College Football Preview 2018: 20. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

20. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

If the offense can find some balance, Irish have good chance of first back-to-back double-digit win seasons since '92-'93

Alize Mack

Offense: Notre Dame's offense was predicated around the ground attack in 2017, as the group had the nation's seventh best rush offense. Running back Josh Adams ran for 1,430 yards, QB Brandon Wimbush added 803, and the offensive line featured two first-round NFL Draft selections in Quenton Nelson and Mike McGlinchey. Everybody but Wimbush left this off-season, leaving the Irish searching for some answers.

Wimbush played very well over the first half of '17 and finished the season with 30 total touchdowns, but he is facing significant pressure to hold down the starting quarterback spot from sophomore Ian Book. Book ended up with two crucial late touchdown passes in ND's Citrus Bowl victory over LSU and looked superb, but he is less experienced, and Wimbush seemed to outperform him in the spring. If Wimbush can find some better accuracy (completed less than 50 percent of his passes last season), he should be able to hold off Book and newcomer Phil Jurkovec, a highly touted signal-caller from Pittsburgh.

Replacing Adams at back will be difficult, but senior Dexter Williams seems up to the task. Williams has always had serious upside, but injuries have taken their toll over the course of his time in South Bend. Now fully healthy, he could be a real breakout star for this offense. 

Notre Dame will also have to find a new No. 1 target after the departure of Equanimeous St. Brown. St. Brown had 515 receiving yards a season ago, proving to be one of the few options in the aerial attack that could really take the top off the defense with his speed. Head coach Brian Kelly and OC Chip Long are hopeful juniors Chase Claypool and Miles Boykin can step up in a big way. Claypool finished second on the team with 402 receiving yards last year and remains a dangerous weapon when he gets in the open field, while Boykin flashed serious potential towards the end of 2017 and is a red zone threat. ND always seems to get production from the tight end spot, and don't expect that to change this season, with junior Alize Mack back and ready to improve on last year's 19 receptions.

The O-Line does lose two huge stars in McGlinchey and Nelson, but every other significant piece returns. Senior center Sam Mustipher is likely to be the anchor of the group, and Alex Bars and Tommy Kraemer should keep the Irish strong at the guard positions. 

Despite having a pass offense that was 103rd in the nation, ND averaged over 34 PPG in 2017, a testament to how fantastic their ground game was, and how well they were able to executive in the red zone (76 percent TD rate). There remains a strong chance the offense takes a slight step back without Adams and some other key contributors, but I don't envision a drastic fall. In fact, if Wimbush or Book can really seize control at QB, it could actually be more balanced, with Claypool and Boykin ready to break out on the perimeter.

Defense: In 2017, new coordinator Mike Elko orchestrated a master turnaround of the Irish defense, a group that played with significantly more physicality and confidence. The defense ended up ranking 31st in the country in scoring defense (21.5 PPG), leading to Elko earning a massive raise to take over the same gig at Texas A&M. That left Kelly to promote linebackers coach Clark Lea to DC duties. Lea has done a superb job developing the LB position in South Bend over his time there, and the unit has plenty of experience back.

Up front, Lea will run a 4-3, and the line should be especially stout in the interior, where seniors Jerry Tillery and Jonathan Bonner both return. Tillery is one of the most physically imposing linemen in the entire country; he stands 6'7", 305 pounds but is incredibly quick with a powerful first step. After managing nine tackles for loss in 2017, he should be an even greater force this season. Junior end Khalid Kareem flashed serious potential last season under Elko, and it will be interesting to see whether he can continue that growth under a slightly different scheme.

Lea's speciality is, of course, linebackers and he returns two real senior stars in Te'von Coney and Drue Tranquil. Coney led all ND defenders with 116 tackles a year ago and remains one of the rangiest defenders in the entire country. Tranquil added 85 and remained an important factor as a coverage linebacker. Lea and staff are also hoping junior Asmar Bilal can possibly be a breakout star at the open strong-side linebacker position. 

Depth and talent abounds in the secondary, where veterans Julian Love and Nick Coleman return, and the Irish bring in Navy transfer Alohi Gilman. Love should form quite a 1-2 combo at corner with fellow junior Shaun Crawford. Both play bigger than they are, and are really skilled in man defense. Coleman had 43 tackles in 2017 and remains an important piece because of his versatility, as he can help out at either safety or nickel. Meanwhile, Gilman sat out all last season and impressed in practices and big things are expected.

After a disastrous 2016, Elko really gave this group a major facelift, and Lea should be a major beneficiary of that this year. He returns nine starters and key contributors at every level, including an All-American candidate in Te'von Coney. It isn't crazy to think that this could be one of the Top 25 defenses in the country, and an important advantage a rough schedule.

Special Teams: There should be no concerns for Brian Kelly surrounding his special teams. Kicker Justin Yoon and punter Tyler Newsome are both returning for their senior seasons, and form one of the country's best tandems there. Neither kick returner or punt returner is settled at the moment, leaving the Irish with an interesting fall camp battle.

It is hard to know which version of Notre Dame we will be getting in 2018, after their uneven 2016 and '17 campaigns. Last season, this team looked like a serious Playoff contender early on but came out flat against Miami and Stanford later on. Replacing underrated contributors such as Nelson and McGlinchey will be a challenge, but ND does return a ton offensively, and the D should still be stingy even with Elko gone. So my guess? This doesn't look like a Playoff-caliber team unless Wimbush takes a huge step forward, but they should still be very good. Double-digit victories and a good bowl big seems about right for what is a deep football team in South Bend.

Team Projections
Record: 9-3
Offensive MVP: WR Chase Claypool
Defensive MVP: LB Te'von Coney
Breakout Player of the Year: S Alohi Gilman

College Football Preview 2016-2017: 10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Tarean Folston

10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Conference: Independent
Location: South Bend, Indiana
2015-2016 Record: 10-3
Bowl Result: Loss in Fiesta Bowl
Breakout Player: RB Josh Adams
Heisman Hopeful: QB DeShone Kizer
X-Factor: OT Mike McGlinchey
Recruiting Rundown (via Rivals)
Schedule
Roster

Last season, Notre Dame entered the year with a serious quarterback quandary. Veteran quarterback Everett Golson had led the Irish to plenty of wins in his career, but slumped mightily in the second half of 2014. An impressive bowl showing by his backup, Malik Zaire, seemed to indicate that Zaire was the future at the position. That was further confirmed when Golson announced he would transfer, ending his college career at Florida State. Zaire put on a show in his debut, against Texas, and the Irish dominated. However, in his second start, Notre Dame got all they could handle from Virginia and Zaire broke his ankle, effectively ending his season before it really began. His backup, redshirt freshman DeShone Kizer did an admirable job in his absence. Despite playing some great defenses, Kizer threw for 2,884 yards and 21 touchdowns. Now, the quarterback question begins again: should ND go with Kizer, a rising sophomore who has superstar potential, or Zaire, who is 4-0 as a starter? The competition could mean the difference between Playoff berth or not in South Bend.

Backfield: Stats don't do what Kizer did in Zaire's absence enough justice. Despite being extremely young and facing an offense that was also hit by other injuries, Kizer posted strong numbers but also showed wonderful poise despite his youth. Although it came in a loss, his performance against Clemson earlier in the year showed what he could do. Dueling with eventual Heisman Trophy finalist Deshaun Watson in what was literally a hurricane, Kizer nearly led ND on a miraculous comeback against the eventual National Runner-Ups. Kizer's arm strength, big frame and athleticism are all special, and he should cut down on his turnovers this season (10 in 2015). Zaire has his strengths as well; he may not have the arm strength of Kizer, but he is a better runner and has also proven himself to be a great leader. There is a chance Brian Kelly could use both this season, in different packages. However, he will be careful not to do what Ohio State did last season, switching between the two too often and ruining momentum. If I had to put my money on one, it would have to be Kizer. He rallied the locker room last season, and has a higher ceiling than Zaire. The Irish have a similar situation at running back, even as C.J. Prosise departs. Prosise came in when feature back Tarean Folston was also lost for the year, and was wonderful. Despite the fact it was his first time ever playing full-time running back, Prosise ran for 1,029 yards and 11 scores, while averaging 6.6 yards per carry. Folston is back healthy, and he has proven he can handle the load. Folston had 889 yards back in 2014 when he was fully healthy, including four 100-yard performances at the end of the year. He will certainly play a major role, but may also be overtaken by a rising sophomore. Josh Adams was superb last season as a change-of-pace for Prosise, who wasn't healthy at the end of the season. Adams rushed for 838 yards and six touchdowns, showcasing impressive speed and vision. What was most impressive about Adams is that he consistently picked up huge chunks of yardage, evidenced by his wonderful 7.2 yards per attempt in '15. Possibly becoming the No. 1 back, Adams yards per attempt will most likely slip with more usage, but he could put together a huge year and is an intriguing dark horse Heisman threat. Notre Dame will also turn to another sophomore, Dexter Williams, in different situations. Williams ran for just 81 yards on 21 carries last year, but has wonderful upside.

Receivers: The Notre Dame receiver corps took some major lumps this off-season. First, leading receiver Will Fuller, among the most dynamic weapons in the entire nation, made a relatively surprising jump to the NFL a year early. Fuller will take his wonderful burst and explosiveness to the next level, along with his 1,258 yards on 62 receptions. Making things worse for the Irish was the loss of Corey Robinson just a few months ago. Robinson, who was looking forward to a healthy senior season, announced his retirement from football, citing concussion concerns. Robinson is the son of NBA legend David Robinson, and had showcased his amazing potential on countless occasions, like his three-touchdown performance against Florida State in '14. Those losses leave ND scrambling for answers at the position, but the cupboard is far from bare. Torii Hunter Jr. returns, and looks like he may be leaned on as their top option in the passing game. Hunter has great speed and agility, and did have 28 catches and 363 yards last season. Unfortunately, Hunter has struggled with drops at times in his career, something he'll obviously look to iron out this year. Sophomore Equanimeous St. Brown has a wonderful name, but will have to show he belongs. He had just one catch all of last season, but was a deep reserve, so it is understandable. He has okay speed, but also brings much more athleticism and size to the equation. Beyond those two, even more inexperience abounds. Sophomore Corey Holmes and sophomore C.J. Sanders are two of a number of pieces fighting for increased roles. Sanders at least got in the stat sheet, with one reception last season, while Holmes is extremely unproven. The lack of depth and proven commodities at receiver will put more pressure on the starting quarterback and also the backs to step up out of the backfield (Adams had seven catches for 42 yards a year ago). Notre Dame has produced some wonderful talent at tight end over the years, with guys like Kyle Rudolph and Tyler Eifert emerging from their ranks and making waves in the NFL. The Irish look like they've zeroed in on their next star at the position, as sophomore Alize Jones has wonderful potential. He recorded 13 catches for 190 yards last season, but that was with splitting snaps with Chase Hounshell, who is gone. Jones was a First-Team All-Independent last season, and he'll hope to build on that by becoming a better option in the red zone. Junior Durham Smythe is once again healthy and brings a solid blocker and decent pass-catcher.

Offensive Line: While the receiver corps has some serious questions, the offensive line may have even bigger problems, although there is at least one proven piece. The unit is going to be without NFL first-rounder Ronnie Stanley at tackle, along with anchor Nick Martin at center. Stanley is certainly a major loss, as the massive tackle was a beast last year. Martin, however, may be even harder to overcome, as the seasoned veteran was as consistent and disciplined as they come. The loss of those two key pieces should make junior Mike McGlinchey much more important. McGlinchey came into his own last season, starting 13 games at right tackle and displaying wonderful ferocity and power. Notre Dame may ask McGlinchey to make a transition to the left tackle position, but that shouldn't be too hard for the veteran. McGlinchey's harder transition will be going from a pretty young player to an important leader on the O-Line, and ND will ask a lot from him. ND will also ask a lot from sophomore Quenton Nelson, the other returning starter to the group. Nelson was very young last season, but showed he could hold his own. He is a terrific run blocker, and will open up big lanes for Adams and Folston to work with. He was a Second-Team All-Independent last season, but should be even better in '16. The other guard spot should likely go to junior Colin McGovern, who isn't a returning starter, but at least has some experience. McGovern appeared in eight games last season, and showed decent mobility. At right tackle, expect sophomore Alex Bars to get a good shot to start. Bars has the size and upside to make the position a strength, but he has to stay healthy this season. The center position could very well be the biggest issue, as a number of players will compete to fill the void left by Martin. Sophomore Sam Mustipher and redshirt freshman Tristen Hoge are the two favorites. The Irish are hoping for big things in the near future from a couple of their newcomers, particularly four-star linemen Liam Eichenburg from Cleveland.

Defensive Line: The Irish were also hit pretty hard on the defensive line by graduation, as they lost two great defenders in Romeo Okwara and Sheldon Day. Okwara led the team in sacks a season ago, racking up nine at the defensive end position, while Day proved to be a disruptive presence as well, with 15.5 tackles for loss. The Irish may be without those two, but they still have a group of solid defenders back, headed by senior Isaac Rochell. Rochell is a proven run defender, with 61 tackles a season ago. He isn't as great of a pass rusher as Okwara, but still finds a way to make plays, thanks to incredible instincts and power. The end spot left by Okwara is likely going to be handed down to junior Andrew Trumbetti, who has good experience. Trumbetti recorded 16 tackles in 2015, and also helped in a unique way: bringing a touchdown back 28 yards to the house on an interception. He doesn't have much explosiveness but is a gritty defender that should put together a strong campaign. The Irish will obviously miss Day, but there is reason to believe they could be even improved in the interior of the unit. Senior Jarron Jones has flashed his great potential on numerous occasions, but is still yet to put it all together. Jones missed all of last season with a torn ACL, but will be eager to prove he can return to his '14 form, when he had 7.5 tackles for loss. Joining Jones in the middle will be junior Daniel Cage. Cage is short and stout but still attacks defenses. He proved he could get into the backfield and finish off plays, with four tackles for loss last season. He was awfully young last season (forced into an increased role with the injury to Jones) but showed he could hold his own, even against some teams with great offensive lines. The Irish possess a good amount of depth throughout the unit, highlighted by valuable reserves like junior defensive end Grant Blankenship, along with sophomore Jay Hayes, who redshirted last season. Also returning, likely in a reserve role, is sophomore Jerry Tillery. Tillery was a highly touted recruit a season ago, and showed he could make plays. He doesn't have the experience of Jones or Cage, but has major upside, and the Irish coaching staff will likely experiment with him more this season.

Nyles Morgan

Linebackers: Life after Jaylon Smith begins for the Irish defense, particularly the linebacker corps. Smith was among the most versatile and best defenders in the entire nation, racking up 115 tackles, nine tackles for loss and five pass breakups. Smith was already set to graduate and depart before suffering a horrific knee injury in the team's Fiesta Bowl loss. The injury severely hurt his promising NFL Draft stock and many experts claimed him as one of the Draft's best players even though he fell to Round 2. Also gone in the unit is the solid Joe Schmidt, who wasn't quite the player Smith was, but still was a quality run defender. That leaves ND scrambling for some answers at the position; expect them to lean heavily on James Onwualu, their only returning starter in the unit. Onwaulu is a versatile defender off the edge that can so many things well, and he picked up 38 tackles and six tackles for loss last year. He has displayed great pass rushing abilities off the edge, with three sacks a year ago, and Notre Dame will look for him to do that even more, with the losses of Okwara and Day. Onwaulu is set to lock down one outside linebacker spot, but the other one is up for grabs. Sophomore Te'Von Coney, redshirt freshman Asmar Bilal and newcomer Jamir Jones are going to fight for the starting spot. Coney has shown some flashes in his Irish career but still is learning, while the Irish are thinking big for Bilal. Bilal was the Scout Team's Defensive Player of the Year in '15, but adjusting to a starting gig in big-time college football is obviously a different animal. Jones is a three-star pickup from Rochester, New York, who has an abundance of upside. The middle linebacker slot may undergo a change in leadership, but junior Nyles Morgan should be up for the challenge. Morgan had 47 tackles as a true freshman back in 2014, but didn't get the snaps he needed last season and his production plummeted. Without a whole lot of competition at inside 'backer, Morgan should put together a much stronger 2016. Junior Greer Martini is also going to find a way on to the field, as he brings some veteran experience. Martini had 35 tackles a year ago, and has proven he can be a major asset in run support.

Secondary: Much like the defensive line and linebackers, Notre Dame's secondary will have to endure some losses, although it could still end up being a considerable strength. The Irish will be without ball hawking cornerback KeiVarae Russell along with safety Elijah Shumate, but it isn't the end of the world. Russell had two interceptions and 4 pass deflections despite missing two games with injury, but was inconsistent at times. Shumate was third on the Irish last season, with 70 tackles but could have a replacement in the wings. Shumate's strong safety position could fall to senior Avery Sebastian, a former Cal transfer that can also play cornerback. Sebastian had some injury problems (like so much of this ND team had) last year but still flashed his superb athleticism and hard-hitting ability. He will be joined in the back by the player who could end up being Notre Dame's best defender this season, senior Max Redfield. Redfield has an excellent feel for the game and while he may not be the quickest player on the field, relies on that to make plays. He recorded 64 tackles last season, which was down from his 68 in '14. With the losses the rest of the defense suffers, expect those numbers to increase in a big way, as ND will lean heavily on his tackling ability. At cornerback, senior Cole Luke will likely replace Russell as the team's top cover option. Luke has proven on countless occasions that he can shut down some elite receivers, and his 11 pass breakups two years were the most at ND since 2008. Joining him will be a player that isn't technically a returning starter but has plenty of experience, junior Nick Watkins. Watkins has good size and a strong frame to match up against some larger receivers. Another player to watch in the defensive backfield has to be sophomore safety Drue Tranquill. Tranquill earned Newcomer of the Year honors before a torn ACL sidelined him. While Sebastian will play a much larger role, Tranquill will still find a way to make plays.

Special Teams: Notre Dame could have a great special teams unit this season. Sophomore kicker Justin Yoon returns after knocking down 15 for 17 field goals despite being extremely young. Rock-solid punter Tyler Newsome is also back for his sophomore campaign. The return game is led by sophomore C.J. Sanders, who should handle both kick and punt return duties.

Considering all the injuries and adversity Notre Dame faced last season to finish off 10-3 and make a major bowl like the Fiesta is a testament to how good of a coach Brian Kelly is and how well he recruits (which, granted, isn't super hard at a place like ND). Notre Dame will hope to be fully healthy this season, but even if they aren't completely the roster has great depth and some promising young talent. The key will be at the skill positions: will Kizer be back to lead the charge or will the staff stick with Zaire? Can Josh Adams really take the next step as a running back? Who is going to step up at receiver? Those questions will have to be answered, but no matter what, the Irish are still undeniably talented. Schedule-wise, Notre Dame gets it much easier this year than year's past, with dates with a number of softer ACC teams (NC State, Syracuse, Duke) and many of their tougher teams rebuilding or figuring things out (Michigan State, Texas, USC). That could only help back up the fact that the Irish are a legitimate Playoff contender, and a very scary team entering 2016.

College Football 2015-2016: 15. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Malik Zaire

15. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

2014-2015 Record: 8-5 (0-0 Conference Record, Independent)
Coach: Brian Kelly, sixth year (45-20 overall)
Schedule
Roster
Recruiting Rundown
Key Losses: TE Ben Koyack, QB Everett Golson
Heisman Hopeful: QB Malik Zaire
Breakout Player: WR Corey Robinson

It was perhaps the most questionable and scrutinized call of the 2014-2015 season: a late penalty on Notre Dame took away one of the team's touchdowns in a hard-fought battle against Florida State. In the end, it would be the deciding factor, and would drop Notre Dame to a 5-1 mark. The loss not only seemed to diminish the Irish's Playoff chances, it took away any confidence for the team. They would lose four of five following the heartbreaker, including a loss to lowly Northwestern and a blowout loss against archrival USC. A bowl victory against LSU gave ND fans something to cheer about, but in the end, the season was a downer. The impressive show put on by Malik Zaire, the backup QB, in that bowl game helped Everett Golson make the decision his time in South Bend had come to a close. And, while that will shake things up, it could improve the offense, which has a ton of playmakers. 10 starters on defense also are important, and the program looks primed to approve last year's eight wins.

Backfield: Golson's turnover problems became a death sentence to Notre Dame in the second half of the 2014 campaign. He finished with 14 interceptions and eight fumbles and just seemed to lose his confidence. He decided to head south to Tallahassee where he will compete for the void left by Jameis Winston. That opened the door completely to junior Malik Zaire, a dual threat who impressed in short action behind Golson. Zaire was very good in the Music City Bowl victory against a good LSU defense, and fans are excited to see what the gunslinger can do fulltime. The lefty will have some growing pains, but he has the arm strength and playmaking ability to be something very special. Tarean Folston returns as Notre Dame's feature back after a solid 2014 campaign, in which he ran for 889 yards and six touchdowns. The explosive junior is always a threat for a big run, but has to prove himself as a more worthy every-down running back. Unfortunately for the Irish, Greg Bryant, sure to fill in as Folston's backup in 2015, earned himself a four-game suspension to open the year due to violating team rules. Seen as a heralded recruit coming out of high school, Bryant has shown flashes of stardom in his time in South Bend, but has yet to truly deliver. He will be amped and ready to go when his suspension draws to an ending. Cam McDaniel was never a big-play back but he was a productive, efficient runner and his departure hurts, much like Bryant's suspension. Head coach Brian Kelly and staff did a great job finding players in this year's recruiting class that will be future stars for the Irish (which granted, isn't very hard at a program like ND). New Jersey prospect Brandon Wimbush is seen as a four-star recruit by nearly every recruiting service, and he could be the future at the quarterback position for the Irish. Dexter Williams is ranked as a Top-5 back by ESPN in the 2015 Class, and he could see action right away, without a ton of depth in the backfield. Three-star talent Josh Adams isn't as hyped as Williams or others, but he could be a solid contributor to the Notre Dame offense in a few years.

Will Fuller

Receivers: Making life easier for Zaire will be a stocked receivers corps, which all begins with junior
Will Fuller. Entering 2014, Fuller was seen as a rather one-dimensional receiver with one strength; his deep threat ability. But, Fuller quickly emerged as Golson's favorite and most reliable weapon and it helped him record 76 receptions, 1,094 yards and 15 touchdowns. Fuller is an established route runner with great hands and is as speedy as you'll find. Perhaps what makes him dangerous the most is his burst in the open field, which enables him to make plays after the catch. While Fuller is clearly Notre Dame's top target, expect big things from Corey Robinson, entering his junior season. The son of NBA great David Robinson, Corey emerged as a legit weapon against Florida State a year ago and continues to improve each and every day. The 6'5" playmaker is fabulous in the red zone with his terrific size and uses that frame to make tough jump ball catches. Robinson had 40 catches, 539 yards and five touchdowns a season ago, all numbers that could absolutely explode this season. Senior Chris Brown is another established receiver who should put together a very good season. Brown has a lethal mix of speed and explosiveness, and he could take over as ND's top deep threat. He certainly showed he had big play potential, averaging over 14 yards per reception last season. Former USC transfer Amir Carlisle has grown into a productive receiver as well, in more of a slot receiver role. A small but shifty playmaker, Carlisle picked up 23 catches for 309 yards last season. Expect offensive coordinator Mike Sanford to utilize Carlisle as much as possible in screens and short yardage passing situations. Also returning is big-play C.J. Prosise, who returns for his final year in South Bend. Prosise averaged 17.8 yards per reception a season ago, and will continue to move the ball in big chunks of yardage for the Irish. Although he will drop the ball often and isn't a great route runner, there isn't any denying Prosise's importance to the Notre Dame offense. Sophomore Corey Holmes is in line for a breakthrough campaign. Holmes has been buried on the ND depth chart early in his career but he is another receiver with tremendous speed and big-play potential, and he could certainly become a valuable asset. The tight end position has been a strength at Notre Dame for years with players coming through like John Carlson, Tyler Eifert, Kyle Rudolph and more recently, Ben Koyack, who was solid last season (30 receptions, 317 yards). Now, the position falls to junior Durham Smythe or true freshman Alize Jones, with Koyack graduating. Smythe had just one catch a year ago and is more of a blocker than a receiver, but Jones is a very dangerous weapon who is a prospect from Las Vegas powerhouse Bishop Gorman. Not only is he a unanimous All-Name Team First-Teamer but Equanimeous St. Brown has some game, as well. The four-star prospect from Anaheim is an explosive playmaker who has all the talent to grow into a very, very good receiver for ND for years to come.
 

Spring Football '14: Golson Reinstated at Notre Dame

Everett Golson

At this time last season, Everett Golson was planning to enter his sophomore year and hoping to lead Notre Dame back to a national championship after performing extremely well in his first year as starter with the Fighting Irish. Then, a cheating incident hit ad Golson was dismissed from the team, leaving Notre Dame in an odd position without a quarterback just a couple months before the year. Luckily, senior Tommy Rees was experienced and managed to step in and play very well for Notre Dame. Now, Rees is graduated and Golson is back on the team making for an interesting story in South Bend. Golson was fantastic in his redshirt freshman year with Notre Dame but can he readjust to the college game after a year off and without the abundance of playmakers that he had in that championship run?

In his lone year, with the Irish Golson threw for 2,405 yards and 12 touchdowns and proved to be a superb leader, despite being very inexperienced. Youth was apparent throughout his freshman year; he had confidence issues, arm strength and had trouble recognizing defenses. Although we haven't seen a ton from Golson this spring we have seen a ton of improvement. His arm looks very strong and he looks more comfortable in the pocket, even when he is under pressure. So with improvement wouldn't the assumption be Golson should just come in and fill in for Rees? Enter Malik Zaire, a left-handed redshirt freshman with excellent mobility and the potential to be quite the star. Zaire has been impressive enough to force a heated quarterback competition between him and Golson. Spring practices can only say so much about a player and both have shown flashes of being great players. Zaire, a 6'1" prospect from Kettering, Ohio has a very high ceiling but he is still very raw at the moment. He is strong and athletic, faster than Golson, but accuracy has been an issue for so far and he still has to prove he has the understanding of the offense that Golson has. Zaire has drawn comparisons to former Clemson QB Tajh Boyd because of the athleticism he possesses, he isn't very accurate and doesn't have the arm strength of Golson but he can make fabulous throws. Although he lacks consistency, Zaire can wow you at times. The thing that could really put Golson ahead of Zaire is his experience; the sophomore has seen real live action and some of the defenses he played in 2012-2013 were fantastic, teams like Oklahoma, Stanford and Alabama in the championship game.

It was a year off from football for Golson but he should show real improvement because he worked very hard last year and last fall. Golson worked with quarterback guru George Whitfield and has shown signs of becoming a smarter and more efficient QB. He also has worked with Coach Brian Kelly and attempted to connect with his coaches, along with looking through hours of film and trying to see the field better.

Kelly and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock are in no hurry to name a quarterback in a competition that will likely go right down to Notre Dame's first game, August 30th against Rice. The spring game this Saturday will go a long way in determining who should come up on top in the competition. Golson certainly has shown loads of improvement so far this spring but he still has prove that even after a year away from live action he can still play at a high level. If he doesn't, rising freshman Zaire could overtake him and be the starter on August 30th.

View my complete 2014-2015 Notre Dame preview in my College Football Preview 2014-2015, coming out later this spring.

College Football Preview: 13. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

13. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

  It was a pretty stunning year for the Irish last season as they went 12-0 in the regular season with wins over Oklahoma, Michigan and Stanford. With the return of a number of star defensive players and some real potential on offense the Irish have the ability to reach another BCS bowl. Even without Everett Golson it could be a magical year in South Bend.




Backfield: Everett Golson will not play in 2013 but there is hope that he can start in the future. Senior Tommy Rees will take over for Golson at quarterback.

Tommy Rees

Unlike a number of backups he has great experience as a starter and has showed he has a good fell of the offense. Though he doesn't have the potential that Golson has and does struggle under pressure. The Irish must have also find a new running back after Cierre Wood graduated. Junior George Atkinson has the talent to be fantastic this season. He has a good mix of speed and strength and also can help out Rees as a receiver out of the backfield. Another junior, Amir Carlisle, will also compete to be an impact player immediately. The USC transfer is great in the open field but Brian Kelly could like to see him become more of a threat between the tackles.

Receivers: Senior wide receiver T.J. Jones has All-American potential. Jones caught 50 passes for 649 yards last year while breaking in a young quarterback. With a more experienced Rees and being the top receiver in Notre Dame's offense he could have a huge year. Other than Jones, this receiving corps is inexperienced but the talent is there. Davaris Daniels has the hands and breakaway speed to become a real threat in '12. Rees will also have to rely on sophomore Chris Brown and senior Daniel Smith, who uses his big frame to be a force on jump balls. The real question mark is at tight end where the Irish are looking for a replacement for Tyler Eifert, who was the best tight end in all of the land a year ago. 6-7, 260 pound junior Troy Niklas is more of a blocker while senior Alex Welch is more of a receiving threat. Kelly could lean towards Welch because Notre Dame needs a big force that can move the chains.

Offensive Line: The Irish offensive line didn't get enough credit for what it did last year. It helped the ground game become a force and helped devlope Golson by protecting him. Senior left tackle Zack Martin is an All-American threat and will be very important protecting the blind side of Rees. He has good size, moves very well and is a very good leader to this unit. Also sure to dominate on the left side will be guard Chris Watt and at center will likely be junior Matt Hegarty. If Hegarty struggles likely to get a shot will be junior Nick Martin, Zack's brother, who has a ton of potential. Brian Kelly and his staff will also rely on a number of freshman to play a lot of snaps from the start. Tackle Hunter Bivin has the talent to dominate and Illinois product Collin McGovern was a great four-star commit.

Defensive Line: Kapron Lewis-Moore and Manti Te'o are gone but this front seven still is so strong it could be on the nation's best. Senior nose guard Louis Nix has been an impact player for a long time. With his experience and huge size he can be a run stuffer (45 tackles in 2012) and can disrupt backfields. On the edge the Irish will definitely rely on junior Stephon Tuitt who had 12 sacks last season. He is incredibly tough to stop, standing at 6-6 and despite being huge he is extremely quick to the ball. The other starting D-Linemen in this 3-4 defense will likely be sophomore Sheldon Dann who has the talent to be a beast. Five-star talent Eddie Vandedoes will be an impact player from the beginning of his career to the end in South Bend. When Nix leaves expect Vanderdoes to become an All-American threat immediately. With this talent it appears teams should have some major issues running the ball against the Irish just like last year.

Linebackers: Manti Te'o was the heart and soul of this defense and it isn't easy to replace that. Who will replace him is a definite question. Junior Jarrett Grace and Carlo Calabrese should both get a chance to start at the inside 'backer slot. Starting alongside the Te'o replacement should be senior Dan Fox. He is a leader and has loads of experience. With his instincts and smarts he can definitely make plays from sideline to sideline. The outside linebacker positions are also in good hands with loads of experience at them. Senior Prince Shembo is extremely fast and should rack up a lot of tackles. It will be intresting to see if he can also make an impact as a pass rusher with offensive lines really focusing on the 1-2 punch of Nix and Tuitt. Also sure to be a real impact player this year will be senior Danny Spond who is a sure tackler. Another five-star commit Jaylen Lewis should get an opportunity to spend time at outside linebacker as well.

Bennett Jackson

Secondary: There were a lot of questions surrounding this secondary when 2012 began but it proved to be a strong and effective unit. The most imporant part of it returns with senior Bennett Jackson who had 4 interceptions a year ago. He is a great coverage cornerback and recognizes plays extremely well. Presumed 2012 starter Lo Wood returns after missing all of last season with a torn Achilles. He has the potential to be a stud but his maturity is a little bit of an issue. Both of those cornerbacks are strong coverage players and Wood has proved he can be a hard hitter. Notre Dame should also rely on both their safeties. Unfortunately that is a weakness with little experience and a number of issues. Senior Austin Collinsworth has proven he can be a real factor at times though is weak in a number of areas. The other starting safety is a real question as both junior Matthias Farley and sophomore Elijah Shumate will compete for the spot.

So What Now for BCS?

Championship for McCarron?

Well I just saw Jordan Williamson nail the game-winning field goal against the second-ranked Oregon Ducks. And, before that I watched Kansas State get murdered by unranked Baylor by four touchdowns. So what does this mean for the whole BCS?

When Johnny Football and the Aggies stunned Alabama it seemed that the SEC won't get yet another crown as the Crimson Tide fell to Number 4 in the polls. But, this weekend everything changed. Kansas State and Oregon lost which means Notre Dame will almost definitely move to Number One, while Alabama likely to second. Georgia will be in the mix as well as they will probably move up to number three. Then, the SEC has Florida and LSU, while K-State and Oregon will still be in BCS bowls at least.

Next weekend: The newly crowned number one hopes to do what K-State nor 'Bama could; win at that spot. It won't be easy as the USC Trojans come to challenge Manti Te'o and the undefeated Irish. The Trojans have struggled mightily and played terrible against UCLA. Though, until Matt Barkley(if he is ready to go) is off the roster USC will have a legit chance of defeating these Irish.

Alabama gets an appetizer for the SEC championship game in the Iron Bowl against an atrocious Auburn team. They might not even need to play A.J. McCarron as this one should be done before halftime. The Tide should be looking ahead to a big showdown against Georgia.

The Bulldogs benefit just as much as Alabama with the upsets. They play an intense rival in Georgia Tech who hasn't had the season they imagined with Tevin Washington returning. If the defense holds up the Bulldogs should role into the SEC championship game 11-1. Though hopefully they play better than they did against LSU last year.

What will happen: Notre Dame wins comfortably against the Trojans thanks to a more confident Everett Golson. Alabama and Georgia square off in a game that decides who plays Notre Dame. Alabama uses their superior pyschicality to run the ball over an inconsistent Georgia defense and their defense holds Georgia to under 20.

College Football Preview: 24. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

24. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Returning Starters: 14 Returning Star: LB Manti Te'o Key Loss: WR Michael Floyd Player to Watch: DE Stephon Tuitt Brian Kelly's last two teams here in South Bend have been average. Not too good but not too bad. This 2012-2013 team has the talent to turn Notre Dame into an above average 10 win team. If, they can get through this tough schedule that includes a Dublin battle with Navy, a road matchup against Michigan State and a good-looking Oklahoma team. Back is junior Tommy Rees who Kelly gave the starting job in 2011. But this quarterback position is far then settled. Junior Andrew Hendrix has a big arm and freshman Gunner Kiel could give Rees a run for his money. Rees has an okay arm and okay accuracy. He isn't too flashy but he did look good in a number of games last season and is the less risky option for Kelly. Though this team shouldn't pass too much with the talent they have in the backfield. Senior Cierre Wood ran for over 1,000 yards last season and should once more. Theo Riddick should also get carries as he should switch between a big and slot receiver. Riddick has the speed and agility to be lethal and since he was a receiver he can obviously catch. Gone is Michael Floyd greatly depleting Rees' options in the air attack. But back is tight end Tyler Eifert, an All-American. Eifert has size and stamina and brings toughness that not a lot of players have. Junior T.J. Jones could have a breakout '12 as he is the top returning true receiver. Also back is senior John Goodman who has the size to be a dominant force for Rees. Protecting Rees is this okay offensive line. Braxston Cave is fully healthy and should have a strong year at center. Guard Chris Watt is experienced and smart. This defense got a huge boost when tackling machine Manti Te'o decided to stay one more year with these Fighting Irish. Te'o has the athleticism that is truly dangerous and his numbers don't lie. This defensive line could end up being very good after returning two starters in Kapron Lewis-Moore and tackle Louis Nix. Nix is a force up the middle that can also provide a decent pass rush. The most talented player on this line, though, is end Stephon Tuitt. The versatile Tuitt can play just about every position you need him to. Other than Te'o these linebackers have senior Dan Fox back who can also make plays. The secondary is unproven and is the weakest unit on this team. Heisman Hopeful: Cierre Wood Independent Rank: 1st