Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM MAY 2023 23 "His decision-making has been great," Guidugli said. "His ball place- ment has been great. We have to find a way to get him more reps and continue to develop Steve. I think Steve has a shot to be a really great quarterback." Running back Gi'Bran Payne and linebacker Nolan Ziegler will likely have better opportunities if they stick around in 2024, when their respective positions might need to replace starters. Departed linebacker Bo Bauer identified Ziegler as a potential special teams stalwart, which is his best way onto the field this fall. Payne has pushed his weight over 200 pounds after arriving at around 190. He's in the mix to be the punt re- turner this year. ✦ Players Signed: 22 Players Available In 2023: 20 2022 Team Recruiting Rankings: No. 6 by On3 and Rivals, No. 7 by ESPN and No. 9 by 247Sports Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Steve Angeli QB 6-2 3 ⁄8 211 No. 2 quarterback for most of 2022 who is likely ticketed for the No. 3 role in 2023 … Redshirted last season. Jayden Bellamy CB 5-11 175 Transferred to Syracuse in December after appearing in zero games as a freshman. Joshua Burnham DE 6-3½ 247 Converted linebacker and former top-150 recruit is battling for a rotation spot this spring after playing three games last year, preserving a redshirt. Ty Chan OT 6-5 310 Former four-star prospect whose chance at a starting job is likely another year away. Ashton Craig C 6-4¼ 296 Redshirted in 2022 and could be in the mix for a possible interior line vacancy after the 2023 season. Tyson Ford DT 6-3 7 ⁄8 292 Former top-100 prospect redshirted in 2022 and is competing for a rotational role this spring. Aiden Gobaira DE 6-4 5 ⁄8 241 Played in one game in 2022 and is in the mix for a backup job. Donovan Hinish DT 6-1 5 ⁄8 287 Brother of former Irish defensive tackle Kurt Hinish is competing to be the fourth or fifth interior lineman in 2023. Bryce McFerson P 6-1½ 190 The likely starting punter in 2023 after taking a redshirt year that was not originally planned … Won the kickoff job before a groin injury knocked him out for a month. Tobias Merriweather WR 6-4 205 Caught 1 pass for a 41-yard touchdown in seven games before missing No- vember with a concussion … Potential starter in 2023. Jaden Mickey CB 5-11½ 177 Played 11 games and made 9 tackles in 2022 … Rotation player in 2023 who could end up as the primary nickel back. Benjamin Morrison CB 6-0¼ 185 Freshman All-American who had a team-high 10 passes defended. Gi'Bran Payne RB 5-9 1 ⁄8 204 Played four games, mostly on special teams, preserving a redshirt … Former Indiana signee and four-star recruit was an April 2022 addition. Jadarian Price RB 5-10 3 ⁄8 203 Likely would have avoided a redshirt if not for a torn Achilles suffered in June … Should be in backfield rotation when healthy. Eli Raridon TE 6-6¾ 249 Former top-200 recruit impressed as a blocker in five games. Billy Schrauth OG 6-4½ 304 Former top-200 prospect who is a strong candidate to start at either guard spot after taking a redshirt in 2022. Jaylen Sneed LB 6-1 1 ⁄8 217 Class' highest-rated player in the On3 Industry Ranking played the last four games of 2022 and is pushing for a bigger role on defense this spring. Holden Staes TE 6-4¼ 242 Talented receiving tight end who bulked up this spring and improved as a blocker … Could be the No. 2 tight end in 2023. Joey Tanona OG 6-5 284 Retired due to medical reasons before the 2022 season due to lingering ef- fects of a head injury suffered in a car crash. Junior Tuihalamaka DE 6-2 247 Played 87 snaps in 13 games … Moved from middle linebacker to vyper last season and is competing with Burnham. Aamil Wagner OT 6-6 278 Former five-star recruit in the 2022 On300 and potential 2024 starter is work- ing with the second-team offensive line this spring after redshirting in 2022. Nolan Ziegler LB 6-3 225 Took a redshirt in 2022 and is a backup middle linebacker … Could be a useful special teams player in 2023. Sophomore Class Review Former top-40 recruit Jaylen Sneed could push Notre Dame's veteran line- backers for snaps this fall. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER