It's an Underclassman's World at Notre Dame

Notre Dame's success will rest on the success of its sophomore class, with marginal help from the seniors and fifth-year seniors. Consider that:

• Right now our best running back is a sophomore, either Allen or Hughes
• Our best quarterback is a sophomore in Clausen
• Our best wide receiver is arguably sophomore Kamara
• Our best tight end is sophomore Ragone
• Our best defensive lineman is sophomore Williams
• Our best linebacker is either sophomore Smith or sophomore Neal
• Our best field goal kicker is sophomore Walker

I've never seen a Notre Dame team so dominated by sophomores (who would be redshirt freshmen at most schools) before, but behind this is the dramatic rise in the level of recruiting.

Weis's first full recruiting class was large, but lacking in star talent and the attrition rate has been has been high since the sophomore class came in. And now the freshmen class is beginning to have a similar impact. The arrival of Floyd, Walker and Goodman has led to the departure of Richard Jackson at wide receiver.

Some might look to these transfers and be tempted to draw other conclusions, but the simple fact is that in every case with transfers in this junior class, the transfer decided to leave after he was passed on the depth chart by one of the underclassmen.

It's great for recruiting in that players know that if they're the best, they'll play, it takes a toll on upperclass leadership, which has been all but non-existent recently. The Irish have just 15 players combined from their senior and fifth-year classes.

Of those, not one player was rated higher than three stars. Only one player, David Bruton, appears to have All-American potential or would start on a top-tier team.

And Notre Dame is actually getting younger, because the sophomores now have to look over their shoulders. Gary Gray has a great shot of playing, but here comes Blanton, a cocky and talented frosh.

Ragone's in the driver's seat at tight end, but Rudy is impressing the hell out of everyone. Tate and Kamara showed a lot of talent in '07, but watchers would be shocked if Floyd doesn't get playing time.

While Kerry Neal looked outstanding as a freshman, Darious Fleming has already become a given for playing time in 2008.

The good here is also the bad.

Notre Dame has a ton of talent in its freshman and sophomore classes and they're going to be playing a lot. Of course, that means that freshman and sophomores are playing a lot, which is never ideal from a win column perspective, but sure is fun from a fan perspective.