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to five-star safety recruit Max Redfield, who could compete for action right away in various capacities. Daniels switched from No. 16 as a freshman to his current jersey number as a sophomore. Top Five Impact Freshman Candidates 1. Running Back Greg Bryant — The second-team USA Today All-American has an opportunity at what has traditionally been the most likely spot a freshman at Notre Dame has played, especially with Theo Riddick and Cierre Wood both having graduated. The physical 5-11, 200-pound Floridian rushed for 3,627 yards the past two years, averaged 23.2 yards on his 25 catches and showed during U.S. Army All-American Bowl practices that he can be a good and willing pass blocker, the main albatross among freshman backs. 2. Dog Linebacker Jaylon Smith — The five-star player will have to earn his reps behind established senior Danny Spond and rising junior Ben Councell, but it would be a surprise if he isn't at least part of some sub packages on defense or at least a mainstay on special teams. 3. Safety Max Redfield — Like Smith, another five-star prospect who could crack the two-deep early, although defensive coordinator Bob Diaco has indicated that safety is much more difficult to grasp for a rookie than cornerback. At minimum, we can foresee him having the type of role current sophomore safety Elijah Shumate did in 2012. 4. Punter Andrew Antognoli — The preferred walk-on from California switched his decision to go to Harvard and might be the best bet to possibly start as a freshman. Four-year starter Ben Turk graduated, and in the spring game Notre Dame's seven punts averaged 30.1 yards. Wake Forest transfer Alex Wulfeck also will be in the hunt. National kicking instructor Chris Sailer had Antognoli ranked 11th among top freshman punting prospects. 5. Wide Receiver Corey Robinson — Of the handful of practices that were open this spring for about a half-hour, the 6-4, 197-pound Robinson always seemed to make the best catches in tempo or seven-on-seven drills. The wideout position needs help, and Robinson's range, hands and early enrollee experience might give him the best opportunity among several youngsters. Top Five Question Marks 1. Who will be the playmakers on offense? The Fighting Irish graduated their top two rushers, who combined for 1,659 yards on the ground, and four of the top six receivers, Running back Greg Bryant and linebacker Jaylon Smith, who squared off during the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in January, are good bets to contribute as true freshmen this fall. photo courtesy u.s. army all-american bowl Top Five Goals For 2013 Let's be clear on this: The national title always is the aspiration at Notre Dame. But given that's it's been a schoolrecord 25 years since the most recent one, the next best things to point to are … 1. A Bowl Championship Series victory Since the start of the BCS format in 1998, Notre Dame is 0-4 in these outings while losing by an average of 25.3 points. Furthermore, there have been 29 different programs that have won a BCS bowl, and Notre Dame isn't among them. This is the final season with the BCS before the four-team playoff format begins in 2014. Notre Dame hasn't won a major bowl since the Cotton Bowl (24-21 over Texas A&M) after the 1993 regular season. 2. Back-to-back top-10 finishes The last time Notre Dame achieved this was 1992-93. Since 1994, it has placed in the final top 10 of the Associated Press poll only twice, No. 4 last year and No. 9 in 2005. Achieving it consecutively would add to the credibility that the Fighting Irish are on a path toward more consistent prominence. 3. Sweep Michigan and USC a second straight season This hasn't been achieved since 1987-90. Since 1997, Notre Dame is 1-6 in Ann Arbor (with three straight losses). The Irish also have lost five straight at home to the Trojans, one short of the opponent record of six in a row by Michigan State from 1997-2007. 4. Finish unbeaten at home again This is an annual objective because it practically guarantees legitimate national title contention. Last year was the first time in 14 years — and only second time since 1990 — Notre Dame accomplished it. The Fighting Irish have finished unscathed at home 13 times since 1950 (about once per five years). The overall record in those years was 129-15-3 (.885 winning percentage) with 11 top-10 finishes, four national titles and five other near misses. 5. Average 30 points per game This would be a first under head coach Brian Kelly, whose first three seasons produced 26.31 (2010), 29.23 (2011) and 25.77 (2012) scoring averages per game. None of the other top six teams in the final AP poll last year averaged less than 37 points. To achieve this goal after the graduation of first-round tight end Tyler Eifert, the top two rushers in Theo Riddick and Cierre Wood, and 2012 starting quarterback Everett Golson would be remarkable. Blue & Gold Illustrated 2013 Football Preview ✦ 25 20-27.Season Preview-Superlatives.indd 25 6/25/13 8:47 AM