Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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confidence grow. "He's so much more vocal and so much more communicative." Okwara doesn't even turn 18 until this June 17 — he started school in Nigeria at around age 3, as he recalls — but his 6-4, 258-pound frame is one the coaches want to continue to utilize at least on special teams. Like Okwara, 6-5, 295-pound defensive lineman Jarron Jones passes the eye test as a specimen. Last year was an apprenticeship for Jones because, unlike Day, he was raw with technique. Elston expects to see him receive snaps this season, maybe in a role similar to current junior Tony Springmann last year. "Jarron is starting to play like a freshman in college," Elston said. "He was playing like a high school senior a year ago in terms of his immaturity and his lack of aggressiveness. He wasn't a soft player by any means, but he just wasn't as aggressive as we needed him to be. That aggressiveness has allowed him to move his game forward." Offensive left tackle Ronnie Stanley could be the dark horse along the line. Listed behind fourth-year starter, AllAmerica candidate and captain Zack Martin, Stanley was shelved in the latter portion of 2012 while undergoing elbow surgery, and he wasn't activated for full duty until the second half of spring. With his combination of footwork and 6-6, 318-pound frame, Stanley might even be able to help elsewhere if needed. In the Blue-Gold Game, he was the No. 1 left guard when starter Chris Watt had to sit out. If he proves to be the "fifth best lineman," there might even be a chance that he could move to right tackle while the starter, there, Christian Lombard, shifts to right guard. Mark Harrell was the No. 2 right guard behind junior Conor Hanratty this spring, but he also could help at center in a pinch. Similar to Hanratty and starting center Nick Martin last season, Harrell may be another year away from being primed for more playing time. At running back, 214-pound Will Mahone was withheld from playing time behind a deep backfield that will have five other contenders for major minutes this season, led by junior George Atkinson III. More important in Mahone's progress will be holding off challenges from the highly touted Florida freshman duo of Greg Bryant and Tarean Folston, while still acclimating to a spread scheme. "He's used to being a downhill, 25-carry running back from the I," said Kelly of Mahone. "Line up in slot, catch — it's a big learning curve. He runs the ball well, though. He'll run the ball with some physicality. We were looking for a bigger back, which we got with him. He continues to mature and learn the offense." Along with safety John Turner, Mahone could make his bones on special teams — a unit that is always seeking fast and physical athletes — this season. Turner is currently caught in a logjam at safety, but at 6-1, 220 pounds he might possess the frame to help at another position in the future, maybe even inside linebacker, where the Irish need more candidates. ✦