Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Senior DaVaris Daniels, if readmitted to summer school, is projected to be the aircraft carrier at wideout this year, but this trio should provide myriad options to the offense in years to come. In 2014, they will be a work in progress valuable in specific situations, accord- ing to Irish offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Mike Denbrock. "I don't think anybody in my mind is far enough along where they've just separated themselves," Denbrock said. "We are young on offense — very tal- ented, but also young in a lot of spots." Especially at receiver. The sopho- more trio might be a year away from blossoming more as all-around threats. 4. Offensive Line — By the end of their careers, this five-man line might prove to be the strongest overall unit in the class. The ultra-versatile Steve Elmer started four games at guard last year while enjoying one of the more im- pressive campaigns ever by a fresh- man offensive lineman at Notre Dame. Although he spent the spring at left guard, he might be the starting right tackle (where he originally competed in 2013) so that seniors Conor Hanratty and Matt Hegarty can vie for the left guard slot. Elmer also might be a more natural tackle. "Steve can really play anywhere. He's such a big, long angular guy that he's still figuring out how to keep his body in balance," Notre Dame offen- sive line coach Harry Hiestand said. "Sometimes he looks like a new-born deer out there." Classmate Mike McGlinchey and his 6-7½, 300-pound frame received the first crack at No. 1 right tackle this spring. At worst, he will be the third tackle (left or right) this year while his strength catches up with his length, but no one on the line might possess a higher ceiling. "It's awesome," Hiestand said of McGlinchey's long-range potential. "He comes from a real small school in Pennsylvania and understood the physical nature of the game but was not necessarily challenged like that ev- ery game as opposed to someone who comes from [Chicago's] Mount Carmel or one of those places. "It's been a major adjustment for him here, but the competition [now] has been at a high level." Working in reserve are left tackle Hunter Bivin — who can play any position along the line — right guard John Montelus and right tackle Co- lin McGovern. Kelly said McGovern's long-range position will be guard — and the same might be true for Bivin, who came from a small program simi- lar to McGlinchey's school. Montelus barely practiced last sea- son while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery he had in the sum- mer, and McGovern also was shelved some because of offseason knee sur- gery. By their junior years in 2015, they should be viable contenders for more action. "It's just a matter of time," Hiestand said. "They're tough, they're physical, they're strong, they have good athletic ability, they can make all the blocks. It's just a matter of learning technique when things change [by the defense]." ALL-AROUND BALANCE Four other units are well repre-