Irish Add 27 To 2006 Grid Roster

Feb. 1, 2006

Twenty-seven high school seniors will have their names added to the University of Notre Dame football roster and play for the Irish beginning in 2006.

The 27 players come from 17 states – Arkansas, California, Florida (three players), Georgia (two), Illinois (two), Indiana (three), Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri (two), Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio (three), Oklahoma, Pennsylvania (two), Tennessee and Texas. Included in the 27 are 10 players from the Midwest – three each from Indiana and Ohio, two from Illinois, one from Minnesota and one who played in Kentucky.

As listed by position, the Irish add to their roster six offensive linemen, five defensive backs, four wide receivers, three running backs, three defensive linemen, two quarterbacks, two linebackers, one tight end and one kicker — though several of the players played multiple positions in high school and could move to other positions once they arrive on campus.

Three of those 27 players – running back James Aldridge, offensive lineman Chris Stewart and receiver George West — already are attending the University. They enrolled in January, began taking classes for the spring 2006 semester and will be able to participate in Notre Dame’s spring football practices that begin March 22. The other 24 players have signed national letters of intent.

Among the 27 players are:

• Five members of the Parade prep All-America team – Aldridge, offensive lineman Matt Carufel, quarterback Demetrius Jones, tight end Konrad Reuland and offensive lineman Sam Young.
• Two players – Reuland and Young – named to the USA Today prep All-America first team – and four others – Carufel, linebacker Toryan Smith, Stewart and defensive back Darrin Walls – named to the second team.
• Six players rated among the top 100 nationally by the Dallas Morning News – Young (23rd), Aldridge (26th), Reuland (45th), Walls (51st), Jones (55th) and Carufel (59th).
• Ten players rated among the top 100 nationally by USA Today – Young (10th), quarterback Zach Frazer (12th), Aldridge (19th), Reuland (27th), Walls (32nd), Jones (33rd), Carufel (56th), defensive back Sergio Brown (83rd), receiver Richard Jackson (87th) and defensive back Raeshon McNeil (91st).
• Nine players rated among the top 100 nationally by the Chicago Sun-Times and Tom Lemming – Young (10th), Walls (29th), Aldridge (30th), Reuland (34th), Jones (39th), McNeil (41st), Carufel (56th), Frazer (79th) and Brown (91st).
• Ten players rated among the top 150 nationally by CollegeFootballNews.com – Young (9th), Reuland (20th), Walls (25th), Aldridge (47th), Frazer (58th), running back Luke Schmidt (101st), Jones (105th), Carufel (126th), defensive lineman Kallen Wade (134th) and offensive lineman Dan Wenger (136th).
• Nine players named Gatorade player of the year in their home states – Carufel (Minnesota), defensive back Jashaad Gaines (Nevada), receiver Barry Gallup (Massachusetts), Jones (Illinois), offensive lineman Eric Olsen (New York), running back Munir Prince (Missouri), linebacker Morrice Richardson (Georgia), Schmidt (Indiana) and Young (Florida).
• 12 players selected for the U.S. Army All-America game in San Antonio last month – Aldridge, Carufel, Frazer, Gallup, Jones, McNeil, Reuland, Stewart, Walls, plus offensive linemen Bartley Webb, Wenger and Young.
• Four players rated among the top 20 in the Midwest area on the Detroit Free-Press Best in the Midwest team – Jones (third), Aldridge (13th), Carufel (15th) and Brown (16th). Schmidt and Wade were honorable mention selections.
• Seven players who attended the Notre Dame football camp in the summer of 2005 – kicker Ryan Burkhart, Olsen, receiver Robby Parris, Prince, defensive lineman John Ryan, Schmidt and Webb .

JAMES ALDRIDGE

RB • Crown Point, IN

One of 16 candidates for Parade All-America High School Football Player of the Year award . . . one of nine running backs on Parade prep All-America team . . . rated 19th on list of top 100 prep players nationally by USA Today . . . rated 26th on Dallas Morning News list of top 100 players in the country . . . rated 30th on list of top 100 players nationally by Chicago Sun-Times . . . rated 47th on list of top 150 players nationally by CollegeFootballNews.com . . . selected for U.S. Army All-American Bowl . . . rated 13th on list of top 20 players in Midwest on Detroit Free-Press Best in the Midwest team . . . named to Indiana Top 50 all-state team by Indiana Football Coaches Association, as one of seven running backs . . . rushed for 1,433 yards and 21 touchdowns on 237 carries as senior in 2005 at Merrillville High School in Merrillville, Ind. . . . caught five passes for 59 yards . . . helped team to 11-3 record and semifinal of Indiana Class 5A playoffs . . . finished with 3,808 all-purpose yards in two years at Merrillville . . . rushed for 110 yards on 25 carries in semifinal loss to Hamilton Southeastern . . . rushed 23 times for 227 yards and three TDs in earlier playoff game vs. Crown Point . . . first-team running back in ’05 on all-area team by Northwest Indiana Times . . . listed 58th on ’05 preseason list of top players in the country (and 10th among running backs) by The Sporting News . . . rated one of top 100 players nationally on ’05 preseason list by Lindy’s . . . one of 14 running backs on ’05 national preseason top 100 list by CBS SportsLine.com . . . rushed for 2,067 yards and 20 TDs on 281 carries as junior in 2004 . . . also caught 11 passes for 190 yards and two TDs and threw a 36-yard TD pass . . . accounted for 2,411 all-purpose yards as junior . . . transferred to Merrillville from Hazelwood Central High School in St. Louis, Mo., after his sophomore year . . . junior high school teammate of fellow ’06 Irish roster additional Munir Prince . . . enrolled at Notre Dame in January of ’06 . . . born July 6, 1987 . . . high school coach was Jeff Yelton.

SERGIO(SIR-gee-oh) BROWN

DB • Maywood, IL

Rated 83rd on list of top 100 prep players nationally by USA Today . . . rated 91st on list of top 100 players nationally by Chicago Sun-Times . . . rated 16th on list of top 20 Midwest players on Detroit Free-Press Best of the Midwest team . . . a special-mention choice on Illinois all-state team selected by Champaign News-Gazette . . . rated ninth overall among senior players in Illinois in ’05 by Chicago Tribune . . . second-team Illinois all-state pick at defensive back by Chicago Tribune . . . accounted for 710 all-purpose yards and scored four touchdowns as senior wide receiver in 2005 at Proviso East High School in Maywood, Ill. . . . made 41 tackles, two sacks, intercepted six passes and broke up 18 others as senior safety . . . three-year starter who had 60 tackles and six interceptions (returned five for touchdowns) as junior in 2004 . . . state qualifier in long jump . . . born May 22, 1988 . . . high school coach was Aaron Peppers.

RYAN BURKHART

K • Wakarusa, IN

Named to Indiana Top 50 all-state team as only placekicker by Indiana Football Coaches Association . . . helped Northwood High School in Nappanee, Ind., to Indiana Class 3A state crown in 2005 . . . Northwood won state crown after 2-5 league mark and 9-6 overall record that included six straight wins to finish the season . . . hit 12 of 22 field-goal attempts as senior in ’05 (including 53-yarder in season opener) and punted 47 times for 35.5 average . . . connected on eight of 11 field goals, including seven of eight from 40 yards or more, and also punted 36 times for 39.6 average as junior in 2004 . . . punted 20 times for 37.7-yard average as a sophomore in 2003 and hit 50 PATs . . . Indiana Class 3A all-state pick as junior by both Associated Press, IFCA and Bloomington Herald-Telephone . . . first-team all-conference punter and kicker as senior and junior . . . kicked two 49-yard field goals in one game in 2004 . . . won sectional final game as sophomore with field goal with 37 seconds left . . . helped team to Northern Lakes Conference title as junior . . . attended Notre Dame football camp in summer of 2005 . . . born March 30, 1987 . . . high school coach was Rich Dodson.

MATT CARUFEL(CARE-you-fell)

OL • Forest Lake, MN

One of 18 linemen on Parade prep All-America team . . . USA Today second-team pick on its prep All-America squad . . . rated 56th on list of top 100 prep players nationally by USA Today . . . rated 59th on list of top 100 players in the nation by Dallas Morning News . . . rated 56th on list of top 100 players nationally by Chicago Sun-Times . . . Gatorade Player of the Year in 2005 in Minnesota . . . considered top player in Minnesota in 2005 and top lineman from the state since current Irish offensive tackle Ryan Harris . . . rated 126th on list of top 150 players nationally by CollegeFootballNews.com . . . selected for U.S. Army All-American Bowl prep all-star game . . . ranked 15th on list of top 20 players in the Midwest on Detroit Free-Press Best in the Midwest team . . . rated 20th on ’05 preseason list of top offensive linemen nationally by The Sporting News . . . first-team Minnesota all-state selection as senior in ’05 by St. Paul Pioneer-Press . . . helped Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, Minn., to 10-3 mark as senior in ’05 and Minnesota Class AAAAA state title game where it lost 28-24 to Wayzata in Minnesota Prep Bowl . . . had 106 pancake blocks as senior in ’05 – and 74 more as junior in ’04 while leading team to 9-4 mark . . . three-year starter is from same high school as current Irish Harris and Marcus Freeman and ’05 fullback Rashon Powers-Neal . . . born November 20, 1987 . . . high school coach was Mike Scanlan.

ZACH FRAZER

QB • Mechanicsburg, PA

Rated 12th on list of top 100 prep players nationally by USA Today . . . ranked 79th on list of top 100 players nationally by Chicago Sun-Times . . . completed 140 of 253 passes for 1,839 yards and nine touchdowns with nine interceptions as senior in 2005 for Mechanicsburg High School in Mechanicsburg, Pa. . . . selected for U.S. Army All-American Bowl prep all-star game . . . rated 58th among top 150 players nationally by CollegeFootballNews.com . . . rated one of 20 preseason candidates for national prep player of the year by The Sporting News . . . ranked 49th on ’05 preseason list of top players in the country (and fifth among quarterbacks) by The Sporting News . . . one of seven quarterbacks and 50 players overall on ’05 preseason prep All-America team by Street & Smith’s . . . one of nine quarterbacks on ’05 national preseason top 100 by CBS SportsLine.com . . . completed 285 of 440 passes as junior for Pennsylvania record 3,674 yards and 27 TDs and also ran for 12 TDs for 9-4 Mechanicsburg team . . . named Associated Press Pennsylvania Class 3A player of the year as junior in 2004 . . . born February 23, 1988 . . . high school coach was Rich Lichtel.

JASHAAD(juh-SHOD) GAINES

DB • Las Vegas, NV

Gatorade Player of the Year for 2005 in Nevada . . . first-team Nevada Class 4A all-state defensive back by Reno Gazette-Journal and Las Vegas Review-Journal . . . helped Las Vegas High School in Las Vegas, Nev., to 23-0 victory over Hug in Nevada Class 4A state title game, making five tackles (2.5 for loss) as Las Vegas held Hug to 18 rushing yards . . . helped Las Vegas allow only 28 combined points over its final eight games . . . helped Las Vegas to 14-1 overall mark in ’05, including shutout wins in each of last three playoff games . . . helped Las Vegas outscore five playoff opponents by combined 106-14 score . . . had 55 tackles, 13 passes broken up and two interceptions as senior in ’05 . . . rushed for 102 yards and three touchdowns on 22 attempts . . . first-team all-Sunrise Region . . . also runs track . . . sister Tulyah is sophomore and plays basketball at Notre Dame . . . born December 19, 1986 . . . high school coach was Chris Faircloth.

BARRY GALLUP

WR • Wellesley, MA

Gatorade Player of the Year for 2005 in Massachusetts . . . named to Boston Globe All-Scholastic team and also named MVP for Independent School League . . . finished his career with 70 touchdowns and 14 interceptions . . . rushed for 1,606 yards as senior in ’05 and added eight receptions at 29 yards per catch, while scoring 26 TDs at Belmont Hill School in Belmont, Mass. . . . . helped Belmont Hill to 8-1 mark and first round of state playoffs . . . selected for U.S. Army All-American Bowl . . . had 500 receiving yards and eight receiving TDs as junior in 2004 to go with 1,700 rushing yards from tailback slot and another 16 rushing TDs . . . had six interceptions in eight games in ’04 . . . captain of track and field team as all-New England pick and also was an all-league selection in hockey . . . father Barry Sr. is part of Boston College athletics department as director of football operations . . . born October 14, 1987 . . . high school coach was Kevin Fleming.

LEONARD GORDON

DB • Clarksville, TN

First-team all-state pick in Kentucky by Louisville Courier-Journal . . . one of 22 seniors on 2005 Class of the Commonwealth team named by Lexington Herald-Leader . . . made 90 tackles, forced three fumbles and had two interceptions (both returned for touchdowns) in 2005 . . . played on Fort Campbell High School team that was ranked number one in Kentucky most of its unbeaten ’05 season . . . made 128 tackles, five interceptions as junior in 2004 . . . born May 29, 1988 . . . high school coach was Shawn Berner.

RICHARD JACKSON

WR • Clermont, FL

Rated 87th on list of top 100 prep players nationally by USA Today . . . first-team Florida Class 6A all-state selection (at defensive back) for 2005 by Florida Sports Writers Association . . . finished his career with 182 receptions for 3,249 yards . . . played on teams that had three consecutive undefeated regular seasons with 31 straight regular-season wins . . . caught 42 passes for 576 yards, 13.7-yard average and five touchdowns during 10-0 senior regular season in 2005 for East Ridge High School in Clermont, Fla. . . . helped team to Florida Class 6A state playoffs, but East Ridge fell in first round after coming into that contest ranked number one in Class 6A . . . two-way player who also worked as safety . . . caught 73 passes as junior in ’04 for 1,279 yards and 11 TDs . . . made 40 tackles and three interceptions on defense as junior . . . standout in basketball as well . . . high school coach was Bud O’Hara.

DEMETRIUS JONES

QB • Chicago, IL

One of seven quarterbacks on Parade prep All-America team . . . rated 33rd on list of top 100 prep players nationally by USA Today . . . rated 39th on list of top 100 players nationally by Chicago Sun-Times . . . rated third on list of top 20 players in Midwest on Detroit Free-Press Best in the Midwest team . . . Gatorade Player of the Year for 2005 in Illinois . . . rated 55th on list of top 100 players in the nation by Dallas Morning News . . . rated 105th on list of top 150 players nationally by CollegeFootballNews.com . . . MVP of Chicago Prep Bowl after catching game-winning touchdown pass for Morgan Park High School in Chicago, Ill., in 14-13 overtime win over Brother Rice . . . threw 23-yard TD pass on final play of game to beat Simeon 18-14 . . . selected for U.S. Army All-American Bowl prep all-star game . . . only quarterback on 25-member 2005 Illinois large-school (5A, 6A, A, 8A) all-state team by Chicago Sun-Times . . . rated top senior player in Illinois by Chicago Tribune . . . second-team all-state quarterback by Chicago Tribune . . . 12-2 season mark helped earn him mention on Illinois all-state team for ’05 by Champaign News-Gazette. . . threw for 2,000 yards and 25 TDs as senior in ’05 . . . listed 99th on ’05 preseason list of top players in the country (and 14th among quarterbacks) by The Sporting News . . . one of 50 players overall and seven quarterbacks on ’05 preseason prep All-America team by Street & Smith’s . . . one of 10 quarterbacks on ’05 preseason top 100 list by Lindy’s . . . one of nine quarterbacks on ’05 national preseason top 100 by CBS SportsLine.com . . . Chicago Tribune honorable mention all-state selection as junior . . . threw for 2,300 yards and 21 TDs with only three interceptions as junior in ’04 when he helped Morgan Park to state playoff semifinal . . . rushed for another 1,000 yards and 16 TDs on the ground . . . from same high school as ’05 senior Irish linebacker Corey Mays . . . born January 3, 1988 . . . high school coach was Lexie Spurlock.

RAESHON(RAY-shon) MCNEIL

DB • Cooleemee, NC

Rated 91st on list of top 100 prep players nationally by USA Today . . . rated 41st on list of top 100 players nationally by Chicago Sun-Times . . . had six interceptions and 42 tackles as senior in 2005 at Davie County High School in Mocksville, N.C. . . . one of five defensive backs on 2005 North Carolina all-state team by Associated Press . . . finished with 15 career interceptions . . . caught 34 passes for 682 yards and 20.1-yard average and seven touchdowns as senior wide receiver . . . also scored three times on kick returns in ’05 — and six times in his career . . . chosen for U.S. Army All-American Bowl — and ran a blocked field goal back 65 yards for a touchdown in that contest . . . made 60 tackles to go with five interceptions as junior in 2004 . . . born December 25, 1987 . . . high school coach was Doug Illing.

PADDY MULLEN

DL • St. Louis, MO

Helped DeSmet Jesuit High School in St. Louis, Mo., to 2005 Missouri Class 6A state title with 48-31 win over Hazelwood Central . . . caught nine passes for 172 yards and three touchdowns as senior tight end in ’05 . . . accounted for 27 tackles (20 solo), seven sacks and two fumble recoveries as defensive lineman . . . also played much of ’05 season as offensive lineman because of team injury problems . . . could play either defensive tackle or tight end for Irish after excelling at tackle on both sides of the line in ’05 . . . had 27 tackles, nine tackles for loss, seven sacks and two fumble recoveries as junior defensive end on 10-1 team . . . only offensive appearance as a junior came in season finale playoff game against Columbia Hickman . . . lettered in basketball as sophomore . . . high school teammate of fellow Irish ’06 signee Munir Prince . . . born August 15, 1987 . . . high school coach was Pat Mahoney.

ERIC OLSEN

OL • Staten Island, NY

Gatorade Player of the Year for 2005 in New York . . . played offensive tackle and defensive end at Poly Prep Country Day School in Brooklyn, N.Y. . . . three-year starter who helped Poly Prep produce a 1,000-yard rusher in each of those seasons . . . never allowed a sack in his high school career and accounted for 53 tackles, eight sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries on defense . . . helped team to 5-3 mark as senior in ’05 . . . selected his team’s top offensive player as junior in ’04 . . . from same high school as former Irish center J.W. Jordan (1998-2001) and former running back Marcus Wilson (2001-04) . . . a standout in lacrosse who scored 50 goals as junior in ’05 while leading Poly Prep to league title . . . attended Notre Dame ’05 summer football camp . . . born June 16, 1988 . . . high school coach was Craig Jacoby.

ROBBY PARRIS

WR • Olmsted Falls, OH

Second-team pick as end on 2005 Division I All-Ohio team named by Associated Press . . . caught 32 passes for 675 yards and 12 touchdowns in six games as senior in ’05 for St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio . . . missed second half of ’05 season . . . caught 10 passes for 240 yards and four touchdowns on September trip to South Bend area where his St. Ignatius team defeated Penn . . . caught 39 passes as junior in ’04 for 900 yards and 13 TDs . . . also competed in basketball and track . . . high school teammate of fellow ’06 Irish signee John Ryan . . . attended Notre Dame ’05 summer football camp . . . born December 3, 1987 . . . high school coach was Chuck Kyle.

MUNIR(Mue-neer) PRINCE

RB • Florissant, MO

Gatorade Player of the Year for 2005 in Missouri . . . Missouri Class 6 all-state pick in ’05 by Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association . . . career totals included 3,688 rushing yards and 50 total touchdowns . . . rushed for 1,305 yards on 217 carries as senior in ’05 and caught 13 passes for 117 yards, scoring 26 overall TDs . . . rated top running back in Missouri . . . made 52 tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery in ’05 as defensive back . . . helped his 11-2 DeSmet Jesuit High School team in St. Louis, Mo., to Missouri Class 6A state title with 48-31 win over St. Louis Hazelwood Central . . . rushed for 118 yards and one touchdown in that contest and also caught an 11-yard TD pass . . . rushed 17 times for 74 yards and a TD and caught a pair of passes for 71 yards and a second TD in playoff win over top-rated Kansas City Rockhurst . . . rushed 166 times for 986 yards and 11 TDs as junior to go with eight catches for 120 yards . . . carried 197 times for 1,397 yards and 13 TDs as sophomore . . . has run a 10.4 100 and 21.0 200 and has been national AAU qualifier in both events . . . from same high school as fellow ’06 Irish signee Paddy Mullen . . . junior high school teammate of fellow ’06 Irish roster addition James Aldridge . . . attended Notre Dame football camp in summer of 2005 . . . born March 15, 1988 . . . high school coach was Pat Mahoney.

KONRAD REULAND(RUE-land)

TE • San Capistrano, CA

First-team tight end on USA Today prep All-America team for 2005 . . . one of six receivers on Parade prep All-America squad . . . rated 27th on list of top 100 prep players nationally by USA Today . . . first-team All-America tight end selection by CSTV . . . rated 45th on list of top 100 players in the country by Dallas Morning News . . . rated 34th on list of top 100 players nationally by Chicago-Sun-Times . . . rated 20th on list of top 150 players nationally by CollegeFootballNews.com . . . selected for U.S. Army All-American Bowl prep all-star game . . . rated 14th on list of top 20 players on West Coast on Long Beach Press-Telegram Best in the West team . . . helped Mission Viejo High School team in Mission Viejo, Calif., to 20th spot in USA Today Super 25 listing of top prep teams nationally based on 12-1 record as senior in ’05 and semifinal appearance in CIF-Southern Section Division II playoffs . . . caught 16 passes for 231 yards and four touchdowns as senior in ’05 . . . rated 64th on ’05 preseason list of top players in the country (and third among tight ends) by The Sporting News . . . one of 50 players overall and two tight ends on ’05 preseason prep All-America squad by Street & Smith’s . . . one of two tight ends on ’05 preseason top 100 list nationally by Lindy’s . . . one of seven tight ends on ’05 national preseason top 100 list by CBS SportsLine.com . . . caught 47 passes for 744 yards, 16.6-yard average and seven TDs as junior in ’04 – with current USC quarterback Mark Sanchez as his signal-caller . . . helped Mission Viejo to CIF Southern Section Division III title . . . named all-CIF Southern Section Division II first team as junior and to Orange County Register all-county team . . . helped team to combined three-year mark of 39-2 (only two losses to Hart) . . . did not play football his freshman year at Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei High School . . . standout basketball player as well who averaged 9.6 points and 9.1 rebounds as junior . . . born in Ohio . . . lived with relatives in small town 15 minutes from Dusseldorf, Germany, for eight months between eighth- and ninth-grade school years . . . born April 4, 1987 . . . high school coach was Bob Johnson.

MORRICE RICHARDSON

LB • College Park, GA

Gatorade Player of the Year for 2005 in Georgia . . . defensive player of the year and first-team defensive lineman on ’05 Georgia Class AAA all-state team by Atlanta Journal-Constitution . . . one of four outside linebackers/defensive ends on Journal-Constitution Best of the Rest in Georgia team . . . helped Westlake High School in Atlanta, Ga., to 8-3 mark as senior in ’05 and second round of state playoffs, making 85 tackles and 12 sacks . . . credited with 18 tackles in second game of senior season . . . made 85 tackles and three sacks as junior in 2004 . . . his high school placed more players on ’05 NFL opening-day rosters (six) than any other high school in the country . . . born January 27, 1988 . . . high school coach was Dallas Allen.

JOHN RYAN

DL • Westlake, OH

Second-team pick as defensive lineman on 2005 Division I All-Ohio team by Associated Press . . . named to first-team all-Ohio defense by Ohio News Network/Ohio High . . . made 31 solo tackles, 18 assists, six sacks and 14 hurries in eight games as senior in ’05 for St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio . . . caught 19 passes for 174 yards and three touchdowns from tight end slot . . . rated 19th among defensive linemen on ’05 preseason list of top players nationally by The Sporting News . . . had 55 tackles, 10 sacks, three caused fumbles, three fumble recoveries as junior in 2004 . . . also played basketball . . . from same high school as fellow ’06 Irish signee Robby Parris . . . attended Notre Dame football camp in summer of 2005 . . . born May 7, 1988 . . . high school coach was Chuck Kyle.

LUKE SCHMIDT

RB • Jasper, IN

Gatorade Player of the Year in Indiana for 2005 . . . rated 101st on list of top 150 players nationally by CollegeFootballNews.com . . . honorable mention pick on Detroit Free-Press Best in the Midwest team . . . rushed for 2,239 yards and 32 touchdowns on 313 carries as senior in ’05 for second consecutive 2,000-yard rushing season at Jasper High School team in Jasper, Ind . . . rated top running back in Indiana in 2005 and one of 10 finalists for Indiana Mr. Football Award as Indianapolis Star Position Award winner at running back . . . eventually finished as runnerup in Mr. Football voting . . . named to Indiana Top 50 all-state team as one of seven running backs by Indiana Football Coaches Association . . . helped Jasper to Indiana Class 4A state playoff semifinal . . . listed 97th on ’05 preseason list of top players in the country (and 15th among running backs) by The Sporting News . . . one of 14 running backs on ’05 national preseason top 100 list by CBS SportsLine.com . . . Indiana Class 4A all-state selection as junior in ’04 . . . ranked second in the state in rushing as junior with 2,592 yards on 328 carries . . . scored 41 TDs as junior . . . averaged 160 yards per game on 26 attempts over freshman and sophomore years combined . . . attended Notre Dame football camp in summer of 2005 . . . born April 22, 1987 . . . high school coach was Tony Ahrens.

TORYAN(TORE-ee-un) SMITH

LB • Rome, GA

Second-team linebacker on USA Today prep All-America team for 2005 . . . first-team linebacker on Atlanta Journal-Constitution Georgia Class AAAA all-state team . . . one of 12 linebackers on Journal-Constitution Super Southern 100 team . . . played for Rome High School in Rome, Ga. . . . had 117 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and three interceptions as senior in ’05 . . . made 112 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, eight sacks, three interceptions as junior in 2004 . . . father Charles (a current assistant football coach at Rome High School) played football at Georgia for current Irish assistant coach Bill Lewis, then a Bulldog assistant . . . born September 14, 1987 . . . high school coach was Sid Fritts.

CHRIS STEWART

OL • Spring, TX

Second-team offensive lineman on USA Today prep All-America squad for 2005 . . . selected for U.S. Army All-American Bowl prep all-star game . . . played for Klein High School in Klein, Texas . . . rated 33rd on list of top 100 players in Texas by Dallas Morning News . . . second-team Texas Class 5A all-state pick in ’05 by Texas Sportswriters Association, after 102 pancake blocks . . . 57 pancake blocks and only two sacks allowed as junior in ’04 . . . all-area pick as sophomore and junior . . . also plays basketball . . . brother plays basketball at Texas Southern as 6-11, 320-pound starting center . . . mother Lusia was member of United States silver medal-winning basketball team at 1976 Summer Olympic Games . . . enrolled at Notre Dame in January 2006 . . . born September 12, 1987 . . . high school coach was Stan Labay.

KALLEN(CAL-un) WADE

DL • Cincinnati, OH

Rated 134th on list of top 150 players nationally by CollegeFootballNews.com . . . honorable mention pick on Detroit Free-Press Best in the Midwest team . . . made 23 solo tackles, 19 assists and four sacks as senior in 2005 for Withrow High School team in Cincinnati, Ohio, that finished 6-4, while playing mostly at defensive tackle . . . had 43 tackles and 13 sacks as junior in 2004 . . . started his football career as a safety, but moved to defensive end by his junior year . . . born April 3, 1988 . . . high school coach was Doc Gamble.

DARRIN WALLS

DB • Pittsburgh, PA

Second-team defensive back on USA Today prep All-America squad for 2005 . . . rated 32nd on list of top 100 prep players nationally by USA Today . . . rated 29th on list of top 100 players nationally by Chicago Sun-Times . . . first-team All-America defensive back by CSTV . . . rated 51st on list of top 100 players in the nation by Dallas Morning News . . . rated 25th on list of top 150 players nationally by CollegeFootballNews.com . . . made 22 tackles, 14 of them solo, and one interception as senior in ’05 . . . rushed 29 times for 235 yards and four touchdowns in 2005 . . . four-year letter-winner who finished with 124 career tackles, 80 of them solo, and 16 interceptions . . . helped Woodland Hills Senior High School team in Pittsburgh, Pa., to ’05 WPIAL Class 4A state title game where it lost 19-7 to McKeesport . . . selected for U.S. Army All-American Bowl prep all-star game . . . second-team pick as defensive back on Associated Press Pennsylvania all-state team . . . picked to All-Class AAAA team as defensive back by Pittsburgh Tribune-Review . . . named to Tribune-Review Terrific 25 team . . . rated 45th on ’05 preseason list of top players nationally (and fifth among defensive backs) by The Sporting News . . . one of seven cornerbacks on ’05 national preseason top 100 list by CBS SportsLine.com . . . made 53 tackles and six interceptions and also broke up 30 passes as junior in 2004, while also rushing for 550 yards and 11 touchdowns, and catching six passes for 230 yards and three TDs . . . helped Woodland Hills to WPIAL title as freshman in 2002 . . . from same high school that produced Jason Taylor (Miami Dolphin all-pro) and current college players Steve Breaston (Michigan), Ryan Mundy (Michigan) and Devon Lyons (Ohio State) . . . father Darrin Sr. played basketball at Waynesburg College where he’s the school’s all-time leading scorer . . . born June 20, 1988 . . . high school coach was George Novak.

BARTLEY WEBB

OL • Springdale, AR

Helped Springdale High School in Springdale, Ark., to perfect 14-0 season in 2005 and Arkansas Class 5A state title, including 468-76 scoring margin during 10-game regular season . . . his Springdale team finished fourth on USA Today Super 25 list of top high school teams for ’05 . . . selected for U.S. Army All-American Bowl prep all-star game . . . rated 75th on ’05 preseason list of top players in the country (and 17th among offensive linemen) by The Sporting News . . . named to 25-man 2005 Associated Press Arkansas Super Team as junior in 2004 and again as senior in 2005 . . . had 38 knockdowns and allowed only one sack in ’04 . . . attended Notre Dame football camp in summer of 2005 . . . born March 19, 1988 . . . high school coach was Gus Malzahn.

DAN WENGER

OL • Coral Springs, FL

Rated 136th on list of top 150 players nationally by CollegeFootballNews.com . . . a first-team offensive lineman on Florida Class 5A all-state team selected by Florida Sports Writers Association . . . on list of next 20 players after first 20 that made 2005 Best of the South team by Tampa Tribune . . . helped St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., average 41.3 points and 337.7 yards per game as senior in 2005 . . . helped St. Thomas Aquinas to Florida Class 5A state title game in ’05 on squad rated 10th in USA Today Super 25 final listing of top prep teams nationally . . . selected for U.S. Army All-American Bowl prep all-star game . . . selected for CaliFlorida Bowl all-star game . . . first-team offensive lineman on South Florida Sun-Sentinel all-county team . . . helped St. Thomas Aquinas roll up 4,606 total yards in ’05 . . . one of 19 offensive linemen on ’05 national preseason top 100 list by CBS SportsLine.com . . . prep teammate and classmate of fellow ’06 Irish signee Sam Young . . . first St. Thomas Aquinas player to head for Notre Dame since receiver Bobby Brown signed in 1995 . . . born March 16, 1988 . . . high school coach was George Smith.

GEORGE WEST

WR • Spencer, OK

An Oklahoma Class 4A all-state pick as wide receiver in 2005 . . . one of 10 players on Oklahoma Blue Chip list for ’05 by Daily Oklahoman . . . first-team Oklahoma all-state selection as defensive back by OKPrepXtra.com . . . caught 28 passes for 466 yards and five touchdowns in 2005, rushed 14 times for 97 yards and two TDs . . . scored seven times on special teams, four on punt returns and three on kickoff returns – and was regarded as one of top kick returners in country . . . made 44 tackles and four interceptions on defense in ’05 for Northeast Academy in Oklahoma City, Okla. . . . caught 45 passes as junior in ’04 for 809 yards and 10 TDs . . . also picked off nine passes to go with 34 tackles as junior defensive back . . . three-year starter on both sides of the ball . . . selected for Oklahoma Coaches’ All-Star game in July . . . enrolled at Notre Dame in January 2006 . . . high school coach was Ron Kroeger.

SAM YOUNG

OL • Coral Springs, FL

First-team offensive lineman on USA Today prep All-America squad . . . rated top lineman and one of 16 candidates for Parade All-America High School Player of the Year award . . . one of 18 linemen on Parade prep all-star team . . . rated 10th on list of top 100 prep players nationally by USA Today and Chicago Sun-Times . . . rated ninth on list of top 150 players nationally by CollegeFootballNews.com . . . rated 23rd on list of top 100 players in the nation by Dallas Morning News . . . Gatorade Player of the Year for 2005 in Florida . . . first-team All-America offensive lineman by CSTV . . . rated fourth overall as one of six offensive linemen on Atlanta Journal-Constitution National Top 25 team . . . rated fourth player overall (of 20) on 2005 Best of the South team by Tampa Tribune . . . selected for U.S. Army All-American Bowl prep all-star game . . . selected for CaliFlorida Bowl all-star game . . . a first-team offensive lineman on Florida Class 5A all-state team as junior in 2004 and again as senior in 2005 . . . named South Florida Sun-Sentinel Class 6A-5A-4A player of the year . . . helped St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., gain 4,606 total offense yards as well as 3,040 regular-season rushing yards during ’05 season, as squad finished 10th on USA Today Super 25 list of top prep teams nationally . . . didn’t permit a sack either of his junior or senior seasons while helping team to Florida Class 5A state semifinal each of those years . . . rated 14th on preseason list of top players in the country (and second among offensive linemen) by The Sporting News . . . one of 50 players and eight offensive linemen on preseason prep All-America team by Street & Smith’s . . . one of 19 offensive linemen on ’05 national preseason top 100 by CBS SportsLine.com . . . high school teammate of fellow ’06 Irish signee Dan Wenger . . . high school coach was George Smith.