Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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MOST LIKELY TO PLAY: SPECIAL TEAMS Cornerback Shaun Crawford, safety Nicco Fertitta, wide receiver CJ Sanders and kicker Justin Yoon On National Signing Day, Kelly anointed Yoon as the successor to grad- uated and three-year starting kicker Kyle Brindza. That's because current freshman Tyler Newsome, who was redshirted in 2014, will concentrate pri- marily on punting, although he can be a contingency option at kicker. Yoon would be the seventh kicker since the start of freshman eligibility in 1972 to start for the Irish from day one, joining Dave Reeve (1974), Craig Hen- trich (1989), Kevin Kopka (1995), Jim Sanson (1996), Brandon Walker (2007) and Nick Tausch (2009). The 5-9, 175-pound Fertitta is pro- jected to bring a toughness and energy to special teams that stalwart 5-10, 180-pound walk-on Mike Anello did from 2007-09. "You'll see him on every special teams," Kelly said. With Sanders and Crawford, their speed could get them on the field in at least the return game for Sanders, and coverage for Crawford (if not returns as well). Sanders has run the 100 meters in 10.64 seconds, and he won the Tennes- see Division II state title in that event last year before moving to California. As a senior, he returned two kickoffs and two punts for scores versus one of the nation's tougher schedules. As a sophomore, Crawford was third The Year After The most overshadowed players on a football roster often tend to be redshirt freshmen. They are neither established like their elders nor receive the attention of the new, incoming youth. In 2014, 11 Irish freshmen were redshirted. Here is our top five who might have the best chance to help in 2015: 1. Punter/kicker Tyler Newsome — Punting duties appear to be his by default because of the gradua- tion of Kyle Brindza. Newsome was a first-team Class AAAA kicker in Georgia, but was recruited especially to help with punting, where he was less proven. The job is his to lose. 2. Offensive guard/tackle Quenton Nelson — Because 14-game starter Matt Hegarty will use his fifth season of eligibility at another school in 2015 and Nick Martin is likely to move back to center after play- ing left guard the final 10 games in 2014, the 6-4½, 325-pound Nelson is in line to start at guard. He was the lone five-star recruit (by Rivals) in Notre Dame's 2014 haul. 3. Tight end Nic Weishar — The graduation of Ben Koyack provides opportunity for new blood to emerge this spring. A two-tight-end set has been head coach Brian Kelly's most successful alignment during his Irish tenure, and Weishar is a prolific pass catcher who could find a niche in a flex role. 4. Defensive end Jhonny Williams — Although relatively unpolished, the 6-4, 252-pound Williams might have the most ability on the roster as a speed rusher off the edge, per Kelly. Williams could be integrated into specific pass packages. 5. Offensive tackle Alex Bars — Kelly's comments in December that Bars (6-6, 305) is as good an offen- sive lineman prospect as he's seen in his 25 years as a head coach are notable. Senior Ronnie Stanley and junior Mike McGlinchey are the slated starters at tackle, but Bars could become the next man at both spots. — Lou Somogyi