Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/140903
Senior Daniel Smith, a 6-4, 213-pound wide receiver from South Bend, could give Notre Dame a physical presence this fall in the slot position, which is normally reserved for a smaller player. photo by bill panzica 4. Right Guard — Junior Conor Hanratty appears to be the heir to Mike Golic Jr. at right guard, but that side of the line could have other options. If sophomore left tackle Ronnie Stanley (6-6, 318 pounds), sidelined the latter part of 2012 after elbow surgery, proves to be one of the five best linemen, then he could move to right tackle and push 6-5, 322-pound junior incumbent tackle Christian Lombard to right guard, where he also has practiced. Stanley started at left guard in the Blue-Gold Game when Chris Watt was held out as a precaution. 5. Dog Linebacker — Underrated senior Danny Spond was one of Fighting Irish defensive coordinator Bob Diaco's "players of the year," and this spring Diaco lauded Spond's backup, junior Ben Councell, as a "player of the spring" in terms of improvement. Elite recruit Jaylon Smith joins the party at this position group this summer, which could prompt more creativity with some alignments. Top Five States Much is made of mining the talent-rich football states of California, Florida and Texas, but Notre Dame's most productive areas remain local. The number of players — scholarship and preferred walk-ons — are in parentheses: 1. Indiana (7) — The offensive line features brothers Zack and Nick Martin at left tackle and center, respectively, while the defensive line has sophomore starter Sheldon Day and versatile junior Tony Springmann. Local product and senior Daniel Smith can aid any of the three wideout slots, while incoming five-star outside linebacker Jaylon Smith might be able to help right away. 2. Illinois (7) — This state is offense dominated with fifth-year senior Chris Watt at guard, senior Christian Lombard at tackle, senior Tommy Rees at quarterback and junior DaVaris Daniels at wide receiver. The special teams include sophomore long snapper Scott Daly and coverage man Connor Cavalaris, a walk-on who monogrammed last year. 3. California (7) — Junior speedsters George Atkinson III and Amir Carlisle are expected to be leaders at running back, while classmate Troy Niklas is the heir to the extraordinary tight end tradition. Had defensive lineman Eddie Vanderdoes joined safety and fellow five-star recruit Max Redfield in this year's haul, the Golden State would be higher. 4. Ohio (10) — The Buckeye State has the most scholarship representation, led by fifth-year senior Dan Fox and junior Jarrett Grace at inside linebacker. Senior tight end Alex Welch also could be a regular. At quarterback, senior Andrew Hendrix and freshman Malik Zaire will try to push Rees, while senior Luke Massa will be the holder on kicks. 5. New Jersey (5) — Edges North Carolina for the fifth slot, with both featuring defense. Fifth-year senior linebacker Carlo Calabrese, senior corner Bennett Jackson and sophomore safety Elijah Shumate are all expected to be in the starting rotation. Top Five "No Time" In 2012 To "Show Time" In 2013 Every year there are players who were sidelined the previous season — either as freshmen or due to injuries — that make a significant impact the following year. This was especially true last year with quarterback Everett Golson, wide receiver DaVaris Daniels and safety Matthias Farley. In 2011, it was nose guard Louis Nix III, and in 2010 it was left tackle Zack Martin. Who are such potential figures in 2013? 1. Junior running back Amir Carlisle — The USC transfer missed all of the 2012 spring with an ankle injury, missed all of the 2012 season because of nerve damage to the ankle, and in the third practice of this spring he broke his clavicle. Head coach Brian Kelly still vowed Carlisle will be a valuable component in 2013 (maybe even at slot). 2. Sophomore slot receiver C.J. Prosise — He might be the inverse of Farley in 2013. Whereas Farley was buried on the depth chart as a 2011 freshman receiver before starting at safety in 2012, the 6-1, 220-pound Prosise practiced with the scout team at safety (and a little at Dog linebacker) last year before emerging as a standout this spring, after the transfers of classmates Davonte' Neal and Justin Ferguson, with his combination of size, burst and playmaking skills. 3. Senior safety Austin Collinsworth — Notre Dame's 2011 Special Teams Player of the Year was shelved in 2012 because of shoulder and back surgeries. After a slow start in the first 10 practices this spring, he knocked some of the rust off and could become a regular in the safety rotation. 4. Sophomore defensive end Jarron Jones — Raw and unsettled as a freshman, the 6-5, 295-pound prospect might have the skills to provide a boost off the bench this year the way sophomore Tony Springmann and freshman Sheldon Day did in 2012. 5. Sophomore long snapper Scott Daly — Succeeds four-year starter Jordan Cowart as the next prospective four-year starter at a position that is seldom appreciated — until a snafu occurs. Top Five Seeing Double (Numbers) Jersey No. 5 was worn last year by Notre Dame's two centerpieces, on defense Mike linebacker Manti Te'o and on offense quarterback Everett Golson. Neither will be with the Irish this year, but there were still be lots of duplicates. Among them: 1. No. 7: Defensive end Stephon Tuitt and wideout TJ Jones — Tuitt is an All-American and potential first-round pick, while Jones' 111 career catches are 80 more than anyone else on the team. 2. No. 11: Quarterback Tommy Rees and outside linebacker/end Ishaq Williams — Rees has 18 career starts and several "saves," while Williams is beginning to blossom into a potential force on defense. 3. No. 2: Cornerback Bennett Jackson and wide receiver Chris Brown — Two of perhaps the five fastest players on the team, they were mistakenly on the field at the same time on Pitt's missed 33-yard field goal in overtime last November — a violation missed by the officiating crew that could have cost Notre Dame the game. 4. No. 1: Nose guard Louis Nix III and running back Greg Bryant — This will be Nix's third different number in four years, but it means he can't be in the backfield the same time as the freshman Bryant, a fellow Floridian who indicated he will don No. 1. 5. No. 10: Wide receiver DaVaris Daniels and safety Max Redfield — This one is uncomfirmed by the university with regard 24 ✦ Blue & Gold Illustrated 2013 Football Preview 20-27.Season Preview-Superlatives.indd 24 6/25/13 8:46 AM