Notre Dame Football: Five Dynamic Players To Watch in 2010

The 2010 Fighting Irish will feature a new coaching staff that is led by Brian Kelly.

Former coach Charlie Weis did not live up to the hype and while he recruited well he failed to coach them to a top ten season.

Enter, Brian Kelly, who has a 171-57-2 (.748) NCAA coaching record.

Kelly received the 2009 Home Depot Coach of the Year award and he now attempts to turn the Notre Dame football program around.

The offensive side of the ball will feature several returners that will be featured in this slide along with a Sophomore defensive standout.

Armando Allen

Allen has 1,630 rushings yards, 102 receptions for 695 yards, and 9 total touchdowns thus far into his playing time at Notre Dame.

Armando did miss four games last season and the Irish will definately need him healthy in 2010.

Provided with new coach Brian Kelly and the potential to play football on Sunday's at the next level (NFL), Allen may very well be in for a stunning senior season for the Irish.

Manti Te'o

Te'o stands at 6'2, 250 lbs. and is a serious playmaker on the defensive side of the ball at linebacker.

The now sophomore linebacker made waves when he entered college and signed with the fighting Irish as most expected him to sign elsewhere.

As a freshman, Manti recorded 27 solo, 26 assisted tackles, and 1 sack in
11 games for Notre Dame.

Manti will now be the team's threat on the defensive side of the ball for the second straight season and the Hawaii native will be the man that determines how the Irish defense plays in 2010.

Dayne Crist

Junior quaterback, Dayne Crist now takes over the offense for former Irish standout Jimmy Clausen.

Crist will be the key to the Fighting Irish offense this season and the teams success may very well decide on how he adapts to being the star quaterback at Notre Dame.

Dayne has stated that he and his new coach get along great and he is excited to see what happens this season.

With only four games under his belt in college and ten completions how successful can a quaterback be in his first full season?

Only time well tell but at 6'4 and 235 lbs. Crist has the size, ability, and work ethic to get the Irish to the promise land.

Kyle Rudolph

Number nine is a monster yet versatile tight end, weighing in around 260 lbs. and standing 6'6.

Rudolph has hauled in 62 catches for a 11.35 average and 5 touchdowns in his first two seasons at Notre Dame.

To start off the 2010 season, Kyle has been selected as a 2010 preseason first-team All-American by Lindy's.

Anthony Fasano and John Carlson, both former Irish tight ends are now playing in the NFL and Rudolph seems to be following in their footsteps.

Michael Floyd

Floyd is arguably the nations best wide receiver and is being slightly overlooked because of an injury that sidelined him last season.

After finding the endzone five times in the first three games of the 09' season Floyd injured himself and missed the next five games.

He then made his return against Navy where he caught 10 balls for 141 yards and touchdown.

Following that performance up, Floyd went for 21 receptions, 296 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Now healthy and ready for a huge 2010 season, Floyd has been selected as a 2010 preseason first-team All-American by Lindy's.

Floyd is in line to be the nations premier star at his position and should be at the top of the Biletnikoff Award list for the Irish.