Brian Kelly has recruited several five star players as part of his 17 new additions for the coming season, making Notre Dame one of the top recruiting programs for this year.

The Fighting Irish team has even landed seven players for the 2013 class, according to Bleacher Report.

They have picked up 4-star quarterback Malik Zaire from from Kettering, Ohio. He had an offer from Ohio State but chose Kelly’s team instead.

“A degree from Notre Dame is a great insurance policy for later in life,” said Zaire. “It really hit me that my decision was not a four-year decision but a forty-year decision.

“I think that is what definitely got to me as you can have a degree from Notre Dame and it is something special.”

“I also loved the drills Coach Kelly has the quarterbacks doing and how intense he is as I know he’ll really get after you. I think that is something that will push me to get better and be motivated to compete even harder.”

Other players who have committed include, Jacob Matuska from Columbus, Ohio, and Steven Elmer from Midland, Mich, Tommy Rees, Gunner Kiel, Andrew Hendrix, and Everett Golson.