Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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RECEIVING AID WIDE RECEIVERS JUSTIN BRENT AND COREY HOLMES. Both had slow starts in the camp be- fore picking up the pace after senior DaVaris Daniels' absence. Playing be- hind the first group of five still won't be automatic. Brent has had to recalibrate to running proper routes and catching balls consistently after playing running back his senior year in high school. He had a breakout practice Aug. 17. "They're a little behind the curve right now — as you would expect them to be," Irish offensive coordina- tor/wide receivers coach Mike Den- brock said. Brent can be especially be effective in the dig or crossing routes. Kelly and Denbrock have compared Holmes' skills to Fuller with his burst past de- fenses. ON THE BUBBLE OFFENSIVE TACKLE QUENTON NELSON, QUAR- TERBACK DESHONE KIZER, PUNTER/KICKER TYLER NEWSOME AND DEFENSIVE TACKLE JONA- THAN BONNER. Playing time here primarily would be predicated on injuries. Sophomore Mike McGlinchey is the third option at right or left tackle right now behind the starting tandem of ju- nior Ronnie Stanley (left) and sopho- more Steve Elmer (right), but Nelson has lined up as the No. 2 right tackle. The coaches would prefer not to burn a year of eligibility on any fresh- man offensive lineman, but the 6-5½, 325-pound Nelson won't be easy to keep off the field. If senior Everett Golson or sopho- more Malik Zaire don't get hurt at quarterback, Kizer will follow the path of Zaire in 2013, Gunner Kiel (now at Cincinnati) in 2012, Golson in 2011, An- drew Hendrix in 2010 and Dayne Crist in 2008 of preserving a year of eligibility. At 6-5, Kizer towers over his com- petitors at the position and fits the dual-threat model Kelly seeks. He added mass to his frame during the offseason and he's thrown the ball ac- curately, but he needs to continue to develop arm strength and timing in both his drops and in his release. Newsome has struggled with numer- ous shanks on his punts, but when he hits it right … wow. Also the backup on kickoffs and field goals to senior star Kyle Brindza, Newsome might get a shot "in spots," including a kickoff here or there if needed, per Kelly. Bonner was a 245-pound linebacker recruit in February but reported at a robust 269 on his 6-3 frame this Au- gust. By the second week, he had worked himself into a backup role at the three-technique (outside the offen- sive guard's shoulder) behind junior Sheldon Day, and Kelly projected ac- tion for him. However, by the third week, fifth-year senior Justin Utupo was in the No. 2 role. "Explosive off the ball, he's got a toughness," Kelly said of Bonner. "Very physical. … He's got maturity and he'll see action." LIKELY REDSHIRTS IN 2014 QUARTERBACK MONTGOMERY VANGORDER, OFFENSIVE LINEMEN ALEX BARS, JIMMY BYRNE AND SAM MUSTIPHER, TIGHT END NIC WEISHAR, AND DEFENSIVE LINEMEN PETER MOKWUAH AND JAY HAYES. VanGorder shared time at quarter-