Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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4. SECOND OPTION AT RECEIVER Almost every year since 2005, Notre Dame has had a No. 1 receiver around whom other Irish wideouts could flour- ish as a potential second or even third option. Jeff Samardzija, Golden Tate, Michael Floyd, Tyler Eifert (flexed out from his tight end slot), TJ Jones … This spring, the top receiver on the roster has 17 career catches, achieved by Chris Brown his first two seasons. Although there is optimism that Da- Varis Daniels and his 80 career catches will be readmitted to Notre Dame this summer, a la Everett Golson in January, Daniels has yet to demonstrate the con- sistency in his work to be categorized as a receiver who can time and again bail out the offense with a clutch catch. Earning the trust of the coaching staff will be essential, too. Finding that one receiver is vital for a relatively young corps to follow. Last year as freshmen, both Corey Robinson and Will Fuller displayed flashes with different skill sets. A third freshman, Torii Hunter Jr., is full go after recover- ing from a major leg injury last year that led to a medical redshirt. Mean- while, early enrollee Justin Brent al- ready provides a stature that rivaled James Onwualu's last spring as an early enrollee. That made the move of Onwualu to safety this spring a little easier to make. "He just looks like an upperclass- man," Kelly said of Brent, echoing vir- tually the same words he said about Onwualu a year ago. "… He's such a powerful kid. Once we get left and right figured out with him, we're go- ing to be good with him." Finally, the slot position includes C.J. Prosise, who made the transition from safety last year, and former running backs Amir Carlisle and Will Mahone. Similar to safety, receiver does not lack quality bodies, but it might still be that proverbial year away from reach- ing an optimum level as a unit, espe- cially while adjusting to a new quarter- back that led to some passing issues in the second practice (March 5). "There are some new things offen- sively that some of these young re- ceivers haven't run," Kelly said after the March 5 practice. "There are some routes that they haven't run, a Chris Brown is not familiar with, Will Fuller is not familiar with. That's going to take a little bit of time, but they're going to have all summer working with each other. "We're a little bit off in some of those things. The quarterbacks' accuracy is a little off because it's really the first time that they've been together." If Daniels is readmitted, he has the best opportunity to be of that No. 1 receiver ilk. Who will develop most behind him in 2014 to possibly succeed him in that role in 2015? 5. THE INSIDE STORY No position anywhere is likely to be more open entering the fall than the two inside linebacker slots, Mike and Will. With senior-to-be Jarrett Grace, who started three games at Mike last season before fracturing his leg in four places, in recovery, everyone else on the roster has combined for zero starts and mainly cameo appearances. The start of spring had fifth-year