Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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the Irish offense, Smythe is the front‑ runner, but Luatua's blocking skills likely will put him on the field regu‑ larly. OFFENSIVE LINE TOP TOPIC: The Irish line controlled the action in the Music City Bowl win with a physically oriented attack. Why can't Notre Dame adapt that commit‑ ment to a powerful run attack the entire season was a natural reaction among Irish faithful. With projected first‑round pick Ron‑ nie Stanley returning for his senior year at left tackle, 2014 senior captain Nick Martin realigning at the center slot where the staff prefers him, and the junior right side with guard Steve Elmer and tackle Mike McGlinchey, who excelled in the bowl, the line will be expected to set the tone on offense, especially after the LSU performance. PROJECTED STARTERS: Left tackle Stan‑ ley, who emerged as a vocal leader during preparation for the bowl, soph‑ omore left guard Quenton Nelson, center Martin, right guard Elmer and right tackle McGlinchey. Sophomore tackle Alex Bars, who had an excellent December in practices, could be a dark horse somewhere. ✦ Top Position Battles: Offense There are several positions on offense where "who's the starter?" is not really that relevant. Both schol- arship running backs — junior Tarean Folston and Greg Bryant — will be needed, the slot position with senior C.J. Prosise and fifth-year candidate Amir Carlisle will be shared, and other receivers will liberally be rotated into action. Three positions in particular, though, will be closely evaluated. 1. Quarterback — Ya think? Head coach Brian Kelly believes he can make a duo system work, as he did in the 31-28 Music City Bowl win versus LSU when sophomore Malik Zaire accounted for 192 yards total offense and senior Everett Golson led his own scoring drives with 90 yards passing on six completions. "It's fair to say that both of them together can give us some really good balance," Kelly said. The issue centers on whether the tandem can collectively buy into sharing playing time, a strategy seldom employed at this level of football. 2. Tight end — The graduation of Ben Koyack leaves a minimum four prospects this spring who have at least three years of eligibility — but only one career catch among them, a seven-yard nab by then- sophomore Durham Smythe last year. Kelly has praised Smythe's "unique ball skills," but he has seen limited action. More pertinent is find- ing at least a powerful in-line blocker to aid the running attack the way freshman Tyler Luatua did while making a start in a double-tight-end look at the Music City Bowl. 3. Left guard — Back in December, it appeared Notre Dame would have three fifth-year seniors re- turning along the line: Nick Martin at center and Matt Hegarty and Conor Hanratty at guard. However, numerous concussions have led to Hanratty retiring from football, and Hegarty has opted to use his fifth season of eligibility in 2015 elsewhere. That leaves a vacancy at guard next to projected first-round draft pick Ronnie Stanley at left tackle. On paper, the favorite might be sophomore Quenton Nelson — Notre Dame's lone five-star recruit (Rivals. com) in the 2014 recruiting haul — but several others could make a strong bid as well. — Lou Somogyi