Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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That's the guy that will be the next one in." The triumvirate of wide receiver DaVaris Daniels (pages 34-36), quarterback Everett Golson and running back George Atkinson III (both featured on 37-39) is the most in- triguing in the 24-man class. • Daniels checks out with impressive workout numbers, but physical develop- ment and learning how to practice with a consistent purpose are on the agenda. • Atkinson's game-breaking skills were on display last year with kickoff returns for scores against top teams such as Michigan State and USC, but he also fumbled kick- offs three times (Michigan State, Maryland and Florida State) and was fortunate not to lose any. He was a standout in the Blue- Gold Game with 178 all-purpose yards — but also lost two fumbles. • Golson was the statistical standout among the four quarterbacks in the Blue- Gold Game with 11-of-15 passing for 120 yards to go with 25 yards rushing, and he was the only one without an interception. In an informal survey on BlueandGold. com after the spring and prior to incum- bent Tommy Rees' arrest, 71 of the 79 re- spondents (89 percent) had Golson finish- ing the season as the 2012 starter, although many didn't necessarily have him taking the first snap in the opener. A permeating attitude on the outside seems to be, "We'll accept the mistakes, but get the QB of the future ready this year so it's not about starting all over again next year." Does Kelly hold a similar viewpoint? Defensively, Cat linebacker Ishaq Wil- liams — who arrived with similar hoopla as Lynch and Tuitt — began to develop the intensity and urgency in his play not evident last fall. Junior Prince Shembo is the projected starter, but both Williams and Shembo could be ends in nickel or passing situations. His progress could provide the much needed salve for Lynch's loss. At cornerback, junior Bennett Jackson emerged as the mainstay, but defensive co- ordinator Bob Diaco asserted that, ready or not, the sophomore trio of Josh Atkinson, Jalen Brown and even converted running back Cam McDaniel will have to be rotated into the lineup regularly because there are only five corners on scholarship. Cornerbacks coach Kerry Cooks noted this spring that they're at "level one," meaning the rudiments of lining up, cor- rect stance and proper eye progression in either man or zone schemes are the first phase of mastery. Fourteen members of this class were withheld from action as freshmen to pre- serve a fifth season of eligibility. Among them were three of the lineback- ers — Ben Councell, Jarrett Grace and An- thony Rabasa — and all five offensive line- men, with guard Nick Martin appearing to have the best shot of cracking the No. 1 unit (right guard) this year. Safeties Eilar Hardy and Matthias Farley BIDING TIME are prepping to replace the senior trio of Jamoris Slaughter, Zeke Motta and Dan McCarthy, all out of eligibility after 2012. The same with kicker/punter Kyle Brin- dza, who has seniors Nick Tausch (two years of eligibility) and Ben Turk ahead of him in those two capacities. Tony Springmann are coming back from offseason surgeries, and will be vital to the Defensive linemen Chase Hounshell and JUNE/JULY 2012 57