Notre Dame Football: Grading Each Position Group, Spring Edition

While the goal of spring practice is to answer many questions that linger from the end of the previous season, often times, more questions are created than answered during the 15 individual practices. With Notre Dame replacing eight starters from its 8-5 2011 team, many personnel decisions will be left for fall camp, which is almost four months away.

On a positive note, the attrition throughout the roster has allowed for greater competition for starting roles this spring. Many players who fans and possibly coaches had written off as nothing more than role players are threatening for significant minutes in the fall. With the annual Blue-Gold game a week away, let's look at each Notre Dame position and assess where it stands after three full weeks of practice.

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Quarterbacks

There's a decent chance Tommy Rees starts for the Irish on September 1 against Navy. Given the tone of the Notre Dame fanbase late in the 2011 season, Rees starting would excite almost no one. However, if Brian Kelly sends Rees on the field in Ireland, don't be mad at Rees.

Don't be mad at Kelly either. Be mad at Andrew Hendrix and Everett Golson for not seizing the starting role despite significant athletic advantages. Last year's starter was not named until 12 days prior to the season opener, and don't expect the announcement to come any earlier this year.

Notre Dame can win a lot of games with Rees under center, but there will always be a ceiling with the junior from outside of Chicago. Because of this, Hendrix and Golson are more likely to show sizable improvement between now and the start of fall camp in August.

As for Gunner Kiel, check back in March.

Grade: B-

Running Backs

A position that seemed extremely thin after Jonas Gray's season and Notre Dame career ended against Boston College last year now looks very promising. Theo Riddick shifted to running back for the Champs Sports Bowl and appeared comfortable working out of the backfield in a reserve role behind Cierre Wood.

Both Wood and Riddick return. Sophomore speed demon George Atkinson III and USC transfer Amir Carlisle add depth. Wood is the clear starter, and with Tony Alford coaching both slot receivers and running backs, look for Riddick to work both in the backfield and on the outside.

While Atkinson III is still raw at the position, Notre Dame has four viable options that can produce against any opponent. There's no Gray on the roster that will emerge out of nowhere this season, but that's because there are such high expectation for all four of these players.

Grade: B+

Receivers

Like Rees, the sight of John Goodman on the field makes most Irish fans cringe. Also like Rees, Goodman has had an excellent spring and appears on his way to having a significant role in Notre Dame's offense this fall. He is the leader to assume Michael Floyd's vacated role at the W position.

T.J. Jones never looked comfortable as a sophomore after a promising freshman season, and either he or Davaris Daniels must become a reliable target on the outside for the offense to work the way it's designed to do. Robby Toma is the leader for the slot receiver role when Riddick isn't there, but he could be pushed by freshman Davonte Neal in the fall.

The depth at tight end should allow for the Irish to look a lot like Stanford a year ago with multiple tight end sets. Tyler Eifer is an All-American, and converted linebacker Troy Niklas has the physical tools to be a star at the position. Sophomore Ben Koyack also looks poised for a breakout year. No team in the nation can match the talent at tight end that Notre Dame possesses.

Grade: B

Offensive Line

Two open spots along the offensive front have been cut in half thanks to the emergence of junior Christian Lombard at right tackle this spring. With Zack Martin, Chris Watt and Braxton Cave all returning on the left side, right guard remains the only position with any amount of uncertainty.

Fifth-year senior Mike Golic, Jr. and sophomores Nick Martin and Conor Hanratty are all in competition for the starting gig, and the rosters for the Blue-Gold game may tell which way Kelly and new offensive line coach Harry Hiestand are leaning.

The elder Martin should be one of the best left tackles in the country this season, and Cave being an All-American in his final season is not much of a stretch. There's enough depth on the right side that should the initial starters falter, there's nearly equal talent right behind them. Hiestand's hard-nosed style should be a major benefit for this group.

Grade: A-

Defensive Line

Defensive lines win championships. Period. While Notre Dame is not a championship-caliber program at the moment, its defensive front was inching ever closer to the level of the SEC powerhouses prior to the transfer of Aaron Lynch. Much of the improvement is due to the strong 2011 seasons from first-year players  Lynch, Louis Nix and Stephon Tuitt.

2011 starter Kapron Lewis-Moore returns after a leg injury against USC ended his season after just seven games. Kona Schwenke has been working with the first team for much of the spring and is a viable threat to Nix's presumed starting role at nose tackle. At the very least, he'll be part of the rotation, both inside and at end.

Freshman Sheldon Day enrolled early, but is likely to redshirt. The only significant loss in addition to Lynch nose tackle Sean Cwynar, who will not return for a fifth season. If sophomore Chase Hounshell can become a capable backup, this unit should still be a strength in the fall despite Lynch's departure.

Grade: B+

Linebackers

There are no worries at the Mike linebacker position. Manti Te'o will be Manti Te'o. He'll provide elite linebacking play for 13 games before being a first or second-round pick in the 2013 NFL draft. His partner on the inside remains a mystery, with Dan Fox and Carlo Calabrese competing for the role that both have owned at various points over the past two seasons.

The outside positions offer plenty of promise, but little experience. Prince Shembo appears to be a better fit at the Cat (rush) position after a switch this spring. Sophomore Ishaq Williams looks much more focused than he did as a freshman and will also be a pass-rushing threat.

At the Dog (drop) position, it's likely junior Danny Spond's spot to lose. That doesn't mean defensive coordinator, and linebackers coach Bob Diaco is content with Spond; it's that just no one else appears capable of filling the role. Sophomore Ben Councell must make major strides to see the field in the fall.

Grade: B

Defensive Backs

Last, and unfortunately also least, is the secondary. Three starters are gone, and the Irish have major issues at cornerback. Junior Bennett Jackson seems poised to snag one of the two starting roles, but the use of versatile safety Jamoris Slaughter at cornerback during practice last week may be an indication that Lo Wood is struggling.

Wood received a rude awakening to major college football when matched up against USC star Robert Woods last season. A poor showing on a big stage often can kill a young player's confidence. With sophomores Jalen Brown and Josh Atkinson not having played a down of college football and no incoming freshmen who will work exclusively at cornerback, Woods has to take the next step over the next five months and put the USC demons behind him.

Strong safety Jamoris Slaughter will captain the unit, much as Harrison Smith did for the past two seasons. He'll work in the box as well after a dominant performance as a run defender in the Champs Sports Bowl. Free safety Zeke Motta had a strong bowl performance as well, but consistency remains a concern with him.

Grade: C+