Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Top Five Emerging Offensive Players 1. RB Greg Bryant — He was our No. 1 pick for freshman impact in 2013. It never materialized be- cause of knee issues that resulted in a medical red- shirt. A healthy spring has returned Bryant to the forefront in a three-man backfield rotation with se- nior Cam McDaniel and sophomore classmate Tarean Folston. We could see Bryant not only matching the de- parted George Atkinson's 555 yards rushing last sea- son, but also reaching double figures in receptions and being the top punt return option. "He's a physical kid, and he's fun to coach," head coach Brian Kelly said. "He's full of energy, he's got a smile on his face and he loves to play the game. 2. RT Mike McGlinchey — The No. 1 right tackle all through the spring, which put him ahead of Stanley's pace last season. His nearly 6-8 frame is in develop- ment and could still add another 30 pounds. "I played every position except DB in high school," he said. "I think that benefitted me in the aspect of learning the game of football. I learned it from all different perspectives, and I think that was a huge benefit for me coming into school here." 3. QB Malik Zaire — We're generally leery of stellar Blue-Gold Games by backup quarterbacks — Nate Montana starred in 2010, and Andrew Hendrix stole the show in 2011 — but there was some evidence throughout the spring that Zaire is not just an "athlete" trying to play quarterback. A better overall command of the offense could earn him some legitimate playing time behind Everett Golson as a dual-threat figure. 4. TE Durham Smythe — The fluidness in his 6-4½ frame reminds one of so many of his John Mackey Award predecessors. Although he's listed at only 242 pounds, he might complement senior starter Ben Koyack as an in-line blocker. "The game comes pretty easy to him, and as an in-line blocker from a technique standpoint he picks up things very well," Kelly said. "Good hands, body awareness and he's got good size. He's going to be a key contributor for us in the fall." 5. OL Colin McGovern — When asked who most exceeded expectations this spring, Kelly noted the backup and classmate for McGlinchey. Slowed by high school knee surgery, McGovern dramatically picked up the pace even though guard will be his future position. "He was a little bit behind in fall camp, maybe lost his confidence a little bit," Kelly said. "He's had a really good spring for us. … We see him as an inside guy. He's got real good football instincts." — Lou Somogyi Last December, head coach Brian Kelly singled out tight end Durham Smythe for his strong performance in practices leading up to the Pinstripe Bowl. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA