cleveland, Ohio	Luthern West HS	Dave Stupka
Burzanko	Erick	6-1	210	RB	Burton, Ohio	Berkshire HS	Allan Zanderink
Busse	Mike	6-3	290	OL	Sharon, Ontario, Canada	Huron Heights	Heath Weir
Butler	Kenneth	5-10	190	RB	Cleveland Hts, Ohio	St. Edward HS	Rick Finotti
Butler	Tyler	6-6	315	OL	Sacramento, Calif.	Coventry HS	Jerami Hodgkinson
Chestnut	Jake	6-1	220	LB	Cincinnati, Ohio	Lakota East HS	Rick Haynes
Cosey	Erron	6-3	210	DE	Akron, Ohio	Buchtel HS	Ricky Powers
Cunningham	Lucas	6-1	240	DE	Middletown, Ohio	Bishop Fenwick HS	Fred Cranford
Dandridge	Jalen	6-2	290	OL	Detroit, Mich.	East English Village Prep Academy	Rod Oden
Deloach	Corey	6-1	190	QB	Pittsburgh, Pa.	Plum HS	Frank Sacco
Dendiu	Rockwell	6-1	225	DE	Worthington, Ohio	Thomas Worthington HS	Scott Gordon
Dennard	Devin	6-0	195	SS	Findlay, Ohio	Findlay HS	Mark Ritzler
Dillard	Damon	6-3	350	OL	Reynoldsburg, Ohio	Marion Franklin HS	Brian Haffele
English	Kendall	6-0	175	S	Detroit, Mich.	Cass Tech HS	Thomas Wilcher
Enoex	Erron	5-10	175	CB	Detroit, Mich.	Cass Tech HS	Thomas Wilcher
Falfas	Ben	5-10	230	DE	Warren, Ohio	Warren Howland HS	Richard Angle
Fallon	Ryan	6-0	185	QB	Cleveland, Ohio	St. Edward HS	Rick Finotti
Ford	Juwan	5-10	220	RB	Euclid, Ohio	Euclid HS	Tom Gibbons
Griffin	Zach	5-11	180	K	Trenton, Ohio	Edgewood HS	Scott Clemons
Grosel	Evan	6-5	300	OL	Euclid, Ohio	Lake Catholic HS	Mike Bell
Harrison	Jody	5-10	185	QB	Pontiac, Mich.	Pontiac HS	Brad Zube
Hudson	Dorien	5-11	175	WR	Cleveland Heights, Ohio	Cleveland Heights HS	Jeff Rotsky
Hudson	Storm	5-11	200	SS	Detroit, Mich.	Oak Park HS	Greg Carter
Jaycox	Gary	6-1	220	S	Berlin Heights, Ohio	Edison-Milan HS	Jim Hall
Johnson	David	6-0	230	LS/OL	North Canton, Ohio	North Canton Hoover HS	Dom Hertler
Johnson	Leon	6-0	230	DL	Detroit, Mich.	East English Village Prep Academy	Rod Oden
Kaplan	Kyle	6-2	180	K	Hilliard, Ohio	Hilliard Darby HS	John Santagata
Kern-Blystone	Kyle	6-0	175	S	Sylvania, Ohio	Evergreen HS	Myles Holiday
Kinney	Anthony	5-10	175	SS	Shaker Heights, Ohio	Shaker Heights HS	Jarvis Gibson
Koch	Michael	6-3	270	OL	Austintown, Ohio	Austintown Fitch HS	Phil Anerrella
Mahone	Will	5-9	200	RB	Liberty, Ohio	Lakota East HS	Rick Haynes
Meketa	Drew	5-10	170	WR	Olmsted Falls, Ohio	Olmsted Falls HS	Jim Ryan
Metcalf	Chad	6-0	220	LB	Sheffield Village, Ohio	Brookside HS	Thom Lesecki
Mitchell	McKenny	5-7	200	RB	Euclid, Ohio	Euclid HS	Tom Gibbons
Mooney	Zach	6-2	220	OL	New Brighton, Pa.	New Brighton HS	Joe Greco
Moore	Equan	5-10	205	LB	Detroit, Mich.	East English Village Prep Academy	Rod Oden
Nakoa	Dylan	6-0	310	OL	Maui, Hawaii	Kamehameha HS
Pierce	Joshua	6-0	175	WR	Cleveland, Ohio	Elyria Catholic HS	Mike Polevacik
Pounders	Chad	6-4	280	OL	Livonia, Mich.	Livonia Franklin HS	Chris Kelbert
Pringle	Eric	5-11	190	S	Cincinnati, Ohio	Mount Healthy HS	Arvie Crouch
Railey	Austin	6-2	275	OL	Cincinnati, Ohio	Walnut Hills HS	George Kontsis
Robinson	Mica	6-4	220	DL	Bowling Green, Ohio	Elmwood HS	Brian Cooper
Roscoe	Terrence	6-1	210	S	Euclid, Ohio	Euclid HS	Tom Gibbons
Running	Wyatt	6-0	190	RB	Wilmington, Ohio	Clinton Massie HS	Dan McSurley
Shegos	Mitchell	6-1	200	WR	Fenton, Mich.	Fenton HS	Jeff Setzke
Snapp	Kenneth	5-10	170	K	Detroit, Mich.	Cass Tech HS	Thomas Wilcher
Troknya	Zane	6-3	220	OL	Oak Harbor, Ohio	Oak Harbor HS	Mike May
Vitali	Dominic	6-4	190	QB	Orange Village, Ohio	Orange HS	Adam Bechlem
Ware	Andon	6-0	185	CB	Baldwin, Mich.	Baldwin HS	Doug Bolles
Williams	Daquian	5-8	220	LB	Reynoldsburg, Ohio	Reynoldsburg HS	Buddy White
Williams	Jaylen	6-3	275	OL	Detroit, Mich.	Oak Park HS	Greg Carter
Winston	Herbert	5-11	175	S	Cincinnati, Ohio	Mount Healthy HS	Arvie Crouch