Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1491978
BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM MARCH 2023 21 a bit as the season went on. Price has a chance to come back from his Achilles injury and start his career in earnest. Payne didn't crack the rotation as a true freshman. It'll be interesting to see if Love — Notre Dame's second highest rated re- cruit in the class of 2023 — can. It'll also be intriguing to watch Tyree, who by ex- perience should have been at the top of the totem pole in 2022, try to regain foot- ing in the room during spring practices. WIDE RECEIVER Starters: Kaleb Smith (Gr.), Lorenzo Styles (Jr.), Jayden Thomas (Jr.) Others: Matt Salerno (Gr.), Deion Col- zie (Jr.), Tobias Merriweather (So.), Jaden Greathouse (Fr.), Rico Flores Jr. (Fr.), Bray- lon James (Fr.), Kaleb Smith (Fr.) With Braden Lenzy calling it a career one day after the Gator Bowl, Styles is the likely option to remain a starter. Col- zie could start if Notre Dame wants to go big with its wide receiver corps, too. There are a lot of moving parts in this room with the five new additions. One of those, the elder Smith from Virginia Tech, seems like a lock to come in and earn a starting job right away. Smith forming a strong rapport with Hartman could be critical in sustaining drives. TIGHT END Starter: Mitchell Evans (Jr.) Others: Kevin Bauman (Sr.), Eli Raridon (So.), Holden Staes (So.), Davis Sherwood (Jr.), Cooper Flanagan (Fr.) Bauman and Raridon are coming back from ACL injuries. Evans played every game down the stretch run of the season and was effective as a starter in the Ga- tor Bowl, catching the game-winning touchdown pass from Buchner. The No. 1 job is his to lose. Everyone else is vying to be his sidekick. Wake Forest's Blake Whiteheart was an effective weapon for Hartman, catching 24 passes for 295 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2022. Hartman likes to use the tight end. Notre Dame has plenty to choose from. OFFENSIVE TACKLE Starters: Joe Alt (Jr.), Blake Fisher (Jr.) Others: Tosh Baker (Sr.), Michael Carmody (Sr.), Caleb Johnson (Jr.), Aamil Wagner (So.), Ty Chan (So.), Charles Ja- gusah (Fr.), Sullivan Absher (Fr.) Nothing new to see here. Alt and Fisher could be two of the best tackles in the country next year. Alt already gave himself that designation with a 2022 All-America campaign and grading out as the No. 1 tackle in the country ac- cording to Pro Football Focus. Baker, Carmody and Johnson did not enter the transfer portal in the winter window, so it appears they're sticking around for now to back up the dynamic duo. OFFENSIVE GUARD Starters: Andrew Kristofic (Sr.), Billy Schrauth (So.) Others: Rocco Spindler (Jr.), Ashton Craig (So.), Joe Otting (Fr.), Sam Pend- leton (Fr.), Chris Terek (Fr.) Kristofic seems to be in the catbird's seat to take the place of Jarrett Patterson at left guard. One of the most compelling competitions of the offseason will be cen- tered upon who takes over for Josh Lugg at right guard. It could be the up-and-com- ing Schrauth, or it could be Spindler who makes a leap as a junior. It could even be someone pulled from the portal if spring practice is a struggle for this group. Notre Dame has two offensive line po- sitions opening up, and neither successor is written in Sharpie. Not even Kristofic. CENTER Starter: Zeke Correll (Gr.) Others: Pat Coogan (Jr.) Correll was solid in his first season as the full-time starter at center. Durable, too. That's a good thing considering Notre Dame is not all that deep at center. Players can always convert, obviously. Kristofic played some center during the offseason when Patterson was in- jured and when Correll was nicked up, for example. But as long as he's healthy, Correll seems ready to resume his role as the starting center in 2023. VYPER DEFENSIVE END Starter: Jordan Botelho (Sr.) Others: Junior Tuihalamaka (So.), Joshua Burnham (So.) Junior left tackle Joe Alt returns as the anchor of Notre Dame's offensive line. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER