Notre Dame doesn't make big recruiting splashes. Typically, Mike Brey's recruits are solid but unspectacular players who develop and grow into teams capable of competing in the (formally) stacked Big East.

Taken alone, the news out of Boston today -- where power forward Zach Auguste verbally committed to the Irish -- doesn't do much to change that perception. Auguste is ranked outside the ESPNU top 100; he's the No. 22 power forward in the 2012 class. He's a nice pickup, and a much-needed plug for a frontcourt that needs a boost after the surprising departure of forward Carleton Scott in the spring, but he's not the kind of elite, one-and-done level player that will undoubtedly change the program's trajectory.

The good news? He doesn't have to be. A glance at Notre Dame's 2012 recruiting page causes one to come to the slow realization that Auguste's commitment only adds to what has been a quietly solid 2012 recruiting haul for Brey. The class already includes one ESPNU top 100 prospect, No. 16-ranked small forward Cameron Biedschied. Brey has already landed a commitment from another power forward, three-star recruit Austin Burgett. He also has a variety of offers out, including one to top prospect Gary Harris.

But even if none of the other targets pan out, Brey's three players constitute what should be a revamped front line for ND in 2012. More important, they'll replenish some of the talent lost thanks to two factors -- the impending departure of small forward Tim Abromaitis after this season, and 2011's relatively paltry incoming class.

In other words, Notre Dame isn't going to wow you with its recruiting prowess, but Brey already has a solid start to what should end up being a very solid 2012 class. Relative to the usual recruiting expectations, ND fans have good reason to be excited.