Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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UNDER THE DOME Torii Hunter Jr. By Dan Murphy Notre Dame has a logjam of young and poten- tially productive threats in the passing game. Tight ends, converted running backs and natural wide receivers are all vying for one ball in the fall, and this spring many of them are introducing themselves to the guy who will be throwing it to them for the first time. Redshirt freshman Torii Hunter Jr. has the smoothness and ath- letic pedigree to be- come one of quarter- back Everett Golson's favorite targets in the next couple years. The 15 spring practices will be crucial for Hunter Jr. to earn Golson's trust and keep himself from being lost in the pack. With top returning receiver DaVaris Daniels absent this semester, Hunter Jr. and a slew of younger receivers have some extra space to com- mand attention. Golson already has a strong con- nection with the dynamic rising senior Daniels. In August, that duo will need time to reconnect after a full year apart. Now is the time for new faces to get themselves in line behind Daniels. Classmates like Will Fuller and Corey Robinson have already started to state their cases in 2013. Tight ends Ben Koyack and Durham Smythe will also contend for a role in the passing game, as will players in the slot like Amir Carlisle and C.J. Pro- sise. Hunter Jr. might have the right set of skills to take playing time away from them, if he can prove it in March. If not, he could find himself stuck behind a big group that have mostly long careers ahead of them. Greg Bryant By Andrew Owens For the second straight spring, running back is a wide open position on the offensive depth chart. Three contenders for the starting spot return (se- nior Amir Carlisle is spending most of his time at slot receiver for the time being), but it's sopho- more Greg Bryant who needs an impressive 15 practices the most. The Delray Beach, Fla., native recorded just three carries in three games before Notre Dame shut him down for the season with a knee issue. His competitors, fellow sophomore Tarean Folston (470 yards, three touchdowns and a Pinstripe Bowl start) and senior Cam McDaniel (705 yards and three touch- downs), had the advantage of playing often in 2013. Early reports from spring practice indicate Bryant is off to a hot start, one that is necessary for him to see the field this fall. Fans looking for instant gratification from high-profile freshmen were disap- pointed by his first year on campus, but could very well have their concerns set aside in 2014. One factor that will be important in determining how to distribute the reps is the effectiveness in the receiving game. Neither McDaniel nor Folston excelled in that area a year ago. If Bryant can in 2014, it's another feather in his cap as he looks to see the field. Head coach Brian Kelly indicated again this spring that the running backs will form a committee, as was the case a year ago. Opportunity awaits, and the players able to seize it will earn the bulk of the group's work. Point ✦ Counterpoint: WHICH PLAYER HAS THE MOST TO GAIN DURING THIS SPRING PRACTICE? HUNTER JR. BRYANT