Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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He's not as advanced technically as 2012 freshman Sheldon Day — few players are — but he is more ready physically and mentally than Jarron Jones was as a rookie last year. If anyone in this first group could still be considered "on the bubble," it might be Rochell. On The Bubble Running back Tarean Folston, wide receiver William Fuller and quarterback Malik Zaire. The surprise with Folston is that while Bryant has been labeled more of a bruiser and Folston more of the speedster, the 5-9¾ Folston actually checked in three pounds heavier than Bryant at 207. Folston, who also has been auditioning for kick and punt returns, wasn't at the Aug. 17 scrimmage because of a death in his family. The running back trio of Atkinson III, Carlisle and Bryant appears to be getting set, and junior Cam McDaniel will, at minimum, be a special teams mainstay. Even in the prior open practice Aug. 9, a slight injury seemed to be holding back Folston, so there is not enough of a body of work to make a judgment on whether he will be on the field this year in some capacity. After the first day of practice at Shiloh Park, the 171-pound wideout Fuller was one of the first players mentioned by Kelly for his performance. He has a burst off the line and ball skills that make you believe he can have a role, but there already are about six other receiving options ahead of him, and at 6-0, 171 pounds, he could use a little more strength. The same was said of Chris Brown last year, though, and Fuller arrives with a little more polish than the speed merchant Brown did. Zaire was smoother with his throwing motion than we thought, but he did not see much action in scrimmage situations at the two practices open to the media. As the third quarterback, he won't get many (if any) reps once preparation for games begin, but he won't be with the scout team either like the transferred Gunner Kiel (Cincinnati) was in 2012 or Everett Golson in 2011. With only three scholarship quarterbacks on the roster, he can't afford to be away from the offense because he's an injury away from No. 2. "We want to keep him with the starters," Kelly said of the practice arrangement. "That's important. He needs to get that first-hand knowledge of the offense and defense, see the college game." Zaire's situation at No. 3 is somewhat similar to 2009 when five-star Dayne Crist was behind incumbent Jimmy Clausen and fifth-year senior Evan Sharpley. If Zaire doesn't have to play, it might be preferable to save a year of eligibility. Biding Their Time Offensive guard Hunter Bivin, cornerback Devin Butler, inside linebacker Michael Deeb, tight end Mike Heuerman, receiver Torii Hunter Jr., cornerback Rashad Kinlaw, defensive end Jacob Matuska, offensive right tackle Mike McGlinchey, offensive right guard Colin McGovern, center John Montelus, outside linebacker Doug Randolph and tight end Durham Smythe Preserving a fifth-year of eligibility for these 12 players might be a prudent step, but one never knows what