NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Twenty-three high school seniors will have their names added to the University of Notre Dame’s football roster and begin playing for the Irish in 2010.

The 23 student-athletes represent 12 different states – California (two), Colorado, Florida (four), Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois (two), Indiana, Kentucky (two), New Jersey, North Carolina (two), Ohio (five) and Utah.

As listed by position, Notre Dame adds four wide receivers, three defensive backs, three defensive linemen, three linebackers, three offensive linemen, three quarterbacks, two athletes, one running back and one tight end.

Five of the 23 players – defensive back Chris Badger, defensive back Spencer Boyd, wide receiver Tai-ler Jones, quarterback Tommy Rees and defensive back Lo Wood – enrolled at the University in January and are taking classes. They will participate in Notre Dame’s spring football practices that begin March 26.

The other 18 players have signed national letters of intent.

Among the 23 players are:

– Three who participated in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio: WR Austin Collinsworth, OL Matt James and OL Christian Lombard.
– Two who played in the Under Armour All-America Game in St. Petersburg, FL: WR Tai-ler Jones and DL Louis Nix.
– Three who played in the Offense-Defense Bowl in Myrtle Beach, S.C.: QB Andrew Hendrix, LB Prince Shembo and DL Justin Utupo.
– Two members of the USA Today first-team All-America team: OL Matt James and OL Christian Lombard.
– One member of the Parade All-America team: OL Christian Lombard.
– Eight members of the SuperPrep All-America Team: TE Alex Welch, WR Tai-ler Jones, OL Christian Lombard, OL Matt James, DL Louis Nix, LB Prince Shembo, LB Kendall Moore, DB Chris Badger.
– Seven members of the Rivals.com 250: DL Louis Nix (85th), OL Matt James (86th), WR Tai-ler Jones (141st), OL Christian Lombard (221st), RB Cameron Roberson (231st), QB Andrew Hendrix (235th) and LB Prince Shembo (238th).
– Six members of the SI.com/Takkle Top 200: TE Alex Welch (24th), WR Tai-ler Jones (40th), QB Andrew Hendrix (59th), OL Matt James (87th), DL Louis Nix (108th) and OL Christian Lombard (109th).
– Five members of the Offense-Defense Top 250: OL Matt James (78th), DL Louis Nix (199th), QB Andrew Hendrix (224th), WR Tai-ler Jones (227th) and OL Christian Lombard (234th).
– Five members of the Scout.com Top 300: OL Christian Lombard (62nd), OT Matt James (91st), DT Louis Nix (102nd), TE Alex Welch (111th) and WR Tai-ler Jones (138th).
– Six members of The Kickoff Top 120: DL Louis Nix (75th), WR Tai-ler Jones (84th), OL Matt James (99th), OL Christian Lombard (103rd) and TE Alex Welch (112th).
– Two members of the ESPNU 150: DL Louis Nix (64th) and WR Tai-ler Jones (68th).
– Two members of the MaxPreps Top 100: OL Christian Lombard (30th) and OL Matt James (60th).
– Two members of Sporting News’ Top 100: WR Tai-ler Jones (35th) and DL Louis Nix (59th).
– Three members of Tacoma News-Tribune’s Western 100: DB Chris Badger, RB Cameron Roberson and DL Kona Schwenke.
– Two members of Mobile Press-Register’s Super Southeast 120: DT Louis Nix (44th) and WR Tai-ler Jones (60th).
– One member of Detroit Free-Press’ Best of the Midwest: OL Matt James.