Notre Dame announced the mid-year enrollment of five incoming freshman on Tuesday.
Wide receiver Tai-ler Jones is the only four-star recruit, according to Rivals.com, but the biggest news is that Notre Dame will have at least one healthy scholarship quarterback for spring ball: local product Tommy Rees.
Safety Chris Badger and cornerback recruits Lo Wood and Spencer Boyd round out the group of early enrollees. Along with Rees, they are all three-star prospects.
Projected Irish starter Dayne Crist is recovering from a torn ACL and will likely be limited until fall camp. Walk-on quarterback Nate Montana, Joe’s son, has returned from junior college but struggled badly there and figures to be low on the depth chart. Considering his head start on the practice field, Rees has a chance at significant reps and a legitimate shot to be Crist’s primary backup in 2010.
For new coach Brian Kelly’s sake, Crist had better get healthy. And stay that way.
