Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/366772
"We're making really good progress at identifying guys we want on those teams and then we'll scout that group. The focus work … has been to de- velop the technique of that group and those players that we want instead of picking them out of a hat. [We have been] seeing real competition, drill work competition and then identify- ing those guys and putting them on those teams." During the first t h r e e p r a c t i c e s open to the media in August, Notre Dame used fifth- year senior corner- back Cody Riggs a n d s o p h o m o re r u n n i n g b a c k s Greg Bryant and Tarean Folston at punt returner. At the opening prac- t i c e o f t h e f a l l , the running backs looked timid and at times struggled catching the ball cleanly, but Riggs — as you would expect from an SEC veteran — looked fearless. On Aug. 16, only Riggs and Bry- ant received looks as punt returners. Bryant's game-breaking athleticism might be too enticing to not use in that capacity. "When I first came here I knew I had the athletic ability," said Bryant, who was a candidate for the position a year ago before TJ Jones ultimately claimed the spot. "I just didn't know much about the mental part of the game. Now I'm getting a hang of the mental part of the game. … I feel like just me redshirting this year made me learn what I didn't know as a true freshman." There has been no kickoff return work done dur- ing the media-ob- served practices. As of the spring, six players were candidates to re- turn kicks: Bry- ant, Folston, senior wide receiver Amir C a r l i s l e , s e n i o r running back Cam McDaniel, senior cornerback Josh At- kinson and sopho- more wide receiver Torii Hunter Jr., w h o suffered a grade three groin tear during prac- tice and is out until mid-September. Carlisle and Mc- Daniel — the lat- ter of whom has served as the No. 2 kick returner for two years — figure to get the nods. Carlisle returned three kickoffs for 81 yards, including a 35-yard scamper, with George Atkinson suspended for the Pinstripe Bowl. Notre Dame is once again entering a new season hoping that its special teams units hardly resemble the recent past. ✦ No. Kicker Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 27 Kyle Brindza 6-1 236 Sr./1 85 Tyler Newsome 6-2½ 190 Fr./4 No. Punter Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 27 Kyle Brindza 6-1 236 Sr./1 85 Tyler Newsome 6-2½ 190 Fr./4 No. Kickoffs Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 27 Kyle Brindza 6-1 236 Sr./1 85 Tyler Newsome 6-2½ 190 Fr./4 No. Holder Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 99 Hunter Smith 6-3 213 Jr./3 85 Tyler Newsome 6-2½ 190 Fr./4 No. Long Snapper Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 61 Scott Daly 6-1½ 250 Jr./3 99 Hunter Smith 6-3 213 Jr./3 No. Kick Returner Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 3 Amir Carlisle 5-10 190 Sr./2 33 Cam McDaniel 5-10 205 Sr./1 No. Punt Returner Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 2 Cody Riggs 5-9 185 5th/1 or 1 Greg Bryant 5-10 205 So./4 2014 BGI Specialists Depth Chart