Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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he was a 2001 freshman (yet even Tuck redshirted). Hayes might be the best candidate among the three freshman tackles to see action, depending how healthy and durable seniors Tony Springmann and Chase Hounshell will be after recover- ing from major surgeries. BIDING THEIR TIME Offensive tackle Alex Bars, offen- sive guards Jimmy Byrne and Sam Mustipher, defensive tackles Daniel Cage and Peter Mokwuah, wide re- ceiver Corey Holmes, tight ends Tyler Luatua and Nic Weishar, and lineback- ers Jonathan Bonner, Kolin Hill, Greer Martini and Nile Sykes are all less likely to see action this fall. Since 2007, there have been 24 schol- arship offensive linemen to enroll at Notre Dame, and 22 were redshirted. The exceptions were Trevor Robinson (2008) and Steve Elmer (2013) — and both happened to be early enrollees. With six offensive linemen who pos- sess starting experience and four red- shirts from last year — tackles Mike McGlinchey and Hunter Bivin, and guards Colin McGovern and John Montelus — it's unlikely any of the four offensive line recruits this year will be inserted, although we did put Nelson on the bubble as a tackle. At defensive tackle, we wouldn't be surprised if one of the three might see action if a rash of injuries occur again. Last year, Isaac Rochell had to be in- serted after season-ending injuries that occurred to Springmann (ACL tear) and Hounshell (labrum tear) prior to the campaign, plus a high ankle sprain that plagued Day much of the year. Tight ends Luatua and Weishar are in situations similar to where current sophomores Durham Smythe and Mike Heuerman were last year as freshmen when they redshirted while playing behind veteran tight ends Troy Niklas, Ben Koyack and Alex Welch. Koyack is back this season and should be one of the more reliable targets, if not the most, on the team. Smythe is primed to see his first regular duty at Notre Dame, and Heuerman should as well. Similar to Heuerman, the 6-4 Weis- har might need a little more ballast in the britches (listed at 215 on National Signing Day), although his 252 career catches — an all-time record in the Il- linois prep ranks — could make him an appealing flex tight end prospect down the road in the Tyler Eifert mold. Luatua does not turn 18 until Dec. 16, after the regular season, so there shouldn't be a need to rush him into action right away until he, too, matures more physically. At wide receiver, the 176-pound Holmes fits the mold of a redshirt can- didate because he might not quite have the speed and explosiveness that a Wil- liam Fuller did in 2013 or Chris Brown did in 2012, both with limited weight, and he did not have Brent's 15 spring practices. But if an injury or two oc- curs, Holmes can't be ruled out from joining the six- or seven-man rotation. The August report will be more tell- ing, but based on the current roster this spring, freshmen might not be needed to fill out the two deep the way they were in recent years while the infrastructure was being built un- der Kelly. ✦