Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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of a new coordinator and structure? • Elijah Shumate as a sophomore last year could never quite grasp the big-picture team defense or making the calls, but the ferocious hitter did start three games after a strong freshman season in 2012 at nickel. He also battled a hamstring injury last season. • Eilar Hardy was off the radar his first two seasons (2011-12) while recov- ering from major knee surgery, but he started several games in 2013 and was one of the more improved players. • In his third game as a freshman in 2012, Nick Baratti intercepted a halfback pass against Michigan in a goal-line sit- uation during the 13-6 Irish win, and was a regular in all 13 games. Shoulder surgery sidelined him in 2013, but he is back this spring. • Finally, wide receiver James On- wualu excelled enough as a blocker and on special teams last year as a fresh- man that his 6-1, 215-pound frame is expected to bring a physical presence at safety the way Troy Niklas' did at tight end when he moved to offense after playing defense his freshman year. Safety remains relatively unproven, but it's primed to blossom with excel- lent competition and numerous op- tions. 2. THE FIFTH OFFENSIVE LINEMAN The top four linemen for the Fight- ing Irish in 2014 are relatively clear, in no particular order: fifth-year senior Christian Lombard, senior Nick Mar- tin, junior Ronnie Stanley and sopho- more Steve Elmer. A primary objective for third-year offensive line coach Harry Hiestand is to find another powerful left side to re- place the graduated fifth-year tandem of Zack Martin and Chris Watt. To open the spring, Stanley was aligned at left tackle — after starting all 13 games at right tackle last year — and Elmer was at left guard. Ide- ally, Elmer also would be a tackle (he started four games at guard last year), but combining the duo of Stanley and Elmer on the same left side is too ap- pealing to bypass. "There are some intricacies of being in a left-handed stance versus a right- handed stance, and we have to look at that relative to the recruiting," Kelly said. Martin started the first 11 games at center last season before an MCL in- jury shelved him for the spring, but his knowledge, technique and poise earned the trust of the staff during the 2013 campaign. Lombard started all 13 games at right tackle for the 2012 team and the first seven at right guard last season — to make room for Stanley at right tackle — before undergoing back sur- gery. Lombard was aligned at right guard again to begin the spring. The issue is finding the fifth starter — and where he will positioned. Getting the first crack is rangy 6-7½, 300-pound right tackle Mike Mc- Glinchey, who redshirted as a fresh- man last season but whose athletic skills wowed the staff. He could even be inserted as a blocking tight end this season if necessary. "He's a guy that running around is as athletic as some of the tight ends in the country," Kelly said. "[You] easily could throw a second jersey on him and line up at tight end." (NCAA rules