Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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at both end and tackle, making him a valuable swingman off the bench. His upper body had advanced strength for his age with 26 bench reps of 225 pounds, and his lower body work is improving. "Physically last year his legs would crumble underneath him, where now today you could see he's got some bite to him," Kelly said this spring. "Is he a dynamic pass rusher off the edge right now? No, he's not. Can he be? I think in time. He's a lot stronger as a football player. [In 2014,] he's going to help us more, especially in the early downs." Jacob Matuska was primarily a tight end and outside linebacker as a high school senior before using last year's redshirt campaign to build himself up to his current 6-4, 285-pound frame. If seniors Tony Springmann and Chase Hounshell have injury problems again, Matuska will be needed on the two-deep in 2014. ✦ Sophomore Class Review Players Signed In February 2013: 24 Players Available In 2014: 22 (Five-star defensive lineman Eddie Vanderdoes inked with Notre Dame, but was permitted by the NCAA to enroll at UCLA instead over the summer; and cornerback Rashad Kin- law was dismissed from the football team this spring by head coach Brian Kelly.) 2013 Recruiting Rankings: 247Sports (No. 3), Rivals.com (No. 3), Tom Lemming (No. 3), Scout.com (No. 4) and ESPNU (No. 4) Defensive lineman Isaac Rochell, who worked at both end and tackle this spring, was pressed into duty as a true freshman and made 10 tackles in a backup role. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA Name/Comment Pos. Ht. Wt. Hunter Bivin* OL 6-5½ 291 Has begun his career at tackle, but could help at guard or center down the road. Greg Bryant* RB 5-9¾ 204 Could be most likely candidate for top breakout season after medical redshirt because of knee problem. Devin Butler CB 6-0 185 Sidelined in spring because of offseason shoulder surgery, but should earn second straight monogram. Michael Deeb* ILB 6-2 242 Biding time at Mike linebacker behind seniors Joe Schmidt and Jarrett Grace, who is recovering from injury.