Notre Dame needs big recruits. Of the 5 star variety. Skill positions are a bonus, but any position will do. One guy that the Irish had a good chance on was Rivals #1 receiver-Kyle Prater. Big (6′5), fast and studly, he was also from the same hometown as Irish safety Sergio Brown (Hillside, Illinois). The Irish coaching staff was working him hard, and coveted this guy to be the next big play receiver.

The following is why.

What SI’s recruiting guru Andy Staples has to say:

“Even against some of the best defensive backs in the nation, Prater made tough catches appear effortless and ran much faster than someone his height and weight (a solid 210-215 pounds) should be able to run. That’s why Rivals.com ranks the Proviso West star as the No. 1 receiver in the country. The ranking certainly isn’t a stretch; Prater looks an awful lot like Alabama’s Julio Jones and Georgia’s A.J. Green did in high school, and those two made an immediate impact in college.”

You look at that skill set, and then take into account the area Prater was from, the Weis offense (big numbers for receivers, possible Biletnikoff contention), and things seemed to be mutually beneficial for both Prater and the Irish.

So, when Prater narrowed his choices to 5 with no Notre Dame on the list, it sorta felt like this:

“For the love of God, stay away from zippers, will ya?”