Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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the field, as well as play the running back position," Kelly said. Someone such as sophomore body that, 'Boy, maybe he's just a run- ning back,' " Kelly said. "Well, he's really evolved into somebody that can catch the football for us. … They're all going to play, and it would not be a surprise if a couple of them are on the field at the same time." That might even include USC George Atkinson III might be listed as the third running back, but he could end up taking more snaps than the top two slot players. "We always look to George as some- transfer Amir Carlisle, who Kelly listed at about "80 percent" entering the camp after spring ankle surgery. The ankle is healed, according to Sophomore offensive lineman Nick Martin didn't win a starting job this fall, but his versatility makes him a valuable "sixth man" at both of the guard and tackle positions. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA Ronnie Stanley to No. 2 left tackle. Meanwhile, sophomore Nick Mar- tin, who had been vying for the start- ing right guard slot with fifth-year senior Mike Golic Jr., was shifted to right tackle to take reps behind junior Christian Lombard. "Martin and Stanley right now would be 1A and 1B," Kelly said. Because Kelly would prefer not to burn a year of eligibility on Stanley, the younger Martin might be the top backup option at almost every po- sition along the line except center, where it would be Golic Jr. Tate's return to health by Septem- offense with either Golson or Hen- drix should facilitate stretching op- posing defenses, but the real option in this edition might be the multitude of backs who could line up on the field at the same time. It looks silly and even misleading Incorporating some option into the 3. BACKFIELD IN MOTION Kelly, but problems with inflammati- ion have led him to be shelved on occasion this August. Kelly was renowned for his fast- paced offenses at the University of Cincinnati. However, with the quality of depth he now has at running back while leading the Irish, there has to be some traffic control with the potential of so many players rolling in and out. "When you change personnel [as often as we do in the rotation], you have to slow down a little bit," Kelly said. "We've got to go to our strength, and our strength is to get all those guys on the field. "Tempo is important, but also get- ting all these guys touches is impor- tant. That's been our focus. We think we have a lot of weapons." ✦ Blue & Gold Illustrated's depth chart of the scholarship players on offense. It includes the number of years eligible, including 2012. No. Quarterback 5 Everett Golson 12 Andrew Hendrix 1 Gunner Kiel 11 Tommy Rees Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 6-0 185 So./4 6-2 220 Jr./3 6-4 210 Fr./4 6-2 210 Jr./2 Note: Rees was suspended for the Sept. 1 opener, but will be able to compete for the starting job heading into the Purdue contest Sept. 8. No. Running Back/Slot Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 20 Cierre Wood 6 Theo Riddick 4 George Atkinson III 6-1 210 So./3 3 Amir Carlisle 33 Cam McDaniel 32 Will Mahone 6-0 215 Sr./2 5-11 199 Sr./1 5-10 185 So./3 5-10 195 So./3 5-10 211 Fr./4 ber will be needed to provide better stability and a little less cross-training. Note: McDaniel cross-trained at running back and cornerback by the end of the second week of practice … Junior Cam Roberson was put on a medical hard- ship grant-in-aid because of a bad knee, which no longer enables him to play football. No. Slot/Running Back Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 9 Robby Toma 19 Davonte' Neal 5-9 185 Sr./1 5-9 171 Fr./4 Note: Toma and Neal were the first two to line up in the slot in basic skeletal drills, but running backs could also split out here. to have six names at running back and two in the slot (see depth chart), but that's how it usually aligns in skeletal practice drills. Both the run- ning backs and slot men work with coach Tony Alford in practice, and at least two running backs can be on the field in an effort to put the top play- makers on the field at the same time. "We can play them anywhere on www.BLUEANDGOLD.com 87 Daniel Smith 15 Justin Ferguson No. X Receiver 7 TJ Jones No. W Receiver 81 John Goodman 10 DaVaris Daniels 2 Chris Brown 14 Luke Massa Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 5-11 190 Jr./2 6-4 215 Jr./2 6-2 196 Fr./4 Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 6-3 215 5th/1 6-2 190 So./4 6-2 172 Fr./4 6-4 225 Jr./3 Note: Daniels switched his jersey number from 16 last season and spring to 10 … Massa had an ACL in- jury late in the spring, limiting him physically in how much work he can partake in this August. PRESEASON 2012 39 No. Tight End 80 Tyler Eifert 18 Ben Koyack or 85 Troy Niklas 88 Jake Golic 82 Alex Welch No. Left Tackle 70 Zack Martin 78 Ronnie Stanley No. Left Guard 66 Chris Watt No. Center 65 Conor Hanratty 51 Bruce Heggie 52 Braxston Cave 77 Matt Hegarty No. Right Guard 57 Mike Golic Jr. 75 Mark Harrell No. Right Tackle Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 6-6 251 Sr./2 6-5 253 So./3 6-7 260 So./3 6-4 245 Sr./2 6-4 250 Jr./3 Note: Welch suffered a torn ACL in the Aug. 8 prac- tice that will sideline him in 2012. Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 6-4 304 Sr./2 6-6 304 Fr./4 Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 6-3 310 Sr./2 6-5 305 So./4 6-5 285 Jr./3 Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 6-3 304 5th/1 6-5 296 So./4 Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 6-3 295 5th/1 6-5 287 Fr./4 74 Christian Lombard 6-5 309 Jr./3 72 Nick Martin 64 Tate Nichols 6-8 320 Jr./3 Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 6-4 285 So./4 Note: Sophomore guard Brad Carrico has been placed on medical hardship because of a bad foot on which he is unable to play football … Nichols suf- fered a knee injury that might keep out of the Sept. 1 Navy game. 2012 Offense Scholarship Depth Chart Based on the limited practice access and coversations with the Notre Dame coaching staff, here is