Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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8 APRIL 2022 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY PATRICK ENGEL M arcus Freeman can pick out enough bankable assets before spring practice even starts to feel encouraged about Notre Dame's floor in his first year as head coach. He knows junior tight end Michael Mayer is a mismatch and senior de- fensive end Isaiah Foskey is a game- wrecker. There's high-end talent on the roster that has already proven itself and fuels the win-now expectations for Freeman's debut season. How high Freeman feels that win to- tal can climb, though, will be largely shaped by the gains and progress from intriguing but less established play- ers. A lot of star power and production (and, you know, a 12-year head coach) left the Gug this offseason. Notre Dame is replacing a 13-game starting quarter- back, a 1,000-yard rusher and offensive centerpiece, its leading receiver, three fifth-year senior captains on defense and a probable top-five NFL Draft pick at safety. Candidates to replace them are among the most obvious figures when naming intriguing Notre Dame players to watch this spring, but the list goes beyond that. Here are 10 who could have a hand in brightening Notre Dame's 2022 outlook, even if they're not poten- tial every-down players. TYLER BUCHNER • SO. • QB It has to start here, doesn't it? His next step might be the most critical in determining where the Irish could go in 2022. Buchner looked like an impressive ath- lete playing quarterback last year more than a quarterback who's athletic. As a sophomore, though, that has to give way to becoming a skilled passer with high- level athleticism if the Irish are going to make a College Football Playoff push. Last season made clear that's not going to be a quick journey, or even one guar- anteed to be completed. But the possi- bilities are balmy if it happens. Finding a new level of consistency is objective No. 1 for Buchner this spring. Junior-to-be Drew Pyne will be on his heels if he can't. CHRIS TYREE • JR. • RB Tyree's 2020 season suggested Notre Dame needed to put little thought into Kyren Williams' replacement if Wil- liams left after 2021. He ran for 496 yards on 6.8 yards per attempt, con- firming the home-run speed potential attached to his name as a recruit was real. Then unreliable run blocking, a bout with turf toe and freshman Logan Diggs' emergence combined to quell the mo- mentum in 2021, even though Tyree could control none of those factors. The offensive line should be better this year and he's healthy. Can that combina- tion plus the arrival of respected run- ning back teacher Deland McCullough put him on lead back trajectory again? Or will the spring showcase he's better suited as a 1A with Diggs? DEION COLZIE • SO. • WR Notre Dame passing on transfer por- tal help in January after Kevin Austin Jr. declared for the NFL Draft felt like a bet on Colzie, a 6-4¾, 207-pound bound- ary receiver prototype who did enough to eschew a redshirt as a freshman. That 166-snap sample, though, showcased the need for more physical development and a little more seasoning before he could compete to start. UNDER THE DOME TEN TO WATCH Diving into the most intriguing names to monitor this spring Sophomore Deion Colzie is competing for the starting boundary receiver spot. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER