SOUTH BEND, Ind. - When Notre Dame entered this season, one of the recruiting goals, among others, was adding a speed receiver.

Mission accomplished.

New Jersey standout Nyshier Oliver became the 15th player, and first in nearly two months, to commit to Notre Dame’s recruiting class of 2009.

“You can’t go wrong with Notre Dame,” the 5-foot-11, 185-pound Oliver said.

And one would think Notre Dame can’t go wrong with another wide receiver. Oliver is the first to commit to this class, and he comes a year after Irish coach Charlie Weis signed an impressive group that included current freshman Michael Floyd, who already, with his acrobatic catches, has lived up to the hype as one of the best freshman receivers in the country.

Notre Dame last year also signed Christchurch, Va., standout Deion Walker and John Goodman of Fort Wayne, Ind. While Floyd has starred this season and appears ticketed for Freshman All-America honors, neither Walker nor Goodman has played, and both appear ticketed for redshirt years.

Many believed that landing a speed guy was imperative this season, and it appears Weis has found his guy. Recruiting super site Rivals.com lists Oliver’s time in the 40-yard dash as 4.4 seconds, a speed that can stretch a defense.

With the Oliver commitment, Weis has stretched his reputation in his home state. Oliver, who plays at Saint Peter’s Prep in Jersey City, is the fourth Garden State player in this class alone to commit to Notre Dame.

He joins linebacker Carlo Calabrese (Verona), running back Theo Riddick (Somerville) and nose tackle Tyler Stockton (Princeton) to commit to the group. Defensive end Anthony LaLota, a high school teammate of Stockton, was pursued by Notre Dame but last month committed to Michigan.

Four products of New Jersey — tight end Mike Ragone, linebacker Steve Quinn, defensive lineman Hafis Williams and receiver Duval Kamara — are Weis recruits who already are on the ND roster.

“He’s a Jersey guy,” Oliver said, “I’m a Jersey guy.”

And now Oliver is a Notre Dame guy. He’s expected to play slot receiver at Notre Dame, although he could play any of a number of skill positions, including cornerback. Oliver plays running back and defensive back at Saint Peter’s Prep.

“It is a great choice and proper fit for him,” Rich Hansen, Oliver’s high school coach, said in a statement on the school’s Web site. “I now look forward to Nyshier finishing out his time at Prep in great fashion, performing on the field and in the classroom, fulfilling all of our expectations."

Just how great a fashion Oliver finishes in, however, likely won’t be known, at least if you talk to him.

“I don’t even know my stats,” Oliver said.

Weis and his assistants are prohibited by NCAA recruiting rules from publicly commenting on a recruit until the player has signed a national letter-of-intent. Signing day is Feb. 4.

The addition of Oliver may not be the end of the line for Notre Dame in terms of wide receiver recruits. Inglewood, Calif., standout Shaquelle Evans officially visited South Bend for ND’s Sept. 27 victory over Purdue and reportedly had a good visit. His recruitment could come down to the Irish and his hometown USC.

Oliver originally committed to Tennessee but later reopened his recruitment. The Volunteers, Wake Forest, Maryland and Michigan all made his final list of choices.

"And of course," Oliver said, "Notre Dame."

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